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#REDIRECT [[Assyrian people]]
{{Syriac ethnicity}}
The '''Syriac people''' <big>(</big>[[Syriac language|Syriac]]: <big><big>{{lang|arc|[[:arc:ܣܘܪܝܝܐ|ܣܘܪܝܝܐ]]}}</big></big>, {{IPA-all|'Sūryōyɛ}}<big>)</big> are an [[ethnic group]] who are widely spread into countries such as [[Syria]], [[Turkey]], [[Israel]], [[Lebanon]], [[Iran]] and [[Iraq]] and speak a variant of [[Aramaic]]. In later times, many of them fled into [[Europe]], [[the United States]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[Germany]], [[Sweden]], [[Netherlands]] and [[Switzerland]]. Today hundreds of thousands Syriacs live in [[Syriac diaspora|diaspora]].<ref name=autogenerated9 /><ref name=autogenerated16 />

For the most part, they speak the [[Syriac language]], which is known as [[Suryoyo]] (<big><big>{{lang|arc|[[:arc:ܠܫܢܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ|ܠܫܢܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ]]}}</big></big>) in their native tongue, but a large part also speak a dialect of the [[Neo-Aramaic language]] called [[Turoyo]] (<big><big>{{lang|arc|[[:arc:ܛܘܪܝܐ|ܛܘܪܝܐ]]}}</big></big>). Syriacs mostly call themselves [[Suryoye]] (<big><big>{{lang|arc|[[:arc:ܣܘܪܝܝܐ|ܣܘܪܝܝܐ]]}}</big></big>) in their native tongue, but a large part also tend to use [[Oromoye]] (<big><big>{{lang|arc|[[:arc:ܐܪܡܝܐ|ܐܪܡܝܐ]]}}</big></big>).

Being adherents of the [[West Syrian Rite]], they belong to the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] and [[Syriac Catholic Church]], for which reason they are also known as [[Jacobites]] (named after [[Jacob Baradaeus]]). They are known as one of the first people to accept [[Christianity]].<ref>http://www.tulumba.com/storeItem.asp?ic=VI342856CI279</ref>

Their [[Homeland|original homeland]], which is known as [[Mesopotamia]], or [[Beth Nahrain]] (<big><big>{{lang|arc|[[:arc:ܒܝܬ ܢܗܪ̈ܝܢ|ܒܝܬ ܢܗܪ̈ܝܢ]]}}</big></big>) in the [[Syriac language]], lies in what is now [[Syria]], [[Iraq]] and [[Turkey]], specifically in the [[Turabdin]] (<big><big>{{lang|arc|[[:arc:ܛܘܪ ܥܒܕܝܢ|ܛܘܪ ܥܒܕܝܢ]]}}</big></big>) region in [[Turkey]], and in the [[Al Hasakah]] region in [[Syria]]. The strongest Syriac community in the world is found in the city of [[Kamishli]] (<big><big>{{lang|arc|[[:arc:ܩܡܫܠܐ|ܩܡܫܠܐ]]}}</big></big>) in [[Syria]] where a large Syriac community live. Following the [[Syriac genocide]] (<big><big>{{lang|arc|[[:arc:ܣܝܦܐ|ܣܝܦܐ]]}}</big></big>) in the early 20th century, many fled abroad, and a large portion today lives in [[Syriac diaspora|diaspora]].

== Identity ==
{{cquotetxt|''"[[Strabo]] ([[24|AD 24]]): Those who call themselves Arameans, are called Syrians by us"''|color=silver|size=320%}}
The Syriac people were earlier named as [[Arameans]] and their language [[Aramaic]]. The first ones that named the [[Arameans]] as [[Syrian Christian|Syrians]] (note the old name ''Syrians'', today known as ''Syriacs'') was the [[Greek people|Greek]] [[Geography|geographer]] and [[History|historian]] [[Strabo]] (died [[24|AD 24]]) who said in his work [[Geography]]: "''Those who call themselves Arameans, are called Syrians by us''".<ref>[[Geography]], book 1, chapter 2, nr34</ref>
Even in the [[Septuagint]], the first translation of the [[Old Testament]], the term ''Aram'' was translated into '''Syrian''', ''Arameans'' into ''Syrians'' and ''Aramaic'' into ''Syrian''.

The Septuagint contributed to the spread on the term Syrian, on those who called themselves for Arameans. However the Arameans themselves continued to call themselves for Arameans, but by their surroundings, they were called ''Syrians''.

Gradually, the Arameans started to use the [[Greek language|Greek]] term Syrian as a synonym to Aramean, and Syrian language as a synonym to Aramaic language.

During the first centuries after [[Christ]], most Arameans got Christianized, and during that period, the people often called themselves Syrians rather than Arameans. As other people mentioned and called them for Syrians, almost everyone started to call themselves Syrians.

