This thing happened with me at a recent event and it made me question Assyrian Dancing (Khiga)

ASHOOR

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I was at a friend's son's communion party recently (Iraqi Syriacs), and although most of the music was Arabic and English, they did play some Assyrian songs, and the crowd absolutely loved it.

Sitting at one of the main central tables were two priests from the Syriac Catholic Church to which this family belonged. As the Assyrian song started to play and the khiga began warming up (the song was "Barwar Barwar" by Juliana Jendo), I noticed the younger priest talking to the older priest while looking at the khiga with a smile and anticipation. I thought I had a good idea of what he wanted to do, but given his stature, I wasn’t sure if it would happen. But seconds later, what I expected did happen: he got up and started dancing. In fact, he took the lead role (Rishit Khiga)!

It was a strange yet beautiful sight to see: we are not used to, nor have we ever seen, a priest dancing Assyrian dances, but this man did. It was less a reflection of him breaking norms and more a testament to how popular and beloved Assyrian dancing is. So much so that it breaks societal barriers, allowing even a priest to join in. In a sense, it can be seen as more than just a dance—it's a cultural tradition and reflection.


ASHOOR
 
I thought priests don't even dance at all. Could he have been a normal 'shamasha'? Very interesting.

You should've taken a pic when you had the chance. 😁
 
It may be something we are not used to seeing but there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.

Many hears ago in Sydney, back when I was a kid, a lady had called the priest and his wife told her that he was in the swimming pool and that she would give the message to her husband priest to return her call. Word got out so quick that the priest swims in a swimming pool, presumably without a shirt on.

As a kid, I found it hilarious that a grown man could not swim in the privacy of his own home due to what society thinks is normal or acceptable.

In my early 20s at the church youth group hall in Sydney, I lost a table tennis match to Qasha Odisho. I was a decent player back in the day, but he was too good for me on this day. Priests are human beings and we need to stop putting them on too high a pedestal, that we almost dehumanise them. Nothing wrong with a priest taking on a confident table tennis player. Besides, the loss humbled me big time.

At the same time, elevating them to ridiculous levels needs to stop. While I was in my teenage years, word got out that Mar Meelis likes Devondale cream. Wow! Mar Meelis has a favourite brand. No joke, all my relatives started buying Devondale cream simply because it was Mar Meelis, that was RUMOURED to be a fan of it. I am sure sales of Devondale cream were out of control in the Fairfield area back then. Just for the record, I think it is a good brand of cream but the reaction was out of this world.
 
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