In all the changes of government the Assyrians have kept in office a
succession of patriarchs even to the present time. The residence of
their first Patriarch was in Ktispon and since that time at various
places as Baghdad, Babel, Nineveh, Mosoel and for a long time at
Elkosh, the town of the prophet Nahum. He now resides in Kurdiston
mountain in the village of Kudshanoos. His home is located on a hill
surrounded by much beautiful scenery. The church in which Marshimon
administers is called St. Ruben, a building made of granite.

[Illustration: NESTORIAN ARCHBISHOP.]

CHAPTER III.

CLERGY.

The Assyrian church believe they have an apostolic succession from St.
Thomas and St. Bartholomew. There are seven orders in the clergy. The
patriarch, metropolitan, episcopas, archdeacon, elder, deacon and
reader.

The first three are forbidden marriage. The eating of meat is
prohibited but fish, butter and eggs can be used. In olden times the
presence of twelve metropolitans was required at the ordination of a
patriarch, but to-day they require only four metropolitans and a few
episcopas. The patriarch ordains the metropolitans and episcopas and
these in turn ordain the lower clergy. It is the duty of the patriarch
to overlook the entire church. Much of his time is also taken up in
sending messages to Kurdish priests and to Turkish officials about
wrongs that have been committed against his people. The patriarch is
highly respected and his messages receive prompt attention. His income
consists of a small annual fee of five to twenty cents from all the men
who belong to his sect. Fifty years ago it was a custom for elders to
marry a virgin and not a widow. This custom is not observed now. They
have seven orders of monks. In ancient times these were the strength of
the church. The monks are pure men and learned. There are a few nuns,
one of the most faithful of whom is a sister of the present patriarch.

CHAPTER IV.

CHURCHES AND ORDINANCES.

THEIR FAITH.

Their faith as it is described in some ancient MSS about 500 years old
was entirely evangelical. They believed in the trinity, God the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit, three persons, equal in power and nature, working
together for the salvation of mankind. Some western historians have
made the error of stating that the Assyrians deny the divinity of
Christ or believe that He has two personalities.

From the beginning until the present time they have believe