The term ''Aramaeans'' got overcovered by the term ''Syrians'', and the Syrians started to call themselves ''Suryoye'' (Syrians) instead of ''Oromoye'' (Aramaeans).<ref name=autogenerated19>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14399a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Syria<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name="kaldaya">[http://www.kaldaya.net/DailyNews_Nov2006/Nov07_Articles_E1.html kaldalya.net<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name=autogenerated5>The Syrian-Orthodox [[Mor Jacob of Edessa]] (Urhoy) (present-day Urfa in Turkey, †708) says: "''It is in this same way also we the [[Arameans]], that is to say the Syrians''"</ref><ref name=autogenerated12>Another [[East-Syrian]] lexicographer Bar Bahlul from [[Bagdad]] (†963) explains in his Syriac (Aramaic) dictionary the name "Syria": "''And the Syrians were formerly called Arameans, (but) when Cyrus ruled over them, from then on they were called Syrians."''</ref><ref name=autogenerated17>*{{cite book
| last = Brock
| first = Sebastian
| authorlink =
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| title = The Hidden Pearl: The Aramaic Heritage
| origdate =
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| year = 9/9/2002
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| publisher = Trans World Film
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| language = English
| isbn = 1-931956-99-5
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| ref = http://www.gorgiaspress.com/BOOKSHOP/pc-151-25-brock-et-al-sebastian-the-hidden-pearl-the-aramaic-heritage.aspx
}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated10>
Dionoysius Bar Salibi the Syrian-Orthodox bishop of Amid ([[Diyarbekir]], [[Turkey]], †1171), also called the star from the 12th century, says in his book ‘Against the Armenians": "''The Armenians say: "From whom do you descend - you who are Syriacs by race?" Against them we will say: Neither do you know from whom you descend....It is we (Syrians) who have enlightened your authors and revealed to them that you are descending from Togarma....As to us Syrians, we descend racially from Shem, and our father is Kemuel (the) son of Aram, and from this name of Aram we are also called sometimes in the books by the name of "Aramaeans''".</ref><ref name=autogenerated11>The Syrian-Orthodox Patriarch Mor Michael the Great of Militene ([[Malatya]], [[Turkey]], † 1199 AD) writes: "''The Children of [[Shem]] are the [[Assyrians]], the [[Chaldeans]], the Ludians and the [[Arameans]] who are the Syrians, the [[Hebrew]] and the [[Persians]]''.". The same author says about the Mesopotamian history” The kingdoms which have been established in antiquity by our race, (that of) the [[Aramaeans]], namely the descendants of [[Aram]], who were called Syrians”. </ref><ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.everyculture.com/Africa-Middle-East/Syriacs.html Syriacs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>The Greek writer [[Posidonius]] (150 BC) says in his work.. "''The people that we (The Greeks) call Syrians, are called by themselves Arameans..........Because the people in Syra are the Arameans''"</ref><ref name=autogenerated2>:The term was changed from ''Syrian'' to ''Syriac'' in referring to the ([[Syrian Christian]]) people and language so as to avoid confusion with belonging to the country of [[Syria (disambiguation)|Syria]]. For information on Syrian nationals see the [[Demographics of Syria]].
</ref>

The term ''Syrian'' was changed to ''Syriac'' by the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] in 1950s, in reference to the (Syrian Christian) people and language so as to avoid confusion with belonging to the country of [[Syria (disambiguation)|Syria]]. <ref name=autogenerated2 />

The division has its roots in the Early [[Middle Ages]], when Western Syriacs were located in [[Roman]] ([[Byzantine]]) territory ([[Roman Syria]]), and looked to the [[Patriarchate of Antioch]], rather than to the [[Church of the East]], originally on [[Sassanid]] territory, whence the Assyrian and Chaldean communities derive. These Christians tend to see themselves as Syrians or Aramaeans.

[[Image:Syriac Aramaean Flag 450x250p.jpg|250px|left|thumb|The Aramean-Syriac Flag]]
The [[Syriac flag]] has it history when [[André Dupont-Sommer]] made diggings in the historical [[Aramaean]] village [[Tell-Khalaf]],[[Syria]] in the beginning of the 20th century.

He found a [[relief]] that shows three demons carrying the bewinged sunrelief.<br>
The Syriacs in [[Syria]] started to use this symbol as an honour to their [[Aramaean]] origin.

The sun is representing the universe, the wings as symbol for everything between the universe and earth, the flowers (that looks as stars) is a symbol for the four cardinal points and all life in earth. These three symbolize the universe.

The red background was chosen because of all blood that has been spilled out due to all suffering and persecutions. The yellow color is symbolizing the hope for a own country, since Syriacs are a people living without their own state.
<ref>[http://flags-of-the-world.net/flags/sy%7Darama.html#des flag of Syriac-Aramaic People (Syria) flags<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/Flags/sy%7Darama.html Syriac-Aramaic People (Syria)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

=== Polyonymy ===
Throughout the centuries, the Syriacs have been known by a number of names, including:
*'''Aramaeans''' <big><big>(ܐܪܡܝܐ)</big></big> - The Syriacs originate from the [[Aramaeans]] and was in former times called for [[Aramaeans]] and their language [[Aramaic]]. The term "Aram" was found in an akkadian inscription for the first time 2200 B.C.<ref>Hidden Pearl, volume 1</ref>
*'''Jacobites''' - Sometimes the Syriac people is incorrectly known as "Jacobites", named after [[Jacob Baradaeus]] who travelled around and organized the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] in the middle of the 500s.
*'''Syrians''' - From the [[ancient Greek]] name {{transl|grc|Surioi}} ({{lang|el|Σύριοι}}), after the name "Syrus". The [[Greek people|Greeks]] called the Syriac people for "Syrians" instead of "Aramaeans".
*'''Syriacs''' <big><big>(ܣܘܪܝܝܐ)</big></big> - The term ''Syrian'' was changed to ''Syriac'' by the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] in 1950s, in reference to the (Syrian Christian) people and language so as to avoid confusion with belonging to the country of [[Syria (disambiguation)|Syria]]. <ref name=autogenerated2 />

== Culture ==
=== Music ===
[[Image:Assyrmardin.JPG|right|thumb|250px|Typical Syriac clothing in [[Mardin]], [[Tur abdin]], Early 20th century]]
{{main|Syriac music}}
At early times of [[Syriac Christianity]], the Syriac music was only used within the [[churches]]. In later times, the Syriac people felt that they wanted a new musical [[culture]], to express the Syriac people´s feelings, ideas and sufferings without associating to the [[church (building)|church]]. Great [[Syriac Music|Syriac music writers]] studied the music used in the [[church (building)|church]], and established new styles of [[music]]. <ref name=autogenerated14>[http://www.syriacmusic.com/history.asp?menuid=mm&type=history&purpose=modernmusic Syriac Music: History<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

In 1962 a Syriac called Chabo Bahé, wrote lyrics for [[Syriac music]]. The first song he wrote was ''Grishlah Idi'', translated into [[English language|English]]: ''She pulled my hand'', and this song was the ground for the new style of [[Syriac music]]. Most early Syriacs songs was written and performed by Syriacs in [[Syria]], [[Al Qamishli]] that reached out to the whole world. <ref name=autogenerated14 /> [[Syriac music]] is very impressive and has been a inspiration for many cultures.

