Doğançay, Mardin

Doğançay (Syriac: ܡܙܝܙܚ‎ Mzizah or Mizizah, Kurdish: Mizîzex‎) is a village in the Midyat district of Mardin Province, south-eastern Turkey, and is located in the historical region of Tur Abdin. In 2011, 180 people inhabited the village.

Several churches can be found in the village, including the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Yuhannon (St. John) of Kfone.[1] The church is dedicated to Mor Yuhannon of Kfone, born in Athens, a disciple of Mar Awgin (St. Eugenios), who proselytised in Tur Abdin at the end of the fourth century through to the beginning of the fifth century and it is believed he is buried in the village of Kfone near Zaz. The churches of Mor Barsaumo and of Mor Shem'un (Simon) are in ruins.

History

Mzizah is first mentioned in the 15th century as the birthplace of Cyril Joseph III, Maphrian of the East, a high ranking bishop within the Syriac Orthodox Church. The village was settled at the beginning of the 19th century by people from the neighbouring village of Ain Wardo. The settlers were later joined by people from other villages in the region. At the onset of the Assyrian Genocide, in 1915, the village was home to 70 Assyrian and 50 Kurdish families. Most of the Assyrian population of the village fled to Ain Wardo where they resisted several Kurdish attacks. Following a truce between the Assyrians and Kurds, the Assyrians returned to Mzizah, however, several were killed during their journey.

Much of the former Assyrian population of the village migrated to Syria, whilst others later migrated to Germany, Sweden and Belgium. In 1961, the name of the town was officially changed to Doğançay. In 2008, 6 Assyrian and approximately 30 Kurdish families inhabited the village.

Assyrian population by year

1870: 16 families
1915: 70 families
1960: 90 families
1970: 212 families
1978: 78 families
1979: 75 families
1980: 42 families
1985: 37 families
1987: 35 families
2006: 6 families
2007: 7 families
2008: 6 families
[2][3][4]

Coordinates: 37°22′19″N 41°26′53″E / 37.372°N 41.448°E / 37.372; 41.448

References

  1. ↑ http://www.mizizah.de.vu/
  2. ↑ Maktbonuho d-Mizizah(Manuskript), Malfono Hanna Seven 2005
  3. ↑ Gunhe d-Suryoye, Churi Sleyman Hinno
  4. ↑ Die Syrisch-Orth.-Kirche von Antiochien, Diakon Hanna Aydin
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