Midyat
Template: Infobox city in Turkey / Maintenance / County
Midyat (Arabic مديات, DMG Midyād; Syro -Aramaic ܡ ܕ ܝ ܕ, Mëḏyaḏ; Kurdish Midyad ) is an originally inhabited by Syrians city in Turkey with a population of 55 615. Midyat is located south in the Turkish province of Mardin, which borders Syria. Today, the city is mainly inhabited by Arabs and Kurds.
The city is about 1,000 m above sea level in a hilly landscape with meadows, fields and vineyards. Midyat is the capital of Tur Abdin and since 1478 a bishopric.
Religion
Midyat is known that earlier there more Christians (mainly Syrian- Orthodox) lived as Yazidis and Muslims. The number of churches is higher than that of the mosques. But for fear of religious persecution had to flee to other countries, most Christians.
The five churches in the city are Schmuni Mar, Barsaumo Mor, Mor Akhsnoyo (after St. Philoxenus of Mabbug ), Mor Scharbel, as well as a Protestant church and the old monastery of Mor Abrohom, which is still inhabited.
The Mor Gabriel Monastery is located about 20 km from Midyat away. Also in Midyat district are the towns Altıntaş ( Keferze ) and Anıtlı ( Hah ), in which some churches and monasteries lie.
Economy
In economic terms, Midyat is known for its silversmiths and filigree work.
History
Midyat is mentioned Aschschur - nasir - apli writing in the 13th century BC in the Assyrian annals of the Assyrian king, "I have subjected me Matiate ( = Midyat ) and its villages, and I took down with rich booty and put them tribute and heavy taxes on ".
In the year 640 AD, belonged Midyat of Islamic rule on under Caliph Umar. Later, it changed its domain under the Umayyads and Abbasids. To the peak of the Abbasid Caliphate, under the Caliph Harun the rightly guided, Midyat and its area was subjected to a large-scale reconstruction of entire villages and buildings.
It is reported that the first Christians lived in caves. The city has often been harassed throughout history by external forces and destroyed because they, Mesopotamia is the oldest settlement place of the world. So last in the First World War. After 1930, the city was rebuilt with houses and churches again. The number of Christian inhabitants rose. Most were members of the Syriac Orthodox Church, some were Syrian- Catholic or Protestant.
Due to repeated marauding Mongols and Turkish and Kurdish tribes in the Tur Abdin plateau which end of the 14th, 19th and massacres during the genocide reached its peak in the early 20th century to the Arameans, Aramaic population was decimated. After this event, in 1915 some Aramaic families from Midyat sought refuge in the neighboring Arab countries, mainly in Syria and Lebanon.
It is believed that was inhabited until the early 1960s Midyat of more than 500 families. The Arameans presented over 90 % of the population; Today, there are still an estimated 120 Aramaic families who live in Midyat, however, at least 60,000 Kurdish inhabitants, most of whom come from other villages.
Famous people
- Yusuf Çetin, Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan and Patriarchal
- Ali Atalan, German politicians jesidischer origin
- Gabriel Asaad, Assyrian musicians
- Hatune Dogan, nun and philanthropist
- Dionysius Isa Gürbüz, Syrian Orthodox bishop