Addai Scher

Addai Scher (Syriac: ܐܕܝ ܫܝܪ‎, IPA: [ʔadðˈðaːj ʃeːr]) Also written Addai Sher, Addaï Scher and Addai Sheir (3 March 1867 – 21 June 1915), an ethnic Assyrian, was the Chaldean Catholic archbishop of Siirt in Upper Mesopotamia. He was killed by the Ottomans during the Assyrian Genocide.

Early life

Addai was born in Shaqlawa to an ethnic Assyrian family who were adherents of the Chaldean Catholic Church on 3 March 1867. His father was the local priest of the village, and he helped him at teaching Syriac at a young age. The early death of his mother made him concentrate on ascetic life and he joined the Dominican Seminar in Mosul in 1880 where he studied Syriac, Arabic, French, Latin and Turkish as well as theology and philosophy. Nine years later he was appointed a priest and sent to his home town Shaqlawa, where he once more worked as a teacher in the Church's school.

Priest and bishop

He was later appointed as a bishopric assistant in Kirkuk and he spent his time learning Hebrew, Greek, Persian, Kurdish and he authored as well in German and English.