Iraq Regions

Iraq Regions

The West Syriac or Syriac Orthodox communities in Iraq had three major centers that played their own role in preserving the Syriac heritage. These centers were Tikrit where the Maphrian of the East resided until the end of 12th century, Mosul, and Dayro d'Mor Mattai. This is a partial list of the centers and their towns and villages that were under the jurisdiction of the Maphrianate of the East. Only communities in current day Iraq are included in the list below

• Alqosh

• 'Anah: a town in Iraq, west of the Euphrates and southeast of Dayr al-Zur.

• 'Aqra

• Aqula: Near Kufa in southern Iraq; no longer in existence.

• Arbil or Beth Nuhadra: a town about two day journey southeast of Mosul.

• 'Ayn Barqi

• 'Ayn Qadisho

• 'Ayn Qiro

• 'Ayn Sefni

• Ba'bera

• Badiya: In Takrit 

• Badusho

• Bafkhari

• Balad (Aski Mosul): An ancient ruined village north of Mosul

• Baghdad

• Bahshiqa

• Bahnohoyo

• Bahzani

• Bakilbo

• Bamerdni

• Banuhadra: A town north of Mosul, now called Duhuk.

• Bani Taghlib  

• Baqarto

• Baremmän, Beth Remmän (Barumma): a village on the Tigris, now in ruins, five hours journey northeast of Mosul.

• Barqoto

• Barttuli

• Barumana (or Rumana): an ancient town in Karkar (in Iraq).

• Basakhra

• Bashbitho

• Bashusho

• Bashumneyo

• Beshien

• Bemariam

• Beth 'Adri

• Beth 'Aenotho

• Beth 'Arbaya: A small territory between Nisibin and Sinjar.

• Beth Arsham: An extinct town south of Baghdad, near Ctesiphon. Its exact location is unknown.

• Beth Bnai 

• Beth Bori

• Beth Bozai

• Beth Deto (Qaraqosh)

• Beth Germai: A territory between the Tigris River and the Lower Zab River

• Beth Edri

• Beth Ese

• Beth Gubrin

• Beth Habo

• Beth Kyono

• Beth Maloudh

• Beth Qiqi 

• Beth Royo

• Beth Saida: A center near Erbil. In 1277, a bishop called Basilius Abraham was assigned to it's dioceses.

• Beth Shahaq: an ancient town in the province of Mosul.

• Beth Sharonayi

• Beth Soti

• Beth Taklitho

• Beth Takshur 

• Beth Tarli

• Beth Thoni

• Beth ‘Urbo

• Beth Waziq 

• Beth Ziewo

• Bir Qawm

• Ctesiphon (al-Mada-in): The capital of the Sassanian Empire

• Gumal or Marga (Marj): a place northeast of Mosul, formerly a big province.

• Hassasa: an ancient village in southern Iraq, near Qasr Ibn Hubayra, in the vicinity of al-Kufa.

• Hira: an ancient city, three miles from Kufa and east of al-Najaf.

• Kafar 'Aozil

• Kafar Zomar

• Kafo Somoto

• Karam Lesho: Present day village of Karamlais

• Karkho d-beth Slukh: Present city of Kirkuk, in Iraq.

• Kornasha: a village in the district of Ba'arbaya adjacent to the Izla Mountain.

• Kurum

• Ma'ltha

• Mashhad Kuhayl: Kuhayl was a big city on the Tigris between the two Zabs, above Takrit, going southwards but it doesn't exist anymore. Kuhayl was the birthplace of the Syriac learned man, Moses Bar Kepha (d. 903).

• Mahozi d-Aryon

• Narsibad: perhaps Naryan or al-Nars, or possibly another location, a territory between al-Kufa and Wasit in southern Iraq.

• Nineveh

• Peroz-Shapur or Fishkhabor

• Qayyara

• Qronta: an ancient town on the east bank of the Tigris, near the Great Zab.

• Risho d-'Ayno

• Seleucia-Ctesiphon: two connected cities. They were the capital of the Sassanids, situated about six hours journey south of Baghdad. Both these cities were destroyed at the beginning of the Arab conquest. Near their site is the present village of Salman Pak.

• Sinjar: a town situated at the foot of the Sinjar mountain, three days' journey from Mosul.

• Shahrzur

• Shawarzag

• Shero Malkotho

• Tahal: an ancient village in Beth Garmai, near Kirkuk, Iraq.

• Takrit: an ancient city west of the Tigris, between Baghdad and Mosul. In the golden age of the Syriacs, it was the seat of the Maphryonos of the East from 628 until the end of the twelfth century.

• Tell 'Afro (Talla'far)

• Tell d-Zello

• Tell Salmo

• Tell Wabllo

• Tell Yamtho

• Tell Ya'ro

• Tell Zqifo (Tellskof)

• Terhan

• Tobzowo