The most known [[Syriac Music|Syriac singers]] in modern time is [[Syriac Music|Ishok Yakub]], [[Josef Özer]], [[Syriac Music|Jean Karat]] and [[Habib Mousa]].

The first International [[Aramaic Music Festival]] was held in [[Lebanon]] year 2008, 1-4 August for the Aramean-Syriac people around the world.<ref>[http://www.ankawa.com/english/?p=1096 ankawa.com » Blog Archive » The First Aramaic International Music Festival in the Open Air<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

=== Dance ===
{{main|Syriac dance}}
Syriac dance is a group of traditional hand-holding dances similar to those from the [[Lebanon]], [[Iraq]] and [[Syria]]. It is a form of round dancing, with a single or a couple of figure dancers often added to the geometrical centre of the dancing circle.

[[Syriacs]] sing and dance in all of their festivals, birthdays, and marriage ceremonies. There are several types of [[Syriac]] dances, depending on with ceremony or which song is played.

Several instruments such as Oud, [[Zurna]] and [[Davul]] is used within singing or dancing.

=== Religion ===
{{main|Syriac Christianity}}
[[Image:Soemblem.JPG|150px|left|thumb|Emblem of Syriac Orthodox Church]]
Most Syriacs belong to the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] ''{{unicode|(ʿIdto Suryoyto Triṣaṯ Šuḇḥo)}}'' which got 4,000,000 members around the world.<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_622.html Adherents.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
The current Patriarch of the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] is [[Ignatius Zakka I Iwas]].
The [[Syriac Orthodox Church]]'s headquarters are located in [[Damascus]], [[Syria]].

About 161,000 Syriacs are members of the [[Syriac Catholic Church]], which has its headquarters in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]].
In the eighteenth century many Syriacs left the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] and joined the [[Roman Catholic Church]], and later the [[Syriac Catholic Church]].

In the 19th century there were [[anglican]] missionary activities in the [[Middle East]]. And they spread [[protestantism]] among the [[Syriac orthodox]] community and some of them founded their own [[protestant]] fractions but many of them returned to the orthodox denomination a few years later.

The [[Syriac-maronites]] are named after a hermit named [[Mar Maroun]] (died 410).
The exact worldwide [[Maronite]] population is not known, although it is at least 8 million according to CNEWA (Catholic Near East Welfare Association). It is estimated that 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 remain in [[Lebanon]] where they constitute up to 25% of the population.
The current [[Patriarch]] and also [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]] (since 1986) is [[Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir]] who resides in [[Bkirki]], north of [[Beirut]] (the Maronite Patriarch resides in the northern town of Dimane during the summer months).

Most known Syriac Doctors of the church are the following: [[Ephrem the Syrian]], [[Jacob of Edessa]], [[Bar-Hebraeus]], [[Bardaisan]] and [[Jacob of Serug]].

=== Traditions ===
==== Easter ====
The Syriac people celebrates [[Easter]] the first sunday after full moon that occurs on [[vernal equinox]] or afterwards. The Syriac people is following an older calendar than the calendar that the [[Western Christianity|Western Churches]] is following, therefore their [[Easter]] occures a bit later.

The Syriacs are fasting normally 50 days, and the fast is voluntary. In the modern society, many Syriacs are chooses to only fast on the first and the last week.

During [[Maundy Thursday]] all Syriacs takes the [[Eucharist]] on their first churchvisit in the morning and on afternoon is it [[Foot washing]]. Twelve persons in the parish, which symbolizes [[Twelve Apostles]] are choosen to perform the [[Foot washing]].

The [[Good Friday]] is the big mourning ceremony. A [[crucifix]] is washed, which is a symbol for [[Jesus]] body, with water and dries it of and then wrap it in a piece of material. Then the [[crucifix]] is placed in a flower-decorated [[coffin]]. The coffin is carried around in the church and finally, the coffin gets hanged over the church-door so all church-visitors can walk beneath it and show reverence for [[Jesus Christ]]. Afterwards, the coffin is carried down and the crucifix is placed in a smaller coffin with a seal, just like when [[Jesus]] was placed in his coffin.

Then the water, where the crucifix was washed, gets mixed up with [[vinegar]] and [[myrrh]] is dealt out to the the visitors. The bitter taste is a sign of participation of [[Jesus]] suffering.

[[Holy Saturday]] is a day of peace and quietness. There is only a [[Service of worship]] at night, but the big day is [[Easter Sunday]]. During Easter Sunday, the little coffin gets opened and the crucifix is held up as a sign that [[Jesus]] is alive.<ref>http://www.na.se/artikel.asp?intId=1323753</ref>

=== Language ===
{{Main|Neo-Aramaic languages}}
{{Syriac alphabet}}
Most Syriacs speaks a modern form of [[Syriac]], which is an eastern [[Aramaic]] language, and spoken by 1,500,000 speakers in the [[Syriac homeland|homeland]] and the [[Syriac diaspora|diaspora]].<ref>Beyer, Klaus (1986). ''The Aramaic language: its distribution and subdivisions''. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht. ISBN 3-525-53573-2</ref><ref>[[Sebastian Brock|Brock, Sebastian]] (2006). ''An Introduction to Syriac Studies''. Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press. ISBN 1-59333-349-8</ref> To the native speaker, "Syriac" is usually called ''Suryoyo''. A wide variety of dialects exist, including [[Assyrian Neo-Aramaic]], [[Chaldean Neo-Aramaic]], and [[Turoyo language|Turoyo]].

The [[Turoyo language]], which is a dialect of [[Aramaic]], is a West Syriac language. It is spoken by approx. 1,000,000 speakers. <ref name="ethnologue">{{cite web |title=Turoyo |url=http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=tru |publisher=ethnologue.com |accessdate=2008-01-05 |language=English }}</ref> [[Turoyo]] is spoken in eastern [[Turkey]], [[Mardin province]] and north-eastern [[Syria]], [[Al-Hasakah Governorate]] by members of the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]]. In [[Turoyo]], the language is frequently called ''Suryoyo''.

