The Rogation of the Ninevites: Pookhin or Piety?

As members of the Assyrian Church of the East, we hold to many wonderful traditions that have been passed down through the generations leading back to the time of Christ and the Apostles and even before the birth of Christ. One of the many faithful traditions we have grown up practising is that of holding a three day fast for the Rogation of the Ninevites. But another well-known tradition that has been adhered to by women in particular is eating Pookhin (ground grains and salt resembling powdery sand) on the last night of the Rogation, before we break our fast with the Holy Eucharist the next day.  This is done with a hope that we will see the man we will marry in a dream, giving us a glass of water to quench our thirst.

These are great traditions we have held for many centuries. But for some of us, we let the latter tradition of dreaming of a future husband during the Rogation, take priority over the first and more important canonized church tradition of fasting and repentance. This is the service that God is truly pleased with and expects from us as we imitate the strong faith of our ancestors.

The Rogation (beseeching) of the Ninevites or Baouta d’ Ninwayeh (Fast of the Ninevites) has had nationalistic and spiritual importance to Assyrian Christians throughout the centuries. The fast originally occurred and is documented in the short, four chapter book of Jonah the Prophet. The Assyrian Church of the East has canonized this feast where her members are faithfully required to partake in a three day fast every year (commencing three weeks before The Great Fast), in remembrance of its nationalistic significance, but more importantly, to remember the grace and mercy that God had bestowed upon the repentant Ninevites at the time of Jonah and for all the grace and mercy that He bestows upon us today.

As we take the time to read through the book of Jonah in the Old Testament, we can draw upon many parallels between rebellious Jonah and a merciful God; and we, sinful/rebellious mankind and Jesus Christ our saving redeemer.

It is here that we learn of an Israelite man living in post Assyrian exile times, who God calls upon to go to the wicked city of Nineveh to preach the message of repentance to the pagan Assyrian inhabitants, and teach them to believe in the One true God.

Jonah hears God’s calling but instead of obeying, begrudgingly attempts to run away from the presence of the Lord – foolishly thinking that this is possible! He boards a ship, to escape and heads to Tarshish in the opposite direction of Nineveh, wanting to distance himself from God as much as possible. In retort to Jonah’s disobedience, God causes a mighty tempest to brew in the sea causing the ship to almost sink. The sailors and Jonah realize that this is the work of God, and Jonah asks them to throw him overboard so that they will be spared.

It is when Jonah is thrown overboard to face his imminent death, that we witness God’s love and mercy, as He causes a big fish to swallow him, and he remains alive in its belly for three days and three nights, protected from the raging seas around him. Jonah spends this time in the fishes belly praying to God, beseeching His forgiveness and vowing to offer his service to God. (Jonah’s prayer Jonah 2:3-10)

When the fish regurgitates Jonah onto a dry sandy shore, Jonah is left in a humbled and lowly state, knowing very well that the mighty God he had refused to obey had mercifully saved him from death. And thus, God commands Jonah a second time to go and preach to the mighty city of Nineveh…

Upon entering the great city, Jonah proclaims publicly to all the Assyrian inhabitants that God will destroy their nation after forty days if they do not repent and believe in the One true God.

After heeding the convicting words of God through Jonah the prophet, all the people of Nineveh believed in God, and repented. From the greatest of them; the King, to the least of them. They proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth and sat in ashes. This was a symbol of mourning and repentance for their sins. The king proclaimed “Let not the men, cattle, oxen or sheep taste anything, eat or drink water.” Jonah 3:7-9

And God saw their deeds that they turned from their evil ways. And God had a change of heart about the just punishment which He said He would inflict on them. And He did not do it. Jonah3:10

In an amazingly faithful response to Jonah’s preaching, the Ninevites show us the true meaning of repentance that we should emulate in our lives today:

1.       By the practise of fasting (Matthew 6:16-18)

2.       By wearing sackcloth and ashes. This symbolized mourning and repentance (Matthew3:8, Acts 17:30)

3.       By prayer (Matthew 7:7-12)

4.       By changing their behaviour. Their repentant acts stemming from their faithful heart. (James 2:14-26)

In Jonah’s weaknesses and rebellion, we see our own fallen humanity. But as he turns to God, we begin to see a rebirth in Jonah and a longing to serve the God who saved him from death. His deliverance from the belly of the fish foreshadows the deliverance from death and of spiritual rebirth in the waters of baptism. Just as Jonah’s “rebirth” makes possible the repentance and salvation of the Ninevites, so our Lord’s death and burial in the earth for three days and three nights before His resurrection from the dead makes possible our salvation. (Matthew 12:40-41)

This salvation that we receive from baptism, believing in Christ, and living a repentant life of service to God is the only way that we can imitate the faithful Ninevites and have the assurance that God will mercifully look upon us to forgive our debts and sins… through a life of faith and repentant deeds. (James 2:26).

The fast of the Ninevites (Baouta d’Ninwayeh) was not practised again until it was revived as a 'Three day fast' in the 6th century AD by Mar Sawrisho (hope in Christ), the Metropolitan of Kirkuk who sought God's help when an epidemic struck Nineveh and its surrounding regions. The tradition of fasting and praying has been  faithfully observed ever since by the Assyrian Church of the East and other Orthodox Churches.

St. Ephrem the Great has written spiritual hymns and homilies to commemorate the faithful repentance of the Ninevite Nation. Many of these hymns were sung by the clergy in The Church of the East to commemorate the Rogation from the time it was first commemorated in our Church and until this day, hymns and prayers are reverently chanted in the Church as a humble reminder of mankind’s sinful state and Gods loving mercy.

As we approach the Rogation of the Ninevites this coming Monday, set your sights on the Lord Jesus, the One who has superseded Jonah, and is to us an eternal saviour. Come to Him in petition, repentance and fasting, knowing that God the Father is pleased with the humble and contrite spirit these works will produce in you, for this life and for your promised eternity. Isaiah 66:2

Reading: Excerpt from The Rogation of theNinevites by St Ephrem

The Rogation of the NinevitesPart I – Spoken by H.G. Mar Awa Royel

The Rogation of the NinevitesPart II – Spoken by H.G. Mar Awa Royel

This weeks song: Rogation of the Ninevites – Qasha Eilosh Azizyan