Enəške: Mar Gewargis (St George) and his miracles

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Transcribed by	Source	Speakers
Dorota Molin	-	-

	Transcription	Translation
0:00	Zarifa Toma Goriyal Zàyya.ˈ men mat ʾinə̀ške.ˈ u-ʾana ʾinəškèθe=wan.ˈ ʾana, k-əbet maxkannax qəṣettət Mar Giwàrgis?ˈ šmeli Mar Giwàrgis.ˈ yăðən maxkiwa naše gore.ˈ’ Zarifa Toma Goriyal Zàyya.ˈ men mat ʾinə̀ške.ˈ u-ʾana ʾinəškèθe=wan.ˈ ʾana, k-əbet maxkannax qəṣettət Mar Giwàrgis?ˈ šmeli Mar Giwàrgis.ˈ yăðən maxkiwa naše gore.ˈ’	I am Zarifa Toma Goryal Zayya from the village of Enishke. I come from Enishke. If you want me I will tell you the story of Mar Gewargis (St. George). I have heard about Mar Gewargis, I know (the story), the elderly used to tell (us).
	xa qaʾəd gòra wewa.ˈ bas lewe t-ʾàxxa.ˈ yonanàya.ˈ θele l-xa mðìθa.ˈ xzele ṛàba ð̣ŭlum.ˈ bas ʾani qam-ʾawðila qəṣə̀tta.ˈ malkət day mðita məre ʾən k-əbettən ʾaxni ʾəθ xùwe, gu xa wàdi, hole sìdəlla.ˈ ʾən lè-yawax xa brāta ṭale dìyye,ˈ lè-mṛapele miya.ˈ xa qaʾəd gòra wewa.ˈ bas lewe t-ʾàxxa.ˈ yonanàya.ˈ θele l-xa mðìθa.ˈ xzele ṛàba ð̣ŭlum.ˈ bas ʾani qam-ʾawðila qəṣə̀tta.ˈ malkət day mðita məre ʾən k-əbettən ʾaxni ʾəθ xùwe, gu xa wàdi, hole sìdəlla.ˈ ʾən lè-yawax xa brāta ṭale dìyye,ˈ lè-mṛapele miya.ˈ	He was a great general, but he was not from here. He was Greek. (Once,) he came to a city and found a great injustice (being done there). But they made it into a story. ‘If you care for us, there is a serpent in a wadi that has blocked the water. If we don’t offer it a girl it will not let the water flow,’ said the king of that city.
	ʾawu tule l-xas sùsa.ˈ ʾətle sepa.ˈ xəšle plə̀ṭle xuwe,ˈ sṛaxa u-m-ṣaṛsòṛe ṭale diyye.ˈ ʾawu u-ʾawu wela plaša muġðaðe.ˈ yaʾani waða šarre.ˈ weðle šàrre.ˈ qam-māxele niza gu pummət daw xùwe.ˈ qàm-qātəlle.ˈ swele wadi b-də̀mma.ˈ ʾawu tule l-xas sùsa.ˈ ʾətle sepa.ˈ xəšle plə̀ṭle xuwe,ˈ sṛaxa u-m-ṣaṛsòṛe ṭale diyye.ˈ ʾawu u-ʾawu wela plaša muġðaðe.ˈ yaʾani waða šarre.ˈ weðle šàrre.ˈ qam-māxele niza gu pummət daw xùwe.ˈ qàm-qātəlle.ˈ swele wadi b-də̀mma.ˈ	He mounted his horse, carrying his sword. He went and the serpent came out shrieking and screeching at him. They both started fighting, I mean, dueling. They started fighting and he struck the serpent in the mouth with his bayonet. He killed him and the wadi was stained with its blood.