What remains of actual [[Western Neo-Aramaic]], sometimes noted as the surviving language that would be the closest to the [[Aramaic of Jesus|language spoken by Jesus]], [[Western Neo-Aramaic]] is still spoken in Syria, but with only three villages left; [[Ma`loula]], Bakh'a, and Jubb'adin, lie about 35 miles (56 km) northeast of [[Damascus]].

In earlier days, [[Mlahsô language|Mlahsô]], which is a Modern West [[Syriac language]] was traditionally spoken in eastern [[Turkey]] and north-eastern [[Syria]]. It was spoken in the villages of [[Tur Abdin|Mlahsó]] and `Ansha near Lice, [[Diyarbakır]], [[Turkey]]. The name of the village and the language comes from the Syriac word ''melħo'' meaning 'salt'. The last speaker of [[Mlahsô language|Mlahsô]], Ibrahim Hanna, died in 1998 in [[Qamishli]].<ref>Jastrow, Otto (1994). ''{{unicode|Der neuaramäische Dialekt von Mlaḥsô}}''. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. ISBN 3-447-03498-X.
</ref>

Being [[stateless]], many Syriacs speak [[second language]]s such as [[Arabic language|Arabic]], [[Kurdish language|Kurdish]] and [[Turkish language|Turkish]].

=== Literature ===
{{Main|Syriac literature}}
The [[Syriac literature]] is [[literature]] written in the [[Syriac language]]. The majority of classical [[Syriac literature]] is of a [[Christianity|Christian]] religious nature.

The earliest Syriac inscription is dated to AD 6 and comes from [[Edessa, Mesopotamia|Edessa]]. There are about eighty inscriptions from the region of [[Osrhoene]] dating from the first three centuries AD. All of these early inscriptions are non-Christian or pre-Christian.

The earliest Christian literature was the biblical translation, the [[Peshitta]] and the [[Diatessaron]]. During the [[4th century|fourth century]] [[Ephrem the Syrian]] was considered to be a big giant during this period. It is also known that this period was the [[golden age]] of [[Syriac literature]]. [[Ephrem the Syrian]] wrote [[hymn]]s, poetry and prose for the church.

The [[5th century|fifth century]] and [[6th century|sixth century]] is considered to be a continuation of the Syriac golden age. During this time, there were Syriac poets and theologians such as [[Jacob of Serugh]], [[Narsai]], [[Isaac of Nineveh]], [[Philoxenus of Mabbog]], [[Babai the Great]] and [[Jacob of Edessa]].

Composition in the classical [[Syriac language]] still continues among members of the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]], where students in the church's monasteries are taught living, spoken Syriac, which also are known as {{unicode|Kṯoḇonoyo}}.<ref>W. Wright: ''A Short History of Syriac Literature'', 1894, 1974 (reprint)</ref>

=== Sports ===
{{Main|Syriac sports}}
[[Image:Syrianskavis copy.jpg|thumb|Valsta Syrianska is one of many [[Syrianska|Syriac football clubs]] in [[Sweden]].]]
The Syriac people have made a great success within the sports world, especially within the soccer world.

The teams [[Syrianska FC]], [[Valsta Syrianska IK]] and [[Arameiska/Syrianska KIF]], plays at present in the third highest level in [[Sweden]], [[Division 1 Norra]]. Also there is [[Syrianska IF Kerburan]], playing in the fourth highest level, [[Division 2|Division 2 Norra Svealand]], and [[Örebro Syrianska IF]] in the fifth highest level, [[Division 3|Division 3 Västra Svealand]].
Among these Syriac soccer teams, there are also another 21 Syriac soccer teams playing in [[Sweden]].

Syriac soccer players like [[Daniel Unal]], [[Abgar Barsom]], [[Suleyman Sleyman]], [[Kennedy Bakircioglu]], [[Louay Chanko]], [[Sharbel Touma]], [[Stefan Batan]] and [[Gabriel Özkan]] have made great success within the soccer world.

The Syriac soccer is very popular for many Syriacs all around the world, especially in [[Sweden]]. The fight between the two rivals [[Syrianska FC]] and [[Assyriska Föreningen]] which was played at 2007 drew 7 146 spectators. <ref>[http://www.syrianskafc.com/files/news/news.asp?id=157 : Syrianska FC :<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The match was broadcasted to over 80 countries through the Syriac channel [[Suryoyo Sat]] and drew much interest in Swedish media.

Because of the increasing interest for the Syriac football, and the great Syriac players, the newly [[Aramean Syriac Football Association]] has been established for the [[Aramean-Syriac people]] all around the world. <ref>[http://www.syrianska.se/society.php?page=start_society&coid=386 Syrianska Föreningen i Södertälje<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

The Aramean Syriac football team [[Aramean Syriac football team|Arameans Suryoye]] attended in [[2008 VIVA World Cup]], and reached the final, but lost against [[Padania]] with 2-0. <ref name=autogenerated3>[http://www.vivaworldcup.info/vwc2008/en/index.htm VIVA World Cup Official Website<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

In 2008 the Syriac team [[Syrianska FC]] reaches the second highest division in [[Sweden]], [[Superettan]] for the first time in the history.<ref>http://www.lt.se/index.asp?kat=st&i1=index_red_2007.asp&i2=1&Id=29332&isp2=hela</ref><ref>http://www.syrianskafc.com</ref>

== Demographics ==
=== Homeland ===
[[Image:Tigr-euph.png|thumb|200px|right|the Euphrates-Tigris watershed]]
The Syriacs are considered to be one of the indigenous people in the [[Middle East]] and specifically located in the area around Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The largest Syriac community is in Syria, where an estimated 1,500,000 Syriacs live.
In [[Tur Abdin]], mostly known as the homeland, there are only 3,000 left,<ref name="3000turabdin">*[http://sor.cua.edu/SOCNews/index.html SOC News report ,] ''He was documenting life in the Tur Abdin, where about 3,000 members of the Aramean minority still live''.''''</ref> and an estimated 15,000 in all of Turkey.<ref name=autogenerated18>[http://sor.cua.edu/SOCNews/2002/20021201EUPStmt.html Statement on Assyrians/Syriacs in Turkey/Iraq<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> After the [[Syriac genocide]] many Syriacs also fled into [[Lebanon]], [[Jordan]], [[Iran]], [[Iraq]] and into the [[Western world]].

