The Legend of Mar Qardagh

 

Qardagh was born in the village of Barhaptoon in northern Iraq around AD 325 to a noble and wealthy family. His father, Kooshnawi (a descendant of Assyrian kings) was dedicated to the Zoroastrian religion. He was a philanthropist who built many temples and donated generously to its priests.

Since his youth, Qardagh was a prodigious marksman, polo-player and a hunter. He was heavily built, a tall and handsome figure with a deep majestic voice. When King Shapur II visited his parent’s he was impressed with his archery skills and athleticism. His precocious talents captured the imagination of the king. Next morning he joined the king’s hunting entourage of three hundred noblemen and one hundred bodyguards. As they entered into a dense forest they spotted two stags, the king called for Qardagh to show his archery skills. He loosed his arrow with such speed and ferocity that it went through both stags and killed them. It was as if the hunted stags knew the arrows of their hunter before they felt them in their breasts.

 

The king was lost in amazement. He bequeathed him with many gifts and appointed him as a Marzipan, government official, for the frontier region of Atour, an area stretching from present-day Irbil in northern Iraq to Nissibes in south Turkey. This area bordered the Byzantine Empire where Christianity was spread in the region. The Christians were perturbed when they heard about his appointment. They were aware how zealous his family was to the Zoroastrian religion.

 

Upon taking his post, Qardagh built many temples and commenced work on his castle on a hill called Malgee.He completed the project within two years. Opposite to his castle, a huge fire temple was built and many priests were appointed to serve in it. As he was supervising the final touches to his castle, one night, he saw a vision of a heavily armored knight poked his spear at him and told him that he would die as a martyr for Jesus in front of his castle. This was St. George. He told his mother about his vision, she warned him not to persecute the Christians, as their God is just.

 

In a cave nestled in mount Safeen, overlooking Shaqlawa (51 km to the northeast of Erbil) lived a monk by the name of Abdishu (to this day the cave still exists). As he was praying he heard a voice that ordered him to leave his cave and to seek Qardagh, as he wished to be converted to Christianity. As the monk was headed to the castle, he came across a party of joyous men who were chatting excitedly; it was Qardagh and his friends heading to a field to play polo. Abdishu nonchalantly walked towards them and blocked their way. They were surprised at the hermit’s bold impiety and cussedness.The incandescently angry men jostled and battered the monk. He was dragged to the castle to be questioned after they finish their game.

 

 As they commenced their warm up before the game, one of the players wiped the ball hard but it did not move and remained at rest. Everyone took turns and hit the ball with their mallets, they were amazed at how much harder they hit the ball, yet it did not move. It seemed nailed to the ground.Qardagh ordered one of his men to dismount and to lift the ball and throw it away. His friend lifted the ball and threw it as hard as he could only to fall at his feet. They were dumbfounded. One of his companions pointed out that the monk they beat up drew the sign of a cross and muttered something with his lips, perhaps he cast a spell on them.Qardagh returned to his castle and sank into an eternal slumber. He was gripped by a growing self-righteous rage, he ordered Abdishu to be brought to him for interrogation.

 

Qardagh questioned Abdishu about his identity and how did he possess such supernatural powers. He yelped insults at the monk. The hermit endured his abuse with humility and talked with gusto about Christianity and Jesus.Qardagh realised that behind the hermit’s servile, weak exterior lies concealed a strong will and precise goals that he will fight courageously and obstinately to achieve. Yet he felt that there was something about him that garnered respect. As he was being dragged to prison, Abdishu told him that tomorrow he will witness another miracle. 

 

The next day Qardagh and his companions were out hunting. Every time one of them loosed his arrows, they would fly no further than his feet.Spontanously; all of them drew their bows fully and discharged their arrows as hard as they could only to see them fall on the ground. Their faces were etched with incredulity and anxiety.

 

Qardagh realised that a miracle was unfurling before his eyes, and he remembered the words of Abdishu.He hurriedly returned to his castle overtaken by anxiety and fear, he decided to free the monk. Unaware that during the night the angel of the Lord appeared to Abdishu and released him from his captivity. The guards went to get him and to their astonishment, they saw the jail door open and his shackles on the floor. The panic stricken guards were slathered with sweat; a frission of fear enfolded them. They rushed back and informed Qardagh.

