Sharanish
| Sharanish ܫܪܢܘܫ | |
|---|---|
  Sharanish | |
| Coordinates: 37°13′48″N 42°50′40″E / 37.23000°N 42.84444°ECoordinates: 37°13′48″N 42°50′40″E / 37.23000°N 42.84444°E | |
| Country |
 Iraq |
| Governorate | Dohuk |
| Population | |
| • Total | 1,000 |
| Time zone | GMT +3 |
Sharanish (Syriac: ܫܪܢܘܫ), is an Assyrian village located in the Dohuk Governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan. Close to the borders with Turkey. The village is inhabited by Assyrians who belong to the Chaldean Church and the Assyrian Church of the East. The region is known for its cool weather during the summer, making it one of the most important tourist destinations in Iraq.
History
Sharanish was converted from Ashurism to Judaism in antiquity, however largerly christianized in the first centuries, despite this some of the villages did not convert the remained worshipping Judaism until they left in 1951. The village has two churches, one of which was originally a synagogue before the advent of Christianity in the fourth century. Most of its population escaped the Assyrian Genocide by marching with Agha Petros to Urmia during the First World War. The continuous Kurdish revolts during the 20th century forced most of its inhabitants to flee to Baghdad, and by the 1980s, the village was completely destroyed by the Iraqi Army.
After the Iraq War, many of its inhabitants returned from Baghdad and Mosul due to a waves of violence against Assyrians.
The village was once populated with an ancient jewish community who built was is today the church which was a synagogue in the past. The community left in 1948 to Israel.