==== Syria ====
The strongest Syriac stronghold in the Middle East is in [[Syria]], specifically in the cities of [[Qamishli]] and [[Al-Hassakeh]]. Syriacs who fled from the [[Seyfo]], fled into the newly formed country known as [[Syria]].

[[Qamishli]] was from the 1920s to 1980s known as the Capital for the Syriacs.

==== Turkey ====
In [[Tur Abdin]], mostly known as the homeland, there are only 3,000 left,<ref name="3000turabdin">[http://sor.cua.edu/SOCNews/index.html SOC News report] ''He was documenting life in the Tur Abdin, where about 3,000 members of the Aramean minority still live''.</ref> and an estimated 15,000&ndash;50,000 in all of Turkey.<ref name=autogenerated18 /> Syriacs is ranked as the largest Christian denomination in Turkey.<ref name=autogenerated13>[http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/islam/countries/bl_TurkeyMinorities.htm Religion in Turkey - Religious Minorities<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

The name "Tur Abdin" has the meaning of "The mountains of servants of God". This area was known as the world's most church and monastery closed area.

After the [[Syriac genocide]] many Syriacs also fled into [[Lebanon]], [[Jordan]], [[Iran]], [[Iraq]] and the [[Western world]].

In 1995 there were still 50,000 [[Syriacs]] left in [[Tur Abdin]]. <ref name=autogenerated13 />

In later years, many Syriacs have quit their homes in [[Europe]] for good and moved back into [[Tur Abdin]]. Many Syriacs are returning to villages such as [[Tur Abdin|Kafro Tahtejto]], [[Tur Abdin|Enhil]], and villages in [[Mardin province]]. With almost 1000 Syriacs who already have returned back to their homeland in Tur Abdin, another 5,000 are expected to return. <ref name=autogenerated4>[http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=142805 Mardin’s Bakok Mountain draws Syriac diaspora back home<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name=autogenerated7>[http://sor.cua.edu/SOCNews/2001/00102501.html SOCNews - Syriacs Migrating Home to SE Turkey<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==== Iraq ====
There are currently 90,000-150,000 Syriacs living in [[Iraq]]. The Syriacs, togheter with [[Assyrians]] and [[Chaldeans]] made a majority in many villages in [[Iraq]] but have, since the Iraq invasion, fled into nearby countries such as [[Syria]], and into [[Europe]].
<ref>[http://www.friesian.com/notes/note-n.htm Note on the Modern Assyrians, & Other Nationalistic Issues<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>http://www.themesopotamian.org/magazine/mesopotamian_v1_i4_jan05.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.kristdemokraterna.se/PressOchMedia/Pressmeddelanden/Internationellt/~/media/DBB059D6B89C42C1B8CB49B55C7CAC49.ashx</ref>

=== Diaspora ===
In 1967 the first large group of Syriacs left [[Lebanon]] and moved into [[Sweden]]. Since that time over houndred of thousands Syriacs have left their original [[Beth Nahrain|homeland]] and moved into [[Europe]], [[the Americas]] and [[Australia]]. The Syriacs has created large [[Syriac diaspora|diaspora]] communities.

==== Europe ====
A total of 550,000 Syriacs is currently living in [[Europe]].<ref>http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=70134</ref> Large Syriac diaspora communities can be found in [[Germany]], [[Sweden]], [[Netherlands]] and [[Switzerland]]. The largest Syriac diaspora community can be found [[Södertälje]], [[Sweden]], where approx. 40,000 Syriacs live.

Many Syriacs in [[Europe]] has made great success, many of them is famous [[politicians]], [[entertainers]], [[journalists]], [[athletes]] and other. Also 4 Syriac soccerteam is playing in elitelevel in [[Sweden]].

The international TV-channels [[Suryoyo Sat]] and [[Suroyo TV]] are also based in [[Europe]], [[Södertälje]] in [[Sweden]].

==== Americas ====
==== Australia ====
== History ==
=== Prehistoric time ===
{{Main|Aramaeans}}
[[Image:Levant 830.svg|250px|left|thumb|Map of the southern Levant, 830s BC]]
The [[Aramaeans]] was a semitic ethnic group that lived in [[Mesopotamia]] and in [[Syria]] from around 1100 BC. <ref name="BE">[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9009188/Aramaean Aramaean - Britannica Online Encyclopedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Their language, [[Aramaic]], was a north Semitic language that had its time of greatness in the bigger part of the [[Near East]] during the first millennium before our time of counting; much as a result of the new Assyrian empire, that assumed the language as its national language,<ref name="BD"/> that led to the big spread of the [[Aramaic language]] in that area in the Middle East, today known as the [[Fertile Crescent]] <ref name="BD">[http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bd/a/108?sr=1 Bible Dictionary: Aram, Aramaeans<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.

Later, even the [[Persians]] and the [[Jews]] came to talk different accents of Aramaic <ref name="BD"/>. In the [[Old Testament]], the [[Aramaeans]] are described as with the [[Jews]], a close related ethnic group <ref name="BE"/><ref name="BD"/>.