 

Qardagh withdrew into his private quarters. Alone in his room and wallowing in the murk of his soul, he realised that the God of Christians is truly great. He subconsciously drew the sign of the cross on his wall. From this moment, a great change occurred to his life, he felt pure and as if his soul is cleansed by the new faith.Qardagh started praying ruefully and he implored the god of Christians to let him see Abdishu and to ask for his forgiveness and to be taught about the Christian faith. During the night, he saw a vision of the monk telling him how to get to his mountain cave.

In the morning, Qardagh disguised himself, took two of his loyal men, and headed to the mountain cave of Abdishu. After several days riding, they reached the cave and were greeted by the monk.Qardagh dismounted swiftly and knelt on the ground before Abdishu and asked for his forgiveness. The pious monk helped him to stand on his feet, embraced him warmly, and took him inside his cave. His companions took his horse to the nearby monastery of Sapperyasho were they lodged. Abdishu started teaching Qardagh how to pray and meditate.

In a cave, nine miles north of f Abdishu’s mountain, a monk by the name of Booya dwelled. He lived a strict ascetic life and never ventured outside his cave for almost sixty eight years. This cave still exists in northern Iraq and the Christian locals of Shaqlawa still celebrate the monks feast day on the 3rd Monday after Easter.Booya had a vision to call upon the cave of Abdishu and to help him guide the newly converted Qardagh.

 

Abdishu was astonished when he saw the old monk at his cave. The two of them embraced each other warmly; they were filled with joy at Qardagh being converted to a Christian.Booya embraced Qardagh and he spoke to him about Jesus and their religion. The three of them spent some time in prayers and meditation. The old monk embraced the two and returned to his cave.Qardagh spent a further five days with Abdishu and he asked him to baptise him.Abdishu took him to the monastery of Saparyashu, along with his two loyal companions, they were baptised in a joyful ceremony. After spending another week with Abdishu,he returned to his castle immersed in joy and happiness.  

 

When Qardagh reached his castle, he immediately asked for a monk by the name of Isaac. He was a renowned friar who roomed the area. Isaac taught Qardagh the psalms and explained the bible to him.Qardagh abandoned all frivolous things, and stopped eating meat. He withdrew from society and devoted himself to the purpose of spiritual renewal and return to God.  He started giving alms and donations to the poor and orphans of monasteries in his area. These acts disturbed his family and relatives, especially his father. He was a wealthy landlord and was perturbed at his son’s squandering of his land and possessions. It was bad enough for Qardagh to convert to Christianity and even worse, he was giving away all the wealth they have accumulated.  His wife Shushan wrote to her father and complained about his action. 

 

After two years have passed, Qardagh decided to visit his mentor Abdishu.The monk was delighted to see him, they went to meet monk Booya, and he stayed with them for over a month. He enjoyed the rustic beauty and peacefulness of the area.

News of Qardagh’s conversion to Christianity and his lack of interest in wars reached his enemies. During his stay with the monks, a raiding party of Romans and Arabs attacked his castle. Many of his knights were killed and they took captive his parents, his wife and his relatives together with a large booty.

Two hundred and thirty five of his bravest knights survived the battle and they headed for the cave of Abdishu.Qardagh was surprised to see their gruff faces .He laughed at them and asked why the look so petrified as if they have just escaped their death. Churned up with anger, one of his knights said:” what do expect when our commander and governor dwells in the cave with thieves and saucerers”.Immediately after he finished his sentence the knight fell on the ground and breathed no more.His companions were astonished when they saw their brave friend dead by uttering a few words and they all asked to be baptised and converted to Christianity.

Qardagh decided to save his family and recover his possession. After the blessing of Booya and Abdishu he gathered his remaining knights and returned to his castle. He was saddened to see the devastation inflicted on his land, yet with Christianity etched on his heart, he decided to forgive his enemies and not to seek revenge. He dispatched his brother with a message to the raiders to return what belonged to him. His wife was very clever; she left some traces of her clothes as clues that would lead to their whereabouts.