	məre hola muθeθa brāt màlka,ˈ yomət brāt malka t-āxə̀lla ʾaw xuwe.ˈ qam-šāqəlla dārela l-xasət sùsa,ˈ nābəlla kəs baba dìy-ya.ˈ mà wedla našwaθa diyye?ˈ qam-dawqìle.ˈ raqa=le, rìqa.ˈ ʾawu le ʾəθya làxxaˈ d-biyyət tăbl ʾalàha.ˈ məre hola muθeθa brāt màlka,ˈ yomət brāt malka t-āxə̀lla ʾaw xuwe.ˈ qam-šāqəlla dārela l-xasət sùsa,ˈ nābəlla kəs baba dìy-ya.ˈ mà wedla našwaθa diyye?ˈ qam-dawqìle.ˈ raqa=le, rìqa.ˈ ʾawu le ʾəθya làxxaˈ d-biyyət tăbl ʾalàha.ˈ	The king’s daughter was brought on the day that the serpent would eat her. He took her, put her on the horse back and brought her to her father. But what did his people do? They arrested him, (so) he fled and came here and became a follower of God.
	dukθət d-we ʾàwa,ˈ lè-y-ðiwa ʾalaha, mà we?ˈ sanàme wewe.ˈ qàm-dawqileˈ qàm-darile b-səjən.ˈ qàm-maxile, ʾaðbìle.ˈ ʾawa har ṣàʾx wewa.ˈ ʾə́θwāle ruḥət qùdšaˈ u-raba qaddìša pəšle.ˈ dukθət d-we ʾàwa,ˈ lè-y-ðiwa ʾalaha, mà we?ˈ sanàme wewe.ˈ qàm-dawqileˈ qàm-darile b-səjən.ˈ qàm-maxile, ʾaðbìle.ˈ ʾawa har ṣàʾx wewa.ˈ ʾə́θwāle ruḥət qùdšaˈ u-raba qaddìša pəšle.ˈ	The region where he was didn’t know God, what were they? They were pagans. They arrested him and put him in jail. They beat him and tortured him. But he still survived. He had the Holy Spirit in him and became a great saint.
	mà wedle?ˈ muplexle ʾarxət qamàye.ˈ ʾarxət qamaye ṛaba zàhme yawya.ˈ ʾarxət qamaye yawele farša gòṛaˈ u-xa farša xena rèše.ˈ qam-darilu gu day ʾàrxe.ˈ kmat qam-taxnile là-mətle,ˈ kmat qam-mazwerile là-mətle.ˈ mà wedle?ˈ muplexle ʾarxət qamàye.ˈ ʾarxət qamaye ṛaba zàhme yawya.ˈ ʾarxət qamaye yawele farša gòṛaˈ u-xa farša xena rèše.ˈ qam-darilu gu day ʾàrxe.ˈ kmat qam-taxnile là-mətle,ˈ kmat qam-mazwerile là-mətle.ˈ	They made him work at a mill (like those) of old. Mills in the past were very hard (to work in). Those mills had a large flat stone and another stone on its top. They put him in that mill and no matter how hard they tried to grind him, he did not die and no matter how many times they spun him he did not die.
	qemle u-plə̀ṭle.ˈ wele malpàna.ˈ wele ṭàwa , wele makərzàna.ˈ u-xəšle šəmme l-maθwaθa kùlle.ˈ maθwaθa Ṣapna.ˈ kut maθa... ṛabe maθwaθa ʾə̀tlan, Màr Giwargis.ˈ hol ma t-ile piša naša gòṛaˈ u-mìθa Mar Giwàrgis.ˈ quṛbanət xèle.ˈ qemle u-plə̀ṭle.ˈ wele malpàna.ˈ wele ṭàwa , wele makərzàna.ˈ u-xəšle šəmme l-maθwaθa kùlle.ˈ maθwaθa Ṣapna.ˈ kut maθa... ṛabe maθwaθa ʾə̀tlan, Màr Giwargis.ˈ hol ma t-ile piša naša gòṛaˈ u-mìθa Mar Giwàrgis.ˈ quṛbanət xèle.ˈ	He got up and left. He became a teacher, a pious man and a preacher. His name spread across all the villages, the vil-lages of the Sapna Valley. Every villages... we have many vil-lages and Mar Gewargis (visited them all), until he grew old and died. (May I be) a vehicle [lit. sacrifice] for his power.
