The Utmost of Christian Calamities

One of the well-known works of Syrian Catholic Priest Isaac Aramalet, originally published anonymously, is this work: an account of the misfortunes suffered by Christians in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Turkey (the Sayfo). The book is divided into five sections: 1. Events of 1895, 2. The causes and beginning of the War, 3. Deportations, imprisonments, and massacres, 4. More specific accounts of massacres in particular cities and villages, and 5. The affairs of the Armenians and the activities of Gabriel Tappuni. Armalet goes into great detail for the events described and names names throughout. All of the Syriac churches are discussed, including Catholics in the east, as well as many incidents concerning the Armenians. This very significant historical work from an eyewitness to the events described will be welcomed by historians of the Middle East, World War I, and Eastern Christianity.