The [[Aramaeans]] along with the Hittite rulers came to rule Syro-Hittite states from about 1000 BC. The Aramaeans ruled cities such as Bit-Adini, Bit-Bahiani, Bit Agusi, Hatarikka-Luhuti and [[Hama]]. .<ref>''Tübinger Bibelatlas / Tübingen Bible Atlas''. Siegfried Mittmann, Götz Schmitt (eds.), Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2001, Map B IV 13-14</ref><ref>[[O.R. Gurney]], ''The Hittites''. Harmondsworth: Pelican, 2nd ed., 1976 = 1954. p. 39-46.</ref>
[[Image:Aramean funeral stele Louvre AO3026.jpg|150px|right|thumb|Basalt funeral stele bearing an Aramaic inscription, ca. 7th century BC. Found in Neirab or Tell Afis]]

The Aramean expansion continues and in the second half of the second century BCE, [[Edessa]] became the capital of the [[Abgar]] dynasty, who founded the Kingdom of [[Osroene]], the first Christian state under [[Abgar IX]].<ref>{{cite book |title=China in World History |last=Adshead |first=Samuel Adrian Miles |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2000 |publisher=Macmillan |location= |isbn=0312225652 |pages=27 }}</ref><ref name="ball">{{cite book |title=Rome in the East: The Transformation of an Empire |last=Ball |first=Warwick |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2000 |publisher=Routledge |location=Rome |isbn=0415113768 |pages=95 }}</ref><ref name="cheetham">{{cite book |title=A History of the Christian Church During the First Six Centuries |last=Cheetham |first=Samuel |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1905 |publisher=Macmillan and Co |location= |isbn= |pages=58 }}</ref><ref name="Lockyer">{{cite book |title=All the Apostles of the Bible |last=Lockyer |first=Herbert |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1988 |publisher=Zondervan |location= |isbn=0310280117 |pages=260 }}</ref>

The [[Aramaeans]] were, in the 11th century BC, dominating the area in [[Syria]]. The [[Aramaeans]] established kingdoms across the northern frontier of [[Israel]], such as [[Aram-Sobah]], [[Aram-Bêt-Rehob]] and [[Aram-Ma’akah]] around Mount Hermon, [[Aram-Geshur]] in the Hauran, and [[Aram-Damascus]] which became the strongest and largest one.

In 900 BC the Arameans reaches the culmination of their political power. A large group of Aramaeans moved to the east of the [[Euphrates]], where they settled in such numbers that the whole region became known as Aram-Naharaim or "Aram of the two rivers". One of their earliest kingdoms in [[Mesopotamia]] was Bît-bahiâni ([[Tell Halaf]]). North of Sam'al was the Aramaean state of Bit-Gabari, sandwiched between the [[Neo-Hittite]] states of [[Carchemish]], Gurgum, Tabal, Khattina and Unqi.

The Arameans was dominating great areas in the southern [[Levant]], whit states such as [[Aram-Damascus]]. Other Aramean tribes lived around the areas today known as [[Syria]].

[[Aram-Damascus]] falls in 723 BC, with [[Resin]] as the last king in throne.

In 720 BC the Assyrian emperor [[Sargon II]] dispersed the last Aramaean kingdoms independence <ref name="mercer"/>.
Some people mean that the [[Chaldeans]] that occupied [[Babylon]], was of [[Aramaic]] extraction <ref name="mercer">{{cite book
| last =
| first =
| authorlink =
| author = Watson E. Mills
| coauthors = Roger Aubrey Bullard
| editor =
| others =
| title = Mercer Dictionary of the Bible
| origdate =
| origyear =
| origmonth =
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=goq0VWw9rGIC&printsec=frontcover#PRA2-PA52,M1
| format =
| accessdate =
| accessyear =
| accessmonth =
| edition =
| series =
| date =
| year = 1990
| month =
| publisher = Mercer University Press
| location =
| language = English
| isbn = 0865543739
| oclc = 20852514
| doi =
| id =
| pages = pp. 52
| chapter =
| chapterurl =
| quote =
| ref =
}}</ref>

123 [[BC]] the great [[Aramean]] king [[Abgar V of Edessa|Abgar Aryo]] founds the kingdom of [[Osroene]] with [[Urhoy]] as capital city.

Between the years 267–272 BC the [[Aramean]] queen [[Bath Zabbai]] of [[Palmyra]] conquers [[the Orient]].

=== Christian time ===
{|border="0" align="right" margin="1" cellpadding="5" bgcolor="#ffffd9" style="margin-left:10px"
|bgcolor="#ffffd9"|<timeline>
ImageSize = width:320 height:700
PlotArea = right:40 top:10 left:40 bottom:10
DateFormat = yyyy
TimeAxis = orientation:vertical order:reverse
Period = from:0 till:2005
AlignBars = early
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:200 start:0
Colors =
id:canvas value:rgb(1,1,0.85)
BackgroundColors = canvas:canvas
PlotData =
width:15 color:red
bar:test from:0 till:700 # Old Syriacs
PlotData =
width:15 color:orange
bar:test from:700 till:1400# Middle Syriacs
PlotData =
width:15 color:yellow
bar:test from:1400 till:2005 # Modern Syriacs
PlotData =
bar:test at:45 mark:(line,white)
at:45 shift:(10,0) text:1st c. Syriacs becomes Christians
bar:test at:135 mark:(line,white)
at:135 shift:(10,4) text:c. 200 Aramaic is
bar:test at:172 mark:(line,white)
at:172 shift:(10,1) text:172
bar:test at:200 mark:(line,white)
at:200 shift:(10,-3) text:3rd c.
bar:test at:224 mark:(line,white)
at:224 shift:(10,-8) text:224
bar:test at:306 mark:(line,white)
at:306 shift:(10,-1) text:306 Ephrem born, Syriac golden age
bar:test at:359 mark:(line,white)
at:359 shift:(10,-3) text:359 Monastery of Mor Gabriel is built
bar:test at:373 mark:(line,white)
at:373 shift:(10,-9) text:373 Ephrem the Syrian dies
bar:test at:500 mark:(line,white)
at:500 shift:(10,-7) text:c. 500 Many Syriacs from Urhoy settles in Iran
bar:test at:635 mark:(line,white)
at:635 shift:(10,-9) text:635 Syriac missionaries reaches China
bar:test at:700 mark:(line,white)
at:700 shift:(10,0) text:700 Talmud completed
bar:test at:1100 mark:(line,white)
at:1100 shift:(10,2) text:1100 SOC reaches their biggest spread
bar:test at:1150 mark:(line,white)
at:1150 shift:(10,4) text:1150 Patriarch of SOC moves to Mardin
bar:test at:1258 mark:(line,white)
at:1200 shift:(10,0) text:1200 SOC reaches their culmination
bar:test at:1200 mark:(line,white)
at:1258 shift:(10,0) text:1258 Mongols sack Baghdad, many Syriacs killed
bar:test at:1290 mark:(line,black)
at:1290 shift:(10,1) text:1290 Syriac bishop Bar-Hebraeus dies
bar:test at:1295 mark:(line,black)
at:1295 shift:(10,-6) text:1293 Deiro d-Za´faran seat for Syr. Orthodox Pat
bar:test at:1650 mark:(line,black)
at:1650 shift:(10,0) text:17th c.
bar:test at:1834 mark:(line,black)
at:1834 shift:(10,0) text:1846 Persecution in Syria
bar:test at:1908 mark:(line,black)
at:1908 shift:(10,15) text:1908 The Aramean sunrelief is discovered
bar:test at:1915 mark:(line,black)
at:1915 shift:(10,4) text:1915 Persecution in Turkey
bar:test at:1951 mark:(line,black)
at:1951 shift:(10,2) text:1967 Syriacs emigrates to Europe
bar:test at:1998 mark:(line,black)
at:1998 shift:(10,0) text:1998 last speakers of Mlahsô & Bijil die
</timeline>
|}

