Sharafiya
Encyclopedia
Sharafiya is an Assyrian
village located in Northern Iraq
. The village is located about 40 Kilometers North of the city of Mosul
, and is on the main road that connects Mosul to the largest Assyrian town, Alqosh
(Sharafiya is only 5 Kilometers South of Alqosh.)
The village rests on a plateau that is penetrated by small valleys, and is known for its seasonal crop growing such as wheat, grains and vegetables. The region also is fertile for growing cattle, sheep, goats and domesticated birds (chicken and turkey). The widespread profession of the region’s population is agriculture and growing up domesticated animals, which forms a reasonable source of income.
, southern Turkey
, during World War I
. They dwelled in the village since early twenties of the 20th century and are followers of the Ancient Church of the East
. There are few families who belond to the Chaldean Catholic Church
. There are two Churches in the village: A Catholic church and an Ancient Church of the East
named Mar Gewarges (St. George.)
visited the village in the mid 1980s and was astonished of the cleanness of its residents and their adherence to their village. Upon his learning that they were unable to build new houses because the land was in the possession of the convent of the Lady in Alqosh, he ordered that each family to own a piece of land and assist them in building new houses. The fertile lands that were used for cultivation were, however, kept in the possession of the Church.
There is an elementary school in the village attended by 62 students of both genders. The high school students who are numbered some 50 boys and girls attend school in Alqosh. There are 17 college students who attend University of Mosul
.
As of 2006, there is a total of 90 families living in Sharafiya totaling 450.
There are other Assyrian and Yezidis villages to the east and south of Sharafiya; Tel Skuf
which is an Assyrian village, is 9 Kilometers south of Sharafiya. Among nearby Yezidis villages are Beban, Shekhka, Hatara and Badriya.
Assyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
village located in Northern Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. The village is located about 40 Kilometers North of the city of Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
, and is on the main road that connects Mosul to the largest Assyrian town, Alqosh
Alqosh
Alqōsh or Alqūsh is one of the most famous Assyrian towns of the mainly East Syrian rite in Iraq. It is located north of Mosul. The name Alqosh is derived from an Akkadian name Eil-Kushtu, where "Eil" means God and "Kushtu" means righteousness or power...
(Sharafiya is only 5 Kilometers South of Alqosh.)
The village rests on a plateau that is penetrated by small valleys, and is known for its seasonal crop growing such as wheat, grains and vegetables. The region also is fertile for growing cattle, sheep, goats and domesticated birds (chicken and turkey). The widespread profession of the region’s population is agriculture and growing up domesticated animals, which forms a reasonable source of income.
Population
The population of the Sharafiya are all Assyrians. They migrated from their original inhabitancy of HakkariHakkari
Hakkâri , is a city and the capital of the Hakkâri Province of Turkey. The name Hakkâri is derived from the Syriac word, Akkare, meaning farmers...
, southern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. They dwelled in the village since early twenties of the 20th century and are followers of the Ancient Church of the East
Ancient Church of the East
The Ancient Church of the East was established in 1968. It follows the traditions of one of the oldest Christian churches, the Church of the East, whose origins trace back to the See of Seleucia-Ctesiphon in central Mesopotamia...
. There are few families who belond to the Chaldean Catholic Church
Chaldean Catholic Church
The Chaldean Catholic Church , is an Eastern Syriac particular church of the Catholic Church, maintaining full communion with the Bishop of Rome and the rest of the Catholic Church...
. There are two Churches in the village: A Catholic church and an Ancient Church of the East
Ancient Church of the East
The Ancient Church of the East was established in 1968. It follows the traditions of one of the oldest Christian churches, the Church of the East, whose origins trace back to the See of Seleucia-Ctesiphon in central Mesopotamia...
named Mar Gewarges (St. George.)
Location
Sharafiya and its surrounding lands are owned by the Church of Alqosh which is known as convent of the Lady (St. Mary Monastery) in Alqosh. The former Iraqi president Saddam HusseinSaddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
visited the village in the mid 1980s and was astonished of the cleanness of its residents and their adherence to their village. Upon his learning that they were unable to build new houses because the land was in the possession of the convent of the Lady in Alqosh, he ordered that each family to own a piece of land and assist them in building new houses. The fertile lands that were used for cultivation were, however, kept in the possession of the Church.
There is an elementary school in the village attended by 62 students of both genders. The high school students who are numbered some 50 boys and girls attend school in Alqosh. There are 17 college students who attend University of Mosul
University of Mosul
The University of Mosul is a public university located in Mosul, Iraq. It is one of the largest educational and research centers in the Middle East.- Academic program :...
.
As of 2006, there is a total of 90 families living in Sharafiya totaling 450.
There are other Assyrian and Yezidis villages to the east and south of Sharafiya; Tel Skuf
Tel Skuf
Tel Isqof is an Assyrian town, with a population of 7,000 most of whose inhabitants are members of the Chaldean Catholic Church...
which is an Assyrian village, is 9 Kilometers south of Sharafiya. Among nearby Yezidis villages are Beban, Shekhka, Hatara and Badriya.