Mar Dinkha IV

• published: 26 Mar 2015
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Dinkha Khanania was born in Iraq and baptized in the Church of Mar Qaryaqos located in the village of his birth Darbandokeh. Khanania (also written as (Denkha Kh'nanya)) gained his elementary education under the tutorship of his grandfather, Benyamin Soro. In 1947—at the age of eleven—he was entrusted to the care of Mar Yousip Khnanisho, Metropolitan and the Patriarchal representative for all Iraq, the second-highest ranking ecclesiastic of the Assyrian Church of the East.[1] After two years of study, he was ordained deacon in the church of Mar Youkhana in Harir by Mar Yousip on 12 September 1949. On 15 July 1957, he was ordained to the priesthood, and appointed to minister Urmia, Iran. He is the fourth in the line of succession to the Bishopric of Urmia. Dinkha's priesthood as Metropolitan of Iran and Tehran[1] reestablished a line of succession which had ceased to exist after the 1915 assassination of his predecessor.[2] In 1962, Dinkha moved from northern Iraq to Tehran.[2] During his tenure in Iran, he established a seminary and advocated for Assyrian nationalism and ecumenism.[1] Responding to popular demand, Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Eshai Shimun XXIII consecrated Khananya as bishop on 11 February 1962, in the church of Martyr Mar Gewargis in Tehran. His Holiness, the late, Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patirarch passed away on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at 10:00 AM at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Massachusetts along his beside were prelates, clergy, and family members who were in constant prayer. Below is a message from the Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East, Bishop Mar Awa Royel: It is great sorrow and a heavy heart that His Beatitude Mar Aprem, Metropolitan of India and Patriarchal Vicar, in unison with all the members of the Holy Synod of the Assyrian Church of the East, announce the falling asleep in the Lord of His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East. The late Patriarch passed at 10:04 am, this morning (Thursday, March 26, 2015) at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. His Holiness was surrounded by the prelates, clergy and family members. The prelates and clergy were in constant prayer at His Holiness' bedside. Details of the Patriarch's viewing and funeral will be forthcoming. By Grace, +Mar Awa Royel Secretary of the Holy Synod