	ʾaxni ʿabdàxleˈ u-k-əbaxle, hole gu màθan.ˈ tre gaye b-šeta yoðaxle duxràna.ˈ u-ʾaxni mhuyə̀mne ʾəbbe.ˈ məndi d-ṭalbaxle ʾàmər.ˈ čùg lele mira la,ˈ ʾawwa hole mḥuṣla məràtan.ˈ ʾayye=la qəṣettət Mar Giwàrgis,ˈ qùrbanət xele.ˈ ʾaxni ʿabdàxleˈ u-k-əbaxle, hole gu màθan.ˈ tre gaye b-šeta yoðaxle duxràna.ˈ u-ʾaxni mhuyə̀mne ʾəbbe.ˈ məndi d-ṭalbaxle ʾàmər.ˈ čùg lele mira la,ˈ ʾawwa hole mḥuṣla məràtan.ˈ ʾayye=la qəṣettət Mar Giwàrgis,ˈ qùrbanət xele.ˈ	We worship him and love him, he is in our village, we hold his memorial twice every year. We believe in him and whatever we ask him, he commands... He has never denied us a request. It is he who has fulfilled our desires. This is the story of Mar Gewargis, (May I be) a vehicle for his power.
	har ʾawa Mar Giwàrgis diyyan,ˈ jmele naše mušəlmane, jmèleˈ u-ʾaya qam ʾenan u-kə̀slan wela.ˈ yaʾni gu bèθa diʾi brela.ˈ θela jmela u-là-xəsle ʾəlle diyye.ˈ har ʾawa Mar Giwàrgis diyyan,ˈ jmele naše mušəlmane, jmèleˈ u-ʾaya qam ʾenan u-kə̀slan wela.ˈ yaʾni gu bèθa diʾi brela.ˈ θela jmela u-là-xəsle ʾəlle diyye.ˈ	It was our Mar Gewargis... Muslim people gathered together—this all happened in front of our eyes, I mean it happened in my home—they gathered, but paid him no heed.
	yaʾani ʾani mušəlmane qam-ḥamyala màθa.ˈ ʾəsrí u-xamša šə̀nneˈ ʾaxni maθan šqile l-mhājrī̀n.ˈ m-ʾamlàkanˈ u-mìyyan.ˈ gazinā̀t diyyanˈ u-fanàdəq diyyan,ˈ kulla pəšla p-ʾidàθeyˈ u-ʾaxni pəšlan baṭile gu màθa.ˈ bnunen, kùlle.ˈ yaʾani ʾani mušəlmane qam-ḥamyala màθa.ˈ ʾəsrí u-xamša šə̀nneˈ ʾaxni maθan šqile l-mhājrī̀n.ˈ m-ʾamlàkanˈ u-mìyyan.ˈ gazinā̀t diyyanˈ u-fanàdəq diyyan,ˈ kulla pəšla p-ʾidàθeyˈ u-ʾaxni pəšlan baṭile gu màθa.ˈ bnunen, kùlle.ˈ	I mean, the Muslims occupied the village. For twenty-five years, our village was occupied by immigrants. Our property and our water supplies, our storehouses and hotels fell went into their hands. We became unemployed in our (own) village, all our children.
