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Flavianos Michael Melke (Syriac: ܦܠܒܝܐܢܘܣ ܡܝܟܐܝܠ ܡܠܟܝ, Flavyānus Mikhayil Malké), born in Kalat’ül Mara, Ottoman Empire, as Ya'Qūb Melkī; (1858 – 29 August 1915) of Assyrian parents. Reared in the Orthodox schism, he became a Catholic after being ordained Deacon.Ordained Priest on 13 May 1883, he was assigned as Pastor to various villages in Tur Abdin, Ottoman Empire. In 1895, the Turkish jihadists sacked and burned his home and killed many of his flock, including his mother. He then worked for several years in the same villages, ministering to his people and helping to rebuild their homes.
On 19 January 1913, he was consecrated Bishop. He became the Eparch of Gazarta (modern Cizre). Blessed Flavianos was killed in Gazarta during the Assyrian Genocide, in 1915, after he refused to convert to Islam.
On 8 August 2015 his beatification was approved after Pope Francis determined that Melki was killed in odium fidei. Cardinal Angelo Amato - on behalf of the pope - presided over the beatification in Lebanon on 29 August 2015, the centenary of his martyrdom and his Feast Day.
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