Between the years 0–100 AD the terms ''Arameans'' and ''Aram'' were replaced by the terms ''Syrians'' (which today are known as ''Syriacs'') and ''Syria''. <ref name=autogenerated19 /><ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref>[http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/syriacs/ethnicity.html Syriacs - Ethnicity<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name=autogenerated5 /><ref name=autogenerated17 /><ref name=autogenerated12 /><ref name=autogenerated10 /><ref name=autogenerated11 /><ref>The Greek writer Posidonius (150 BC) says in his work.. "''The people that we (The Greeks) call Syrians, are called by themselves Arameans..........Because the people in Syra are the Arameans''"</ref><ref name="kaldaya" /><ref name=autogenerated2 />

The Syriacs were [[Christianity|Christianized]] in the 1st to 3rd centuries, at the time subject to the [[Roman Empire]] in the [[Osroene]] and [[Roman Syria|Syria]] provinces. According to legend already during the lifetime of [[historical Jesus|Jesus]], as king [[Abgar V of Edessa]] asked to be cured of leprosy and was healed by [[Thaddeus of Edessa|Thaddeus]].<ref name="abgar">This event is described in [[Eusebius]]' ''Church-history'' (I.13;II.1) ''</ref>.

[[Edessa]] became an important center of [[Early Christianity]], and the local [[Syriac language]] came to be the liturgical language of [[Syriac Christianity]]. The [[Antiochene Rite]] developed at the time evolved into the [[West Syrian Rite]] followed by Western Syriacs.

The great king [[Abgar]] V the Black ([[Syriac]]; Abgar u Komo), son of the [[Araméans]] <ref name="serug">S:t Jakob from Serug in a poem about the martyrs Guria and Shamuna, he says that Abgar V is son of the Araméans:
''"Two precious pearls, which were an ornament for the bride of my lord Abgar, the Aramaean's son."''
''(Text tr. A. Roberts and J. Donaldson (eds.), Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 8 (1886);)
(See Syriac Manuscripts from the Vatican Library: Volume 1, VatSyr. 117, number 224:On Shmona and Gurya. Fol. 551a, p. 1099)''</ref>, suffered from a leprosy sickness, that even his own doctor not could cure him from.

[[Abgar V of Edessa]] had been told about a wise man in [[Palestine]] ([[Jesus]]) that this person had effective cures against sicknesses. He send a delegation with a letter to [[Jesus]] and invited him to [[Edessa]], to cure [[Abgar V of Edessa]]. [[Jesus]] answered that could not come to [[Edessa]], because he was on other duties. But he sent one of his followers, [[Thaddeus of Edessa]] and this Thaddeus cured king [[Abgar V]] and not long after, [[Abgar V of Edessa]] and the [[Aramean]] population converted into [[Christianity]].

The kingdom of [[Abgar V]], [[Edessa]], got famous because of this event, and many people visited [[Edessa]] to look at the letters that was exchanged between Abgar V and Jesus <ref name="abgar">This event is described in Eusebios from Caesares work ''Church-history'' (I.13;II.1) ( 300 AD) ''</ref>.

Later, [[Edessa]] became a important centre for the Christian [[Arameans]] (Syriacs) and for their Syriac-Christian culture. The [[Aramaic]] dialect that was spoken in [[Edessa]], became standard language in the new [[Syriac-Christian church]].

With the rise of [[Sassanid Persia]] in the 3rd century, the Western Syriacs were divided from their Eastern cousins, who found themselves in the Sassanid province of [[Asuristan]]. The division deepened with the [[Nestorian schism|Nestorian]] and [[Monophysitism|Monophsite]] schism in the 5th century.

After the [[Council of Ephesus]] (431), the Church of [[Seleucia-Ctesiphon]], which had hitherto been governed by a [[catholicos]] under [[Antioch]], refused to accept the condemnation of Nestorius, cut itself and the Church to the East of it off from both the Roman Catholic Church and the Syriac [[Church of Antioch]]. The Church of Antioch remained in communion with Rome until the [[East-West Schism]] of the 11th century.

The first Syriac documents come from about the end of the 5th century.<ref>''[[Testamentum Domini]]'', ed. by [[Ignatius Rahmani II]], ''Life of Severus of Antioch'', sixth century.</ref> The oldest Jacobite Liturgy extant is the one ascribed (as in its Greek form) to [[Saint James]]. It is in the dialect of Edessa.

During the Fifth century, Many Syriacs moved from [[Urhoy]] to [[Gundeshapur]] in [[Iran]], as medical doctors. During that time, [[Urhoy]] was the leading medical centre.<ref>http://rnb.uin.googlepages.com/v22n2spring2005.pdf</ref>

[[Image:Mor Hananyo.jpg|thumb|left|Mor Hananyo Monastery, Tur Abdin]]
The first Jacobite writer on their rite is [[James of Edessa]] (d. 708), who wrote a letter to a priest Thomas comparing the Syrian Liturgy with that of Egypt.