	u-lè-xazətwa ʾeta.ˈ zadiwa zəble, zadiwa willèše.ˈ zadiwa kùl məndi.ˈ xa yoma xa bàxta θela.ˈ ʾətla xa brona jwànqa.ˈ məra yəmmət yàʿkub, məri hà.ˈ qùrðəθ muḥkela.ˈ m-qurðəyā́t ʾaxni lè-mfarqax tăra.ˈ ʾaxni u-qurðaye lè-mfarqax.ˈ wax qime kulle muxðaðe.ˈ u-lè-xazətwa ʾeta.ˈ zadiwa zəble, zadiwa willèše.ˈ zadiwa kùl məndi.ˈ xa yoma xa bàxta θela.ˈ ʾətla xa brona jwànqa.ˈ məra yəmmət yàʿkub, məri hà.ˈ qùrðəθ muḥkela.ˈ m-qurðəyā́t ʾaxni lè-mfarqax tăra.ˈ ʾaxni u-qurðaye lè-mfarqax.ˈ wax qime kulle muxðaðe.ˈ	You wouldn’t take a look at the church! They used to dump rubbish, a mess, everything. One day a woman came up to me. She had a young boy. ‘Mother of Yaʿkub,’ she said. ‘Yes,’ I help you, I replied. She spoke Kurdish and we and Kurdish women cannot be told apart (when speaking Kurdish). We and the Kurds cannot be told apart (based on speaking). We all grew up together.
	məra broni jwànqa,ˈ hole mpala kud yom xnàqa.ˈ məri qam-nablàtte l-doxtore?ˈ qam-nablale, kùlle doxtore qam-maxeðrale.ˈ məri mawerre gu day ʾèta t-letu xyasa ʾəlla diyya.ˈ màwerre gawa diyya.ˈ ġlùq tăra baθre diyye.ˈ məra broni jwànqa,ˈ hole mpala kud yom xnàqa.ˈ məri qam-nablàtte l-doxtore?ˈ qam-nablale, kùlle doxtore qam-maxeðrale.ˈ məri mawerre gu day ʾèta t-letu xyasa ʾəlla diyya.ˈ màwerre gawa diyya.ˈ ġlùq tăra baθre diyye.ˈ	She said ‘My little boy faints every day (from) cough-ing.’ ‘Have you taken him to the doctor? She had taken him to many doctors, she had taken him around all the doctors. I said ‘Take him into the church which you don’t heed.’ Take him in-side it. Lock the door behind him.
	šuq t-ṣàrəx.ˈ šud mà ʾawəð.ˈ qbul xa qubla ṭale diyye, bronax b-nàyex.ˈ sə̀qla,ˈ u-qam-mademxale brona gu ʾètaˈ u-ġalqale tărət ʾètaˈ u-qbəlla xa ʾərba qa Mar Giwàrgiz.ˈ bronət diyya bs̀əmle.ˈ šuq t-ṣàrəx.ˈ šud mà ʾawəð.ˈ qbul xa qubla ṭale diyye, bronax b-nàyex.ˈ sə̀qla,ˈ u-qam-mademxale brona gu ʾètaˈ u-ġalqale tărət ʾètaˈ u-qbəlla xa ʾərba qa Mar Giwàrgiz.ˈ bronət diyya bs̀əmle.ˈ	Let him scream and do whatever he likes and make an offering on his behalf, and he will be healed. She went up to the church, put her son to sleep, locked the door and made an of-fering to Mar Gewargis. Her son got healed.
	ʾayya ʾànaˈ kəsli brèla.ˈ mə̀nni brela.ˈ u-ʾana u-yəmmət daw bròna ṛaba xwaryaθa waxwa.ˈ ʾu-ṛàba yaθyawa,ˈ yaʿni l-bèθan.ˈ məra ʾalah yāwə̀llax.ˈ ʾalah nātərrax ʾišàlla.ˈ ʾawa broni qam-mānəxàtte.ˈ ʾayya ʾànaˈ kəsli brèla.ˈ mə̀nni brela.ˈ u-ʾana u-yəmmət daw bròna ṛaba xwaryaθa waxwa.ˈ ʾu-ṛàba yaθyawa,ˈ yaʿni l-bèθan.ˈ məra ʾalah yāwə̀llax.ˈ ʾalah nātərrax ʾišàlla.ˈ ʾawa broni qam-mānəxàtte.ˈ	This happened in my house, it happened with me (pre-sent). The boy’s mother and I became close friends and she used to visit our home often. She said ‘May God grant you (a long life), may God keep you, God willing. You brought relief to my son.’
