In 1551 a dispute arose among the Nestorians concerning the election of a patriarch. One party elected Bar Mama; the other, who chose Sulaka, placed themselves under the Roman pontificate, and called themselves Chaldean Christians. Sulaka was sent to Rome to be ordained, but on his return he was made prisoner in Amid, and killed in prison. Another was appointed in his place. In 1684 pope Innocent .XI. appointed a patriarch, who resided in Diarbekir, and took the name of Joseph, which is retained by his successors. The number of Chaldean Christians is about 20,000, scattered from Diarbekir to the frontiers of Persia and from the borders of Tyari to Bagdad—a district which one contained a vast number of Nqtorians. This portion of the Nestorians is governed by a patriarch and six bishops, who have lately been pensioned by the prop aganda. They have no independent existence, but are a section of the Roman church. They have no standard confession of faith, The patriarch of the other party is called Simeon, and resides in the mountains cf Kurdistan. These are the two representatives of the primitive Nestorian church in Persia.
The Syrian or Nestorian Christians of St. Thomas profess to be his disciples, and say that he preached the gospel in Malabar and other parts of India. However that may be, there is evidence that the Syrian or Nestotian
in Malabar were founded as early as the 5th or 6th century. The first notices of this people in recent times are found in Portuguese histories. When they arrived in India in A.D. 1500, they found not only a Christian king, hut many professing Christians, and more than 100 churches. The popes claiming universal spiritual supremacy endeavored to bring them into subjection, and directed the Portuguese to use all their power to convert them. In 1545 a Francis can friar was sent. out who opened schools to educate the youth in the doctrines of their church. The Syrian bishop, Mar Joseph, was taken a. prisoner to Goa, and thence sent to Portugal. Moshebn says," The finishing stroke was put to the violence and brutality of these attempts by Don Alexis de Meuezes, archbishop of Goa, who at the close of the 16th century, calling the Jesuits to his assistance, compelled this unhappy people to embrace the religion of Rome, and to acknowledge the pope's supreme jurisdiction. ' The result of these efforts was that the priests and churches on the sea-coast submitted to the pope, insisting, however, on retaining their language and liturgy. These are called the Syrin-ItoNaAC44.2).4(pAtz. ttT not_ yield. ,in the interior would not yield. After a brief show of
the inquisition, hid their books, fled to the mountains, and sought the protection of the native princes. These retain their ancient rites, liturgy, and ministry, and are called by their former name the Syrian, C7trerans
the Syrian metropolitan and his clergy, and there were 55 churches. They used the liturgy of Antioch in the Syrian language. They had many old and valuable collies of the Scriptures, one of a Syrian manuscript of great antiquity they presented to him. Ile describes their doctrines as few in number, but agreeing in essential points with those of the church of England. The church missionary society subsequently lied 1111FS1011 among them, but without much success. The Syrio-Roman Christians are said to number about 100.000, the others 50.000.
In 1830 .Mes:1-s. Smith and Dwight, missionaries of the American board, visited the Nestorians of Persia. From their Remarelies we learn that they occupy a wild range of the Koordish mountains on the borders of Turkey and Persia. They are governed by ineliks or kings chosen from their own people by a popular vote. Every melik or head of a small clan is perfectly independent, except as they yield a voluntary obedience to their patriarch, Mar Simon, who resides near Joolameek, and styles himself " p:Itriarch of the East." The Turkish government has long sought to subdue them. They are very poor, and in the summer many descend to the plain of Oroomieh at the foot of the Kurdistan range, where now dwell a large body of Nestorians, numbering about 40,000. They are bold, generous, and kind. The patriarch professes only spiritual power, but among the mountaineers his word is law in all things. lie seldom visits those of Oroo him are 18 bishops, 4 of whom reside in Oroomiab. Celibacy is not required of the infcriorclergy, who generally are poor, eking out a living by cultivating the ground, or teaching a few scholars. Some of them can scarcely read, but they have improved since the distribution freely among them of the Syriac bible. Religion is very low. Lying, intemperance, profanity, and some other vices, are COMMOn. Sunday is a holiday. Roman Catholic agents seek to seduce the Nestorian Christians, and even the patriarchs, to submission to the pope. A Jesuit a'few years ago offered the patriarch $10.000 if he would acknowledge the Roman supremacy. The _Mohammedans also endeavor to proselyte. These poor people are greatly oppressed with taxes, aural are the victims of spoliation, and have no redress even in the courts. A Nestorian is not allowed a place in the bazaar, cannot engage in commerce, and in the mechanic arts cannot rise to a higher position than that of a mason or carpenter. In 18431hey rebelled and a general massacre took place. The Nestorians acknowledge the supreme authority of the Holy Scriptures, and hold that DO doctrine or practice is essential to salvation, which cannot -be proved from them. They have air pictures or images in their churches. The only .symbol among them is a plain Greek cross, which they highly venerate.