Mar Eshai Shimun (Patriarch)

Mar Eshai Shimun was the Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, a Christian religious leader for the Assyrian community. Born in 1887, he sought to unify and strengthen his church amid political upheavals in the Middle East. Serving from 1920 until his assassination in 1975, he played a key role in advocating for Assyrian identity, religious rights, and cultural preservation. His leadership helped maintain the community’s religious traditions and fostered efforts for their safety amid persecution and displacement during the 20th century.