	məri ‘qaddiša gòra=le.ˈ lètu xyasa ʾəlle.ˈ lètu jyāz, wetu zə̀bleˈ u-kunušyàθaˈ u-tlaya jùlle.ˈ lè-bayyaˈ lè-qabəlla mənnexu.ˈ’ məri ‘ʾawa, ʾaw məndi zòra qam-awədlax.ˈ darutu bàlaˈ tla ʾaθe l-xa məndi gora ʾəllexu.ˈ’ u-ʾayye wa brati.ˈ məri ‘qaddiša gòra=le.ˈ lètu xyasa ʾəlle.ˈ lètu jyāz, wetu zə̀bleˈ u-kunušyàθaˈ u-tlaya jùlle.ˈ lè-bayyaˈ lè-qabəlla mənnexu.ˈ’ məri ‘ʾawa, ʾaw məndi zòra qam-awədlax.ˈ darutu bàlaˈ tla ʾaθe l-xa məndi gora ʾəllexu.ˈ’ u-ʾayye wa brati.ˈ	I said ‘He is a great saint, but you pay him no heed and don’t respect him, you (throw) rubbish, a mess, hang your clothes there. He does not want this this and will not accept it from you. He has done you the least, but be careful lest some-thing more grave befalls you.’ This is ( story), my daughter.

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(1 0:00)Zarifa Toma Goriyal Zàyya.ˈ men mat ʾinə̀ške.ˈ u-ʾana ʾinəškèθe=wan.ˈ ʾana, k-əbet maxkannax qəṣettət Mar Giwàrgis?ˈ šmeli Mar Giwàrgis.ˈ yăðən maxkiwa naše gore.ˈ’(2)xa qaʾəd gòra wewa.ˈ bas lewe t-ʾàxxa.ˈ yonanàya.ˈ θele l-xa mðìθa.ˈ xzele ṛàba ð̣ŭlum.ˈ bas ʾani qam-ʾawðila qəṣə̀tta.ˈ malkət day mðita məre ʾən k-əbettən ʾaxni ʾəθ xùwe, gu xa wàdi, hole sìdəlla.ˈ ʾən lè-yawax xa brāta ṭale dìyye,ˈ lè-mṛapele miya.ˈ(3)ʾawu tule l-xas sùsa.ˈ ʾətle sepa.ˈ xəšle plə̀ṭle xuwe,ˈ sṛaxa u-m-ṣaṛsòṛe ṭale diyye.ˈ ʾawu u-ʾawu wela plaša muġðaðe.ˈ yaʾani waða šarre.ˈ weðle šàrre.ˈ qam-māxele niza gu pummət daw xùwe.ˈ qàm-qātəlle.ˈ swele wadi b-də̀mma.ˈ(4)məre hola muθeθa brāt màlka,ˈ yomət brāt malka t-āxə̀lla ʾaw xuwe.ˈ qam-šāqəlla dārela l-xasət sùsa,ˈ nābəlla kəs baba dìy-ya.ˈ mà wedla našwaθa diyye?ˈ qam-dawqìle.ˈ raqa=le, rìqa.ˈ ʾawu le ʾəθya làxxaˈ d-biyyət tăbl ʾalàha.ˈ(5)dukθət d-we ʾàwa,ˈ lè-y-ðiwa ʾalaha, mà we?ˈ sanàme wewe.ˈ qàm-dawqileˈ qàm-darile b-səjən.ˈ qàm-maxile, ʾaðbìle.ˈ ʾawa har ṣàʾx wewa.ˈ ʾə́θwāle ruḥət qùdšaˈ u-raba qaddìša pəšle.ˈ(6)mà wedle?ˈ muplexle ʾarxət qamàye.ˈ ʾarxət qamaye ṛaba zàhme yawya.ˈ ʾarxət qamaye yawele farša gòṛaˈ u-xa farša xena rèše.ˈ qam-darilu gu day ʾàrxe.ˈ kmat qam-taxnile là-mətle,ˈ kmat qam-mazwerile là-mətle.ˈ(7)qemle u-plə̀ṭle.ˈ wele malpàna.ˈ wele ṭàwa , wele makərzàna.ˈ u-xəšle šəmme l-maθwaθa kùlle.ˈ maθwaθa Ṣapna.ˈ kut maθa... ṛabe maθwaθa ʾə̀tlan, Màr Giwargis.ˈ hol ma t-ile piša naša gòṛaˈ u-mìθa Mar Giwàrgis.ˈ quṛbanət xèle.ˈ(8)ʾaxni ʿabdàxleˈ u-k-əbaxle, hole gu màθan.ˈ tre gaye b-šeta yoðaxle duxràna.ˈ u-ʾaxni mhuyə̀mne ʾəbbe.ˈ məndi d-ṭalbaxle ʾàmər.ˈ čùg lele mira la,ˈ ʾawwa hole mḥuṣla məràtan.ˈ ʾayye=la qəṣettət Mar Giwàrgis,ˈ qùrbanət xele.ˈ(9)har ʾawa Mar Giwàrgis diyyan,ˈ jmele naše mušəlmane, jmèleˈ u-ʾaya qam ʾenan u-kə̀slan wela.ˈ yaʾni gu bèθa diʾi brela.ˈ θela jmela u-là-xəsle ʾəlle diyye.