Seraphim Maamdi: Why Kurds are choosing Orthodoxy

Seraphim Maamdi is a Kurd whose ancestors fled from the Turkish genocide into the Caucasus region 100 years ago. The charming combination of a Kurdish last name and a Greek first name, Seraphim, owes to the fact that he was baptized Orthodox ten years ago, after having moved to Russia¹. In the summer of this year, Seraphim organized a meeting of Orthodox Kurds in Tbilisi. Seraphim told our correspondent from Pravmir² about the conversion of his fellow Kurds - Yezidis and Muslims - to Orthodoxy, about Kurds and Kurdistan, about relations between Georgians and Russians and much more.

“There was murmuring from a few: how is it that they allowed him to enter the sanctuary?”

• Seraphim, why did you choose the name Seraphim in particular for your baptism, rather than, say, a Georgian name. After all, your ancestors had lived in Georgia for four generations.

-From early childhood I had heard of Saint Seraphim of Sarov³, however, I could not understand what his spiritual feat consisted of.

When I learned that he spent 1000 days and nights on a stone in prayer… I was amazed! While looking at his eyes on an icon, I was captivated by their gaze: they were so bright, kind, and had such depth. I felt affection and shame, ashamed that I was so unworthy. When I chose to be baptized, I was unable to imagine another name for myself. He is for me the model of the holiness to which we should aspire.

“Seraphim” means “fiery”⁴. It is also the name of one of the orders of Angels close to God.

I am still a neophyte, little before God, yet I know that there is a perfection to which we must all strive. One either strives to become a saint or he remains nobody, there is not a third path. A person, if he is Christian, never ceases to strive in this way because there is no limit to Christian perfection.

• What are the most memorable events of the past few years, since you have been Orthodox?

-The most meaningful impression, and experience, was when I received the blessing to serve in the sanctuary. At that time, I had only been a member of the Church for one year, so there were many who murmured, “how is it that they allowed him to enter the sanctuary so early.” But the senior priest of our parish in Khimki⁵ gave me his blessing. When I entered the sanctuary for the first time I instantly felt the Grace of God! I felt as if I were slowly climbing a staircase when, all of a sudden, I was transported ten steps higher. I understood that I had been granted an enormous honor - to serve at God’s Throne. It is a service of Grace, but it is also a terrifying service and an immense responsibility.

I remember my first Liturgy (after having served in the sanctuary for two Liturgies in a row). I felt as if I was flying! The priest asked, “are you tired?” And I answered him, “father, I am ready to help with two more Liturgies in a row!”

Sometimes I went to church every day, which gave me the opportunity to study Church Slavonic more deeply, to learn to pray. Church Slavonic, while being a delightful language, was very difficult to understand. I read the Book of Hours and Akathists and thus gradually began to learn Slavonic.

Once the Lord showed me how tragic it is for a Christian to live without Holy Communion. I went to the country to relax, but in the place where I found myself there wasn’t an Orthodox church. Having spent ten days there, I felt not joy, but rather melancholy. And although I was supposed to stay longer, I decided to leave early. Without Holy Communion I dry up, just like a flower without water. I live on Holy Communion. Since entering the Orthodox faith five years ago, I have missed five, maybe seven Sunday Services. For me that is always a major loss. Father Daniel Sysoev⁶ told me: “Take Communion no less than once a month, and no more than once a day - that is the foundation of spiritual life.”

Center of attention

• What did knowing Fr. Daniel Sysoev give you?

-I had dreamed of meeting him! He was one of the two marvelous priests who I’ve known (the first being the priest from Novgorod Dmitri Bezumov who prepared my Baptism). Looking at them, I understood what the service of a priest is about and how it should be carried out. Fr. Daniel was an example for me, he was fiery and zealous. He always found time for his parishioners. It was very interesting to talk with him, he was such an erudite, he possessed such an excellent knowledge of history and of Scripture. I bombarded him with questions and he would patiently explain. It was Fr. Daniel who gave me a Gospel in Kurdish, which motivated me to study Kurdish. It was God’s mercy that allowed me to meet Fr. Daniel.

• How did you react to the news of his demise?

-It was very sad. My first thoughts were selfish: “If he had lived just a few more years, he could have taught us so much.” He helped and inspired people so much, supported them in all their endeavors. But at the same time, I was overjoyed! At some point I came to understand that we now had an intercessor and martyr in Heaven who, seeing our needs, will pray for us. This is God’s mercy! In the church we didn’t feel that before us stood a coffin with the departed lying in it, but rather a shrine with holy relics. My friends said, “We don’t feel like he is dead.” I stayed in the church all day and all night while the Gospel was read over him, I stayed with his spiritual children and his family. When I left, it felt like I’d left a little part of me there in the church. But in my soul I felt calm and joyful.

• Have you ever had the desire to be a priest?