The raiders decapitated his brother’s head and returned to Qardagh.Incandescent with rage he gathered his knights and prepared for battle. He and his men spent some time praying in the church, with his hand on his head he muttered an incantation and started praying. He vowed that if he was to be victorious in his battle all temples of fire would be demolished in his region. They headed for battle; Qardagh was wearing a large illuminos cross on his chest.

He met his enemies by the mountain of Qardoo; they were drinking and sending their laughter resounding through the mountains. As the darkness of night was receding heralding a new morning, Qardagh and his men attacked their camp. Their attack was so furious and swift that within one hour the battle was over and almost all his enemies were killed or drowned in Khabour River. This battle took place in AD 356 near the village of Beedar west of Zakho (300 miles North West of Baghdad). 

 

Qardagh returned triumphantantly; he regained his wife, his parents and all his possessions. He was in an ebullient mood. He replaced all temples of fire with churches, fulfilling his vow. He even converted the temple built by his father, in honor of his birth, at the village of Barhaptoon to a monastery. The Zoroastrian priests and their chief by the name of Mudban Moobedheard were outraged by his action and lodged a complained to the king.

 

The king loved Qardagh and admired his bravery in battle; he was fascinated with his daring attack that left thousands of his enemies dead. He dismissed the priest’s complaint. The head priests produced more witnesses and again lodged an appeal to the king to investigate the matter. The king succumbed to their pressure and summoned Qardagh for questioning.

 

At their meeting Qardagh confessed to the king about his conversion to Christianity. The king asked him to denounce his new faith and to return back to his Zoroastrian beliefs. By doing so he would be rewarded handsomely.Qardagh clung obstinately to his new faith. He hoped that during this period Qardagh’s friends and family would be able to exert some pressure on him to renounce his new faith. However; he remained stubborn and refused to repent. His case was put to the notorious chief inquisitor Shaherkhwast.He was Ruthless and delusional judge and was responsible for trying all those who converted to Christianity.

 

Shaherkhwast ordered Qardagh to denounce his new faith and he would be sparred all the torture. But instead he started praying loudly. Shaherkhwast grew increasingly vituperative the more he prayed. His eyes were glinting with rage. If it were not for the kings orders, he would have killed him at once.Qardagh was shackled and escorted to his castle. As he approached his castle, Qardagh broke down and wept in tears, he sank to his knees prayed to Jesus to unshackle him. All of a sudden his shackles turned and unfastened. His captors were startled and ran in fright.

 

Qardagh entered his castle and shut its gates; he prepared to fight with his loyal knights. They started shooting arrows at his captors, killing most of them. A larger force was sent to retake his castle but Qardagh defeated them. The king summoned Qardagh’s elder tribesmen and asked them to intervene and negotiate a peaceful settlement of the affair, but they failed.

During his sleep, Qardagh saw a dream of a man being stoned with pearls. When he woke up in the morning he asked monk Isaac to interpret his dream. The monk told him that this was St. Stephen, the first martyr of Christianity. He red his storey to him from the Acts of the Apostles. Qardagh realised that his hour has arrived. He drew the sign of the cross and ordered the gates to be opened. His companions clutched on him, beseeched him but to no avail. He walked slowly towards his enemies.

 

 

Everyone gathered around him, vulgar jests and insulting sneer were passed from lip to lip, like the bellowing of wild beasts. He felt their glare on him like a heat of a blistering sun. The crowd could contain their anger no longer. Then, a torrent of stones.

As he was being pelted by the mob, Qardagh seemed oblivious to them and continued with his prayers and drew the sign of the cross on his forehead. He prayed that the Lord would receive his spirit and his killers be forgiven. He was pelted with larger stones and despite the agony that racked his frame he continued with his prayers. He felt his pulse race and the moisture evaporate from his mouth.

 

As the last gleam of light was fading from his eyes, Qardagh cried lugubriously:” I will only die if my father stoned me”. His father heard his cry; He took a large stone and with his eyes closed dropped it on his son’s head. He died instantly. This was on a Friday in AD 358. His feast day is still celebrated by Christians of Iraq on August 23.