ˈ(10)yaʾani ʾani mušəlmane qam-ḥamyala màθa.ˈ ʾəsrí u-xamša šə̀nneˈ ʾaxni maθan šqile l-mhājrī̀n.ˈ m-ʾamlàkanˈ u-mìyyan.ˈ gazinā̀t diyyanˈ u-fanàdəq diyyan,ˈ kulla pəšla p-ʾidàθeyˈ u-ʾaxni pəšlan baṭile gu màθa.ˈ bnunen, kùlle.ˈ(11)u-lè-xazətwa ʾeta.ˈ zadiwa zəble, zadiwa willèše.ˈ zadiwa kùl məndi.ˈ xa yoma xa bàxta θela.ˈ ʾətla xa brona jwànqa.ˈ məra yəmmət yàʿkub, məri hà.ˈ qùrðəθ muḥkela.ˈ m-qurðəyā́t ʾaxni lè-mfarqax tăra.ˈ ʾaxni u-qurðaye lè-mfarqax.ˈ wax qime kulle muxðaðe.ˈ(12)məra broni jwànqa,ˈ hole mpala kud yom xnàqa.ˈ məri qam-nablàtte l-doxtore?ˈ qam-nablale, kùlle doxtore qam-maxeðrale.ˈ məri mawerre gu day ʾèta t-letu xyasa ʾəlla diyya.ˈ màwerre gawa diyya.ˈ ġlùq tăra baθre diyye.ˈ(13)šuq t-ṣàrəx.ˈ šud mà ʾawəð.ˈ qbul xa qubla ṭale diyye, bronax b-nàyex.ˈ sə̀qla,ˈ u-qam-mademxale brona gu ʾètaˈ u-ġalqale tărət ʾètaˈ u-qbəlla xa ʾərba qa Mar Giwàrgiz.ˈ bronət diyya bs̀əmle.ˈ(14)ʾayya ʾànaˈ kəsli brèla.ˈ mə̀nni brela.ˈ u-ʾana u-yəmmət daw bròna ṛaba xwaryaθa waxwa.ˈ ʾu-ṛàba yaθyawa,ˈ yaʿni l-bèθan.ˈ məra ʾalah yāwə̀llax.ˈ ʾalah nātərrax ʾišàlla.ˈ ʾawa broni qam-mānəxàtte.ˈ(15)məri ‘qaddiša gòra=le.ˈ lètu xyasa ʾəlle.ˈ lètu jyāz, wetu zə̀bleˈ u-kunušyàθaˈ u-tlaya jùlle.ˈ lè-bayyaˈ lè-qabəlla mənnexu.ˈ’ məri ‘ʾawa, ʾaw məndi zòra qam-awədlax.ˈ darutu bàlaˈ tla ʾaθe l-xa məndi gora ʾəllexu.ˈ’ u-ʾayye wa brati.ˈ

Translation:

(1 0:00)I am Zarifa Toma Goryal Zayya from the village of Enishke. I come from Enishke. If you want me I will tell you the story of Mar Gewargis (St. George). I have heard about Mar Gewargis, I know (the story), the elderly used to tell (us).(2)He was a great general, but he was not from here. He was  Greek. (Once,) he came to a city and found a great injustice (being done there). But they made it into a story. ‘If you care for us, there is a serpent in a wadi that has blocked the water. If we don’t offer it a girl it will not let the water flow,’ said the king of that city.(3)He mounted his horse, carrying his sword. He went and the serpent came out shrieking and screeching at him. They both started fighting, I mean, dueling. They started fighting and he struck the serpent in the mouth with his bayonet. He killed him and the wadi was stained with its blood.(4)The king’s daughter was brought on the day that the serpent would eat her. He took her, put her on the horse back and brought her to her father. But what did his people do? They arrested him, (so) he fled and came here and became a follower of God.(5)The region where he was didn’t know God, what were they? They were pagans. They arrested him and put him in jail. They beat him and tortured him. But he still survived. He had the Holy Spirit in him and became a great saint.