19th Anniversary of the Killing of Ghorban Toorany, Leader of the Turkmen Church

Yesterday marked nineteen years since the killing of Ghorban Toorany, leader of the Turkmen Church.

Ghorban Dordi Toorany was an Iranian citizen of Turkmen origin who was born and raised in a Muslim family of Sunni faith. He resided in the country of Turkmenistan in the mid-1990s. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison in Armenia for the murder of an individual that occurred during a personal dispute. While serving his sentence, Ghorban heard about Christ from his cellmate, a Russian man and devoted Christian, and he gave his heart to Jesus Christ. After years away from his homeland, immediately upon his return to Iran, he quickly established a home church in his native city.

The establishment of this home church by Ghorban occurred while most of his fellow citizens were followers of Islam, and he invited his compatriots to Christianity on the streets, in shops and bazaars of Gonbad Kavoos. Ghorban Toorany was repeatedly threatened and intimidated for inviting people to Christianity. However, over six years of Ghorban Toorany’s activism, at least 12 Turkmen converted to Christianity and attended his home church.

A week before his death, he was invited by religious authorities in Gonbad Kavoos to provide explanations regarding his beliefs. Ghorban saw this as an appropriate opportunity to explain his beliefs and to invite them to Christianity, so he eagerly accepted the invitation. However, at the meeting he was told that this was his last chance to return to Islam. But Ghorban Toorany stood firm in his faith and belief, and lost his life for his conviction in Jesus Christ.

He was ultimately kidnapped on November 2, 1384 (November 22, 2005) on his way home on Rudaki Street in Gonbad Kavoos and was killed with multiple stab wounds. His lifeless body was then left in front of his house. He was one of 8 Iranian Christians who, since the 1979 Revolution, were murdered by the Islamic Republic government through stabbing.

After his murder, several Turkmen Christian activists were summoned by security agencies and warned to cease their Christian activities, or they would face the same fate as Ghorban—torture and death.

Security forces also went to his house after his murder and collected religious books, particularly biblical books that had been translated into Persian.

Yesterday, November 22 (2 Azar), marked the 19th anniversary of his killing by the Islamic Republic regime due to his faith and beliefs. The Christian community, while offering condolences on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of his death, honored his memory.

The following prayer in English has been preserved from him:

Dear Lord, Jesus, let me come into your presence,

So that I can touch your nailed feet.

Dear Lord Jesus, let me worship you in humility

And kiss your nailed and wounded hands and feet.

You were hung on the cross in Golgotha and nailed with four nails,

while your blood was pouring out.

In this desperate situation, how could you still love your created beings?

You were willing to even embrace those who crucified you.

You were tortured because of me, yes because of me.

Not only me, but also for my father and mother.

Because of me you suffered the most severe pains on the cross for six hours.

I wish I was not sinful, so that you would not suffer because of me.

How much I was willing to be there, and to pull the nails out of your beautiful hands when you were on the cross.

How desperate are my thoughts when I think I might have been able to help you not to suffer so.

Lord Jesus, please let me glorify your holy name in every moment of my life on this earth.

I am willing to give my life that belongs to you, for the sake of you and your church.

ای خداوند عزیز، عیسی، بگذار به حضور تو بیایم،
تا بتوانم پاهای میخکوب شده تو را لمس کنم.

ای خداوند عزیز، عیسی، بگذار تو را با فروتنی پرستش کنم
و دستان و پاهای میخکوب و زخم‌خورده تو را ببوسم.

تو بر صلیب در جلجتا آویخته شدی و با چهار میخ به صلیب کشیده شدی،
در حالی که خون تو جاری بود.

در این وضعیت ناامیدانه، چگونه هنوز می‌توانستی مخلوقات خود را دوست داشته باشی؟
تو حتی حاضر بودی آنهایی را که تو را مصلوب کردند در آغوش بگیری.

تو به خاطر من شکنجه شدی، بله به خاطر من.
نه تنها من، بلکه برای پدر و مادرم نیز.

به خاطر من، تو شدیدترین دردها را برای شش ساعت بر روی صلیب تحمل کردی.
ای کاش گناهکار نبودم تا تو به خاطر من رنج نمی‌کشیدی.

چقدر آرزو داشتم آنجا بودم و میخ‌ها را از دستان زیبای تو بیرون می‌کشیدم،
وقتی که بر روی صلیب بودی.

چقدر افکارم ناامیدانه است وقتی تصور می‌کنم که شاید می‌توانستم به تو کمک کنم تا اینقدر رنج نبری.

ای خداوند عیسی، لطفا بگذار نام مقدس تو را در هر لحظه از زندگی‌ام بر روی این زمین جلال بدهم.
حاضرم زندگی‌ام را که متعلق به تو است، برای خاطر تو و کلیسای تو تقدیم کنم.