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Arameans
Mor Dionysius Abdelnur of Urhoy
Mor Dionysios ‘Abd an-Nur Aslan (31 July 1851–1933) was a prominent Syriac Orthodox church leader born in Urhoy (Edessa). Educated in Syriac and Turkish, he entered church service at a young age and rose through the ranks, serving in the patriarchal household before becoming a priest. He later represented the Syriac Orthodox Church in Istanbul, where he acted as an intermediary between the church, the Ottoman government, and foreign diplomats.
In 1896, he was appointed Metropolitan of Harput, where he was pastorally active and worked to strengthen his community while promoting loyalty to the Ottoman state and emphasizing a distinct Syriac identity separate from Armenians. After leaving Harput around 1913, he was assigned to Homs during the years of the Sayfo, where he also became known for collecting and preserving Syriac manuscripts.
In 1917, he became Metropolitan of Diyarbakir, leading a greatly diminished community in the aftermath of the genocide. He remained committed to a policy of loyalty to the state, believing it offered the best protection for his people. He spent his final years in relative isolation and died in 1933.
In 1896, he was appointed Metropolitan of Harput, where he was pastorally active and worked to strengthen his community while promoting loyalty to the Ottoman state and emphasizing a distinct Syriac identity separate from Armenians. After leaving Harput around 1913, he was assigned to Homs during the years of the Sayfo, where he also became known for collecting and preserving Syriac manuscripts.
In 1917, he became Metropolitan of Diyarbakir, leading a greatly diminished community in the aftermath of the genocide. He remained committed to a policy of loyalty to the state, believing it offered the best protection for his people. He spent his final years in relative isolation and died in 1933.
