Mardin

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A residentialArmenianarchbishopric, a Chaldeanbishopric, and a residentialSyrianbishopric; moreover it is the headquarters of theCapuchin mission of Mardin andAmida.

The ancient Syriac name was Marda, which meant fortress. It is mentioned as early as the time of Emperor Constantius (Amm. Marcell. xix, 9, 4) and again in the year 506 (Theophanis, "Chronogr." A. M., 5998). The town becameChristian under Tiridates II, King ofArmenia, at the close of the third century, and it is probable that the churches, mausoleums, and houses, the ruins of which have been discovered, belong to this period. It played an important part in the religious controversies between theCatholics andMonophysites, who made it one of their principalmonasteries. It had a Jacobitebishop in 684 (see the list ofSyrian titulars, inLequien, "Oriens Christ., " II, 1457-1462; also "Revue de l'Orient Chrétien", VI, 200; also the list of Chaldean titulars given inLequien, op. cit., II, 1321). After 1166 the Jacobite patriarch, who had hitherto resided at Diarbekir, took up his residence in Mardin. During theMiddle Ages, thanks to its strong position, the town escaped the attacks of Houlagon, grandson of Genghis Khan, and of Tamerlane. Since 1574 it has belonged to theOttoman Empire, and is a sanjak in the vilayet of Diarbekir. It is situated at about 3600 feet above sea-level, on a rugged browed and impregnable green hill; the grassy plain in the valley below is known as the Sea of Mardin. The population is computed at 25,000, of whom 15,500 areMussulmans, the remainder beingChristians. The number ofCatholics of various rites is about 3000. In theArmenian archdiocese there are 8000faithful, 16 nativepriests, 8 churches orchapels, 5 central stations, and 10chapels of ease. The SyrianCatholic diocese has existed since 1852, and its title has been joined with that ofAmida since 1888. The patriarch ought to reside at Mardin, but for some years past he has preferred Beirut on account of facility of communication withEurope. In the Syrian diocese there are 3500Catholics 25priests, 8churches andchapels, 11 stations, and themonastery of St. Ephraim. The Chaldean diocese, which is limited to the town of Mardin, has 750faithful, 4 nativepriests, 1parish, and 3 stations. TheCapuchin mission dates from the seventeenth century, but its headquarters have been changed many times. It consists of 15 religious, of whom 11 arepriests, and it has 6 houses (Diarbekir or Amida, Orfa orEdessa, Malatea orMelitene, Kharpout, Mamouret-ul-Aziz or Mozera, and Mardin). The mission owns 6 churches and 5chapels; it carries on 18 primaryschools, acollege at Mamouret-ul-Aziz, 2orphanages. TheFranciscan Sisters of Lons-le-Saunier have three establishments for girls, one at Diarbekir, one at Orfa, and one at Mardin. The superior of the mission is Rev. J. Antonius a Mediolano O.M.C. There is moreover aschismaticArmenianarchbishop in the town, and an AmericanProtestant mission is in activity.

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