- The priesthood is a divine calling. I have always felt and been conscious of the fact that we Kurds are in dire need of a priest, but as far as I am concerned personally, I don’t feel that I have the right to be influenced solely by my own desires and tendencies as regards that question. While I do consider the priesthood, here one must seek God’s will rather than his own. Time will tell what God wishes.

However, I do feel the call. And the Patriarch of Georgia has told me: “A priest is very important to the Kurdish people, they need a shepherd who will unite the flock.” This is an enormous responsibility! A priest is an icon of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ made priests partners in His actions, such as the Sacraments, preaching and pastoral work. People from all over Judea flocked to Christ! A good priest is meant to be just such a “center of attention.”

The Kurdish path to Orthodoxy

• Seraphim, relying on the fact that you’ve recently been to Georgia, I’d like to ask you: has a division really formed which alienates Russians from Georgians?

-Do you know what Georgians ask me? “Is it true that Russians hate us?” And do you know what Russians ask me? “Is it true that Georgians hate us?” This is the result of the political manipulation of two Orthodox nations. How can we maintain enmity if we are of one faith? When we are united in Christ, in sacred truth, nationality is a secondary issue.

• Was the meeting of the Orthodox Kurds in Tbilisi initiated by the Patriarch of Georgia?

- When I arrived in Georgia to take care of some personal affairs, I had the good fortune of meeting His Beatitude Catholicos of Georgia, Ilia II. He gave his blessing in order for me to assemble the Orthodox Kurds in the Cathedral of Sameba, where he serves. For me all this was something completely new and unexpected. I needed to take care of all the organization, bring the people together. I had never undertaken anything like that before, I was totally inexperienced. But with God’s help everything worked out. The information spread like a chain reaction, from person to person, and around 40 people gathered. There were also some Georgian guests, and we were delighted to have fr. Ilia Chankvetadze. I gave a lecture about the history of Kurdish Christians and told the audience the stories of modern Kurds who had converted to Orthodoxy; I also answered questions. Towards the middle of the assembly some Kurds gathered up the courage to tell the audience about their personal path to Orthodoxy.

There was also an unexpected and joyous episode. An elderly Kurdish lady stood up and asked to be allowed to speak. She said, “All my life I had been searching for the truth, knowing that it must exist somewhere, but I couldn’t find it. I was taken to the Pentecostal Church, to the Jehovah's Witnesses and to other sects, but I understood that something there just wasn’t right… But now, at age 65, I feel that for the first time I have found the truth! It is so obvious that I am unable to oppose it.” The woman declared that she had decided to be baptized.

• Does the conversion of Kurds usually occur as a result of an independent search?

-It happens in various ways. Some convert after having read the Bible or speaking to a priest, attempting to find the truth. Some are even moved by a mystical experience. For example, a relative of mine, who at the time of the story was 15 or 16, used to be tormented by a nightmare in which someone was chasing him, someone black would chase him into a corner. And when he was finally trapped, a white cross would appear and the darkness dissipated. This dream repeated several times! This young man told the dream to his father, who didn’t take it seriously: “an impressionable teenage boy will dream about all sorts of things.” But then the father was in a terrible car accident from which he miraculously survived. He came home at night and went to bed. He dreamed that a tall black being said: “I wanted to take you away, but He wouldn’t let me.” In the end the whole family was baptized.

Kurdish Yezidis become Orthodox rather easily. However, for Kurds coming from Muslim families it is more complicated. I know a girl from Kazakhstan from a Muslim Kurdish family. She developed the desire to be baptized, but she couldn’t decide out of fear. Her brother gathered up his courage and was baptized. I corresponded with the girl, who finally said, “I don’t know what my parents will do when they find out that no matter what I want to be baptized.” I recently learned that she was joined to the Church on Pentecost. Overall it should be noted that Kurds are actively becoming Orthodox.

• Are you afraid of being persecuted because of your faith? Surely you hear criticism saying that you have abandoned your “native, indigenous” religion…

-It’s happened, but thank God I am not afraid. It is also worth noting that in Russia and Georgia Kurds have a more gentle and tolerant attitude towards Orthodoxy. But take for example Kurdish Yezidis in Iraq; they are capable of stoning an apostate to death, especially one who has converted to Islam. Yezidis have a bitter hatred towards Muslims because of the Turkish genocide at the start of the 20th century. Not so long ago, it seems it was in 2007, a story took place in Iraq. A Yezidi girl fell in love with a Muslim boy. Against their parents’ will, the couple were married and the young lady became Muslim. According to the Yezidis, in doing so she committed a mortal sin. After learning of the marriage and conversion, the Yezidis killed her. 15 young men got together and committed this heinous act. In their turn the Muslims took revenge. They caught the murderers and killed every last one of them execution style. So as you see, in Iraq the attitude towards changing your religion is a very categorical one. In Russia such radicalism doesn’t exist. Yezidis are very sympathetic to Orthodoxy, although they prefer to maintain a distance and not penetrate into [the faith]. Father Ilia said that after the fall of the Soviet Union one of the first Orthodox churches in Tbilisi was built by Kurdish Yezidis.