(6)They made him work at a mill (like those) of old. Mills in the past were very hard (to work in). Those mills had a large flat stone and another stone on its top. They put him in that mill and no matter how hard they tried to grind him, he did not die and no matter how many times they spun him he did not die.(7)He got up and left. He became a teacher, a pious man and a preacher. His name spread across all the villages, the vil-lages of the Sapna Valley. Every villages... we have many vil-lages and Mar Gewargis (visited them all), until he grew old and died. (May I be) a vehicle [lit. sacrifice] for his power.(8)We worship him and love him, he is in our village, we hold his memorial twice every year. We believe in him and whatever we ask him, he commands... He has never denied us a request. It is he who has fulfilled our desires. This is the story of Mar Gewargis, (May I be) a vehicle for his power.(9)It was our Mar Gewargis... Muslim people gathered together—this all happened in front of our eyes, I mean it happened in my home—they gathered, but paid him no heed.(10)I mean, the Muslims occupied the village. For twenty-five years, our village was occupied by immigrants. Our property and our water supplies, our storehouses and hotels fell went into their hands. We became unemployed in our (own) village, all our children.(11)You wouldn’t take a look at the church! They used to dump rubbish, a mess, everything. One day a woman came up to me. She had a young boy. ‘Mother of Yaʿkub,’ she said. ‘Yes,’ I help you, I replied. She spoke Kurdish and we and Kurdish women cannot be told apart (when speaking Kurdish). We and the Kurds cannot be told apart (based on speaking). We all grew up together.(12)She said ‘My little boy faints every day (from) cough-ing.’ ‘Have you taken him to the doctor? She had taken him to many doctors, she had taken him around all the doctors. I said ‘Take him into the church which you don’t heed.’ Take him in-side it. Lock the door behind him.(13)Let him scream and do whatever he likes and make an offering on his behalf, and he will be healed. She went up to the church, put her son to sleep, locked the door and made an of-fering to Mar Gewargis. Her son got healed.(14)This happened in my house, it happened with me (pre-sent). The boy’s mother and I became close friends and she used to visit our home often. She said ‘May God grant you (a long life), may God keep you, God willing. You brought relief to my son.’(15)I said ‘He is a great saint, but you pay him no heed and don’t respect him, you (throw) rubbish, a mess, hang your clothes there. He does not want this this and will not accept it from you. He has done you the least, but be careful lest some-thing more grave befalls you.’ This is ( story), my daughter.