Bağlarbaşı, Midyat
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Bağlarbaşı | |
|---|---|
  Bağlarbaşı Location in Turkey | |
| Coordinates: 37°27′18″N 41°27′32″E / 37.455°N 41.459°E | |
| Country | Turkey |
| Province | Mardin |
| District | Midyat |
| Population (2021)[1] | 401 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (TRT) |
Bağlarbaşı (Kurdish: Arnas;[2] Syriac: ܥܪܢܐܣ, romanized: Urnus)[3][a] is a neighbourhood in the municipality and district of Midyat, Mardin Province in Turkey.[6] The village is populated by Syriacs and by Kurds of the Arnas tribe and had a population of 401 in 2021.[1][7] It is located in the historic region of Tur Abdin.[8]
In the village, there is a church of Mar Basus and Mar Cyriacus.[9]
A church was constructed at Urnus (today called Bağlarbaşı) by Emperor Anastasius I Dicorus (r. 491–518) and designed by the architects Theodosius and Theodorus according to a manuscript dated to 1592, however the historian Andrew Palmer argues this was fabricated to add historicity.[10] The Church of Mar Basus and Mar Cyriacus at Urnus, also called simply the Church of Mar Cyriacus, was probably constructed in the late seventh century AD.[11] It was built by 761/762 (AG 1072) at the latest as indicated by an inscription at the church commemorating the construction of a templon screen by the priest Elijah in that year.[12] The monk-priest Yusuf (Joseph) of Urnus, son of the priest Ṣaliba, was a reputable calligrapher (fl. 1457–1459).[13]
The entirety of the church's northern wall, including the arcade, and most of the vault was rebuilt in 1591/1592 (AG 1903) by maqdisi Yusuf, son of Emmanuel and the priest Habil (Abel) and his son Jaladi.[14] Cyril Denha of Urnus was ordained as a bishop by Ignatius Habib, Patriarch of Tur Abdin (r. 1674–1707).[15] Ignatius Denha, Patriarch of Tur Abdin (r. 1707–1725), was from Urnus.[16] Basilius Denha Baltaji, Maphrian of Tur Abdin (r. 1740–1779), was born at Urnus.[17] Cyril Jacob of Urnus was ordained as a metropolitan bishop of the patriarchal office by Ignatius Barsoum, Patriarch of Tur Abdin (r. 1740–1791).[18] Cyril Jacob Mirijan of Urnus was metropolitan bishop of Midyat in 1783–1804.[19] Ignatius Yusuf of Urnus was an illegitimate patriarch of Tur Abdin in 1805–1834.[20] In the Syriac Orthodox patriarchal register of dues of 1870, it was recorded that the village had 52 households, who paid 162 dues, and had one priest.[21] There was a church of Morī Isṭefānūs.[21] The monk ‘Abd al-Masih of Urnus was superior of the Mor Hananyo Monastery in 1905–1906.[22]
In 1914, the village was inhabited by 350 Syriacs, according to the list presented to the Paris Peace Conference by the Assyro-Chaldean delegation.[23] Most of the Christians at Urnus adhered to the Syriac Orthodox Church although there were ten Protestant families.[24] It served as the residence of the chief of the Dakshuri tribal confederation, Osman Tammero.[25] The Dakshuri confederation included the Arnas tribe, which consisted of both Syriacs and Kurds.[26] Kurds likely constituted the majority of the village's population.[24] Amidst the Sayfo, upon learning of the massacre at Saleh and hearing gunshots from Midyat, Syriacs at Urnus opted to take refuge at ‘Ayn-Wardo and managed to force themselves past Kurds who attempted to stop them, whilst 23 Syriac men who remained were murdered the next day.[24] A few Syriacs who attempted to return to the village were shot.[27]
The population of the village was 984 in 1960.[28] There were 390 Turoyo-speaking Christians in 63 families in 1966.[28] The Syriacs at Urnus emigrated to Germany in the second half of the 20th century.[29] The final Christian left the village in 1991.[29]