Araden
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Araden ('Ara'den) ܐܪܥܕܢ |
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 Araden ('Ara'den)
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| Coordinates: 37°6′20.24″N 43°19′6.68″E / 37.1056222°N 43.3185222°ECoordinates: 37°6′20.24″N 43°19′6.68″E / 37.1056222°N 43.3185222°E | |
| Country |
 Iraq
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| Autonomous Region |
 Kurdistan
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| Province | Dohuk Governorate |
| Government | |
| • Type | Lijna, Committee |
| • Mukhtar | Toma Gidde |
| Area | |
| • Total | 18 km2 (7 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,723 m (5,653 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 200+ (estimate) |
| Website | www |
Araden (Syriac: ܐܪܕܢ) is a Chaldean village in Dohuk Governorate of Iraqi Kurdistan. It is located approximately 20-30 kilometers (12–19 miles) east of the city of Zakho The village of Einishk lies a few miles to the east, and the Kurdish village of Bamerne is to the west, while Sarsing can be seen to the south. The name Araden means "Land of Eden" in old Aramaic. The village is vast, spanning over 18 kilometers and containing more than 150 homes, 3 churches and a cemetery.
Two of the oldest churches in Christianity, Mart Shmoni and Sultana Mahdokht, (which was established in 325 AD) are located in Araden. A newer church known as Libbat Isho was established in the 1980s as well.
The inhabitants of Araden are Chaldean Christians and have continuously inhabited the land for thousands of years. The village is relatively famous among its neighboring towns and villages for having many green-eyed and red haired people. as a testament to the ancient and isolated nature of the village, The inhabitants speak Neo-Aramaic with a unique accent closer to Old Aramaic.
There are three main families in this village: the Kasha family, the Rayes family, and the Sana family. Although the settlement in Araden is known to have existed for thousands to years prior to their arrival, as is indicated by the presence of the ancient churches in the village. The head of the village has traditionally been the Chaldean Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Amadiya. One of these Bishops, Francis Daoud, is famous for his bravery and leadership during the Ottoman Genocide saving the Christians living in Northern Iraqi villages through heated negotiations with the Turks, using his influence as a Bishop to save them from death. He was confirmed Bishop February 24, 1910 and served until his death on October 1, 1939.
During the 1959 Kurdish-Iraqi War the people of Araden gave land to Kurdish refugees during the Kurdish rebellions. Eventually the Kurds formed a second village in Araden called "Aradenlaya", l where Kurdish families were hidden from the Iraqi military. However, The military eventually caught on to the location of the village during the first Kurdish-Iraqi War and bombed it, disbursing the Kurdish refugees to other villages. Today, those families now mainly live in the Kurdish town of Qadish, which lies about 7 kilometers east of Araden.
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Wikipedia