Assyria TV visited the German Assyrian community of the city of Wiesbaden. Our Editor-in-chief Augin Kurt Haninke had the chance to interview one of the well-known personalities of the west-Assyrian community within the Syriac Orthodox church in Europe, medical doctor and leader Dr. Abrohom Lahdo. Born in Qamishli in Syria, his family origins are traced back to Anhel, one of the largest Assyrian villages in Tur-Abdin. During his visits to Anhel as a child he learned about many old Assyrian agricultural traditions. This knowledge became useful when he wrote the poems of famous Assyrian songs usch as ”Azzen Azzen and Atuno”.
We discussed his role within the Assyrian political movement in general and within the leadership of the Assyrian Democratic Organization (ADO) specifically. From the moment he started his political career until he resigned his leadership post 1987 because of disagreements with the leading council of the ADO. He is author of several books and CD’s on our history and the Assyrian Mesopotamian origins of church music of the Syriac Orthodox Church – today the only Assyrian church which has preserved the rich musical heritage develop during the days of ancient Assyrian Empire.
In this interview we discuss highly sensitive topics such as the role of the church leadership against the Assyrian movement, the Holy Synod declarations of the Syriac Orthodox Church regarding the name issue and the current position and actions of the church leadership in regards to the recent revolting sub-groups. The role of Patriarch Yacoub III as well as the internal struggle and disagreement between Patriarch Zakka I Iwas and the late Bishop Cicek regarding the Assyrian movement and the creation of the anti-Assyrian movement of the Aramean sub-groups.
Looking back to decades of work for his nation, Dr. Abrohom Lahdo provides insights on events that were not known to many of the community.