With the establishment of the [[Umayyad Caliphate]] in the 650s, both the Eastern and the Western Syriac Churches fell under [[Dar al-Islam|Islamic rule]], their followers receiving the status of [[Dhimmi]]. Syriac Christianity has held the status of a [[minority religion]] in the [[Arab world]] ever since.

Nevertheless, the Syriacs remained a significant majority in various areas of the [[Middle East]] until the late 13th century.

After this century, the Syriacs never succeeded in recovering, and this was the start on oppressions, persecutions and constant massacres on the Syriacs.
During the 14th-century [[Timurid]] rule, however, large numbers of Syriacs were killed, and many of the survivors fled into the mountains of [[Tur Abdin]]. This area became the center of Syriac culture. The Syriacs built villages, churches and monasteries.

=== Modern ===
During the years 1843, 1846 and 1860 there was three mass murders committed against the Syriac population, which led to new emigrations, where many of the Syriac population fled into the mountains of [[Tur Abdin]] which already was dominated by Syriacs.

[[Image:BaghdadCorpus1920.jpg|thumb|right|Celebration of Corpus Christi in Iraq, attended by Chaldeans, Syriacs, and Armenians, close to Aqd al-Nasara in 1920s.]]
In 1911 a [[winged sun]] relief was found in the [[Aramean]] village [[Tell-Khalaf]], and there after the Syriacs in [[Syria]] started to use this relief as an honour to their [[Aramaic]] origin.

In 1914 a genocide, also known as "The [[Syriac genocide]]" was committed against the Syriac population in the [[Ottoman Empire]] near the end of the [[World War I|First World War]] by [[Young Turks]]. <ref>Assyrians: The Continuous Saga - Page 40 by Frederick A. Aprim</ref> The Syriac population of northern [[Mesopotamia]] ([[Tur Abdin]], [[Hakkari]], [[Van]], [[Siirt]] region in modern-day southeastern [[Turkey]] and [[Urmia]] region in northwestern [[Iran]]) was forcibly relocated and massacred by [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] ([[Turkish people|Turkish]] and [[Kurdish people|Kurdish]]) forces between 1914 and 1920 under the regime of the [[Young Turks]].<ref>{{cite book
|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=PK-TPKvmG7UC&printsec=frontcover#PPA148,M1
|title = Islam and Dhimmitude: Where Civilizations Collide
|accessdate =
|accessdaymonth =
|accessmonthday =
|accessyear =
|author = [[Bat Ye'or|Ye'or, Bat]]
|last =
|first =
|authorlink =
|coauthors = Miriam Kochan, David Littman
|date =
|year = 2002
|month =
|format =
|work =
|publisher = Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
|pages = pp. 148-149
|language = English
|isbn = 0838639437
|oclc = 47054791
|doi =
|archiveurl =
|archivedate =
|quote =
}}</ref> This genocide is considered by some scholars to be a part of the same policy of extermination as the [[Armenian Genocide]] and [[Pontic Greek Genocide]] <ref>Schaller, Dominik J. and Zimmerer, Jürgen (2008) 'Late Ottoman genocides: the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and Young Turkish population and extermination policies - introduction', Journal of Genocide Research, 10:1, 7 - 14</ref>.

During the years 1915-1923, [[Aramean]] finds were discovered by [[Germany|German]] [[archeologists]] in the [[Aramean]] village [[Zincirli]], [[Turkey]]. This finds were brought by the Syriacs from [[Syria]] when they fled into [[Turkey]]. Today they can be found in the Berlin Museum.

In 1920 a large amount of Syriacs emigrated into the plains in North Eastern [[Syria]], especially in [[Al Qamishli]] and [[Al-Hasakah]]. Large Syriac communities could also be found in [[Beirut]].<ref name="jaas.org">http://www.jaas.org/edocs/v1/jastrow.pdf</ref><ref>[http://mideastimage.com/result.aspx?hiddenImageAttributes=0,3,0&search=1 MIDEASTIMAGE :: Image Search Results<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

In [1923], at the [[Ottoman Empire]]'s fall after the first world war, the Syriac homeland fell under the [[French Mandate of Syria]] in the west and the [[British Mandate of Iraq]] in the east, and many Syriac Christians were dispersed in the [[Syriac diaspora]].

During the fifties and the sixties another large wave of immigration set in. Syriac communities moved into larger urban areas in western part of [[Turkey]]. 20,000 Syriacs settled in [[Istanbul]] until the sixties.<ref name=jaas.org />´

In year 1968, Syriacs moved from [[Lebanon]] to [[Sweden]]. The group contained a total of 200 Syriacs. At this time, many Syriacs left [[Lebanon]], [[Syria]] and [[Turkey]] and moved to [[Europe]] and the [[United States]]. <ref>[http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/artikel_411397.svd SvD » Inrikes » "Nu visar vi världen vilka vi är"<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name=autogenerated8 />

[[Image:Aramaean sun.JPG|left|200px|thumb|The Aramean relief that was found in [[Syria]]]]
The first Syriac soccer team in the [[Syriac diaspora|diaspora]] was [[Syrianska FC]], which currently plays in the third highest division in [[Sweden]], was established in 1977. The first name on the soccer team was [[Suryoye]], but was changed in 1986 to Syrianska SK, and finally to [[Syrianska FC]].<ref>[http://www.syrianskafc.com/files/club/fact.asp : Syrianska FC :<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

In 1988 the Aramean-Syriac party [[Aramaic Democratic Organization]] was established in [[Lebanon]].

Syriacs were still the largest [[Christian]] denomination in [[Turkey]], with more than 100,000 Syriacs still left in [[Tur Abdin]]. In later years many Syriacs started to move from [[Tur Abdin]], especially to [[Sweden]], [[USA]] and [[Germany]].
In the mid 1980s there were still 70,000 Syriacs left in [[Turkey]]. During this time many Syriacs fled abroad due to unrest in the border region