• Seraphim, you have already said that the history of the Kurdish people is tragic. Wherein lies the tragedy?

-The Kurds are one of the oldest peoples of the Orient. Kurds are also one of the largest ethnic groups in the world, deprived of the rights to autonomy and political sovereignty. In the 20th century the territory where Kurds have lived for countless centuries (Kurdistan) was divided between four states: Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. Furthermore, a number of countries in the region are openly hostile to Kurdish people and try to force them to assimilate.

Whilst living in their homeland, my ancestors were not allowed to speak the Kurdish language. If a textbook of Kurdish language were found in the home, the family would receive 10 years in prison. During the 20th century a genocide took place, due to which my people were forced to flee to Georgia, Armenia, Russia, Europe, the USA and other countries. After Christian nations began to accept Kurdish refugees, our written language gradually began to develop. In the USSR, for the first time Kurdish theatre, radio and newspaper appeared. And in France the “Academy of Kurdish Language” even came to exist. It was precisely during the emigration that all of this was achieved.

There was a time when our people knew Christianity. But, finding themselves in a Muslim environment, the majority became Muslim. I believe that had the Kurds remained faithful to Christ, our history would have been different. Nevertheless, these persecutions were providential. Many Kurds were able to be fearlessly baptized. In the 2000’s, translations of Holy Scripture and Orthodox prayers were made into Kurdish. Finally, it became more possible to preach the Gospel to Kurds.

A Silent Sermon

-Do you feel that this is your calling - to speak about Christ to your compatriots?

- When I was still preparing to be baptized [studying the Catechism] I had already begun to take part in the mission. Fr. Dmitri Bezumnov was my teacher, we would spend three or four hours in discussion. I absorbed information like a sponge and have remembered everything he taught me to this day! Thus, without realizing it, fr. Dmitri enlightened not one, but many people.

- Have your relatives been baptized?

- Many have been, while others have not. Some are still preparing for it. Actually, one of the reasons I decided to take part in the mission is because of the pain I feel for my family. When I was baptized, I was troubled by the thought that they will live and die outside of Christianity. I was hurt and frightened for their sake. But on the other hand, I understood that one should never force their beliefs on others, nor should one go around with the attitude that he is better than his relatives because he knows Christ and they do not. There is a silent sermon - your life, there is also prayer. And that is what is most important. If my words are not supported by my actions, then all is useless.

Preaching would be impossible without the love for God and for one’s neighbour. It is this that gives me the strength not to despair while pursuing this difficult path. Compassion alone will not help in this work, I preach for the Glory of God.

• What are your plans for the foreseeable future?

-We accomplish everything with God’s help. My priority is to preach, and also to enlighten and strengthen the faith in those recently baptized Christians. Some Kurds become Christian but continue to perform Pagan rituals. For example, they go to places which are sacred only to Kurds - such places could be merely a pile of stones -they leave money there in exchange for “luck.” They also practice fortune-telling, etc. All of this stems from ignorance. Therefore, these things need to be spoken and written about, which is what I try to do to the best of my ability.

• Is it possible that a Kurdish Orthodox community still doesn’t exist?

-There are a great many baptized Kurds. However, a unified, active community does not yet exist. But it will emerge. Our people are somewhat passive. Kurds are waiting for a priest to come, for a church to be built… When an enormous palace is being built, nobody goes to work on it. When the building is finished, then the people gather with pleasure. Starting from nothing is difficult, but everything at one time or another began from nothing! Islam spread eastward like the plague, taking pity on nothing and on no one. That is why only mere crumbs are left of Kurdish Christianity. Therefore, we are faced with a great task for the future - reviving the faith in Christ amongst Kurds. At times it seems impossible, but God would not entrust people with an unachievable task. And He gave Christians the task to be the light of the world. It is hard, but it is possible. We often forget that it is God who accomplishes great things, but he does so with our hands.

The opinions of the author may not necessarily coincide with those of the editor.

Source: pravmir.ru

Translated from Russian by Aviv Saliou

1 article published on 2 November, 2011

2 pravmir http://www.pravmir.com/ is a Russian Orthodox Church website

3 Seraphim of Sarov (+1833) was a great Russian monk

4 λέξη σαράφ, που σημαίνει «καίω, καθαρίζω με φωτιά».

5 Khimki (Химки) is a city just northwest of Moscow, in Moscow Oblast, Russia. Source: wikipedia.org

6 Fr. Daniel (Sysoev) (1974 - 2009) was an Orthodox priest in Moscow who was martyred in the parish church which he helped build and where he served.