www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Chaldean Catholic priest and three deacons were gunned down

It seems to me that the name Ganni is Yanni, which is John. Also the name Yousef, is definitely Joseph. Isho is probably Jesus.

It does seem like the family name is first, and the baptismal names are last.

Zenovia

Raghiyd, Basman, Wahid, and Gassan are their first names. Their surnames--which may well merely be the names of their father or grandfather, and not a family name--are: Ganni, Daud ('David'), Isho ('Isaac'), and Bidawid.

With Arab Christians, there is no way to tell their baptismal names. Baptismal names are often private and not exposed publicly. In a Muslim state, there is a lot of overt discrimination against people whose names are definitely Christian (i.e., not a name like "Yousef" that might be used by Muslims as well).

The name "Ganni" is not 'John'; the name "Hanna" is either a shortened form of "YouHanna" ('John') or the feminine form of "John", which is in English 'Anne' or 'Anna'.

The name "Isho" is 'Isaac'; not 'Jesus'.

Eternal Memory!
They will be mentioned in the prayers of the faithful and the sacrifice of the Mass.
Stephanos I

Dear Matta,

Thank you for correcting me. I was relating the sounds of the names to the Greek names. Isho sounds so much like Iesus in Greek, and Ganni sounds so much like Yanni. Well at least I got Yousef right, now didn't I?

God Bless,

Zenovia

In Syriac Eesho is Jesus, as in Eesho Mshiha - literally Jesus, Messiah.

In Syriac Isaac is I'sahak, not Eesho (Isho, Easow).

You're right, Michael_Thoma! And Sorry, Zenovia!
The Arabic radio here called him "isHa'" (short for "isHaq"), which is 'Isaac' in English, when I first heard the news.

I've just checked the Arabic newspaper and they have his surname as "iyshuw3", which might look like "eeshoo" in simpler English.

Ray,

I apologize if you found my reply to you uncharitable, such was not my intent.

You are obviously reacting to the press description of the deacons as taking on the role of bodyguards to Father Ragheed. In truth, I've seen nothing to suggest that to be the actual purpose of their accompanying him. I think it's reasonable to suggest that they believed there was strength in numbers - "if there are several of us, the enemy is less likely to do anything untoward". Regretably, such was not the case.

Both clergy and laity of the Christian Churches, Catholic, Orthodox, Assyrian, and Protestant, will continue to be at risk in that sector of the world for the foreseeable future - perhaps forever. I am someone whose great faith in prayer is accompanied by a firm grounding in practicality and a long-standing belief in the old axiom that "God helps those who help themselves".

Regardless, in this situation, I think there is little that can be done to significantly alter the course of events. Kidnapping as a daily event, decapitation as a means of making a statement, rigging explosives to prevent recovery of the dead or wounded, persons willing to be human bombs, and the utter disregard for human life that these suggest, are representative of a desperation that is foreign to most Americans and most of those who inhabit the world we describe as civilized. Fanaticism, be it religious, philosophical, or political, inhabits a realm that cannot be readily understood by those observing it - from near or afar. It is an ugly thing, spawned of evil and fathering it, and is not easily eradicated; whether Christianity can survive in such an environment over the long term is a question to which I have no answer.

In confirming the relocation of its patriarchate to the US a quarter-century ago (almost a half century after circumstances forced Mar Shimun into exile here) and resisting calls to return it to their homeland, our Assyrian brethren have recognized the uncertainty of their peoples' future at home and embraced the diaspora as their future hope. The spiritual leaders of the Chaldean and Ancient Churches have chosen, to date, to "tough it out". I admire their courage, I pray for them, I do not know if their decision is wise or if it and they will survive the test of time. I do accept that, as long as faithful remain there, priests like Father Ragheed, of blessed memory, will make conscious decisions to remain or to return to serve those faithful. This is the story of our faiths - it is the thinking and the devotion that has populated the rolls of martyrs in the Apostolic Churches from time immemorial. Does that mean that those with the moral and spiritual courage to undertake this responsibility should cast aside prudence - no, and I doubt that they have, but one can and must accept that, inherent in serving God's people and purpose in a hostile environ, a risk exists and since war is no longer fought by gentlemanly rules of chivalry (and was it ever truly so?) prayer may well be one's best and only real weapon against its terrors.

Many years,

Neil

Neil,

You are I are on the same side here. I am just making suggestions. I don't have real answers. Perhaps a brainstorming session might produce some solutions.

I just hate seeing Catholic priest killed like this. I wish there was something I could do to help. That is all I was trying to do.

Ray

http://www.ankawa.com/audio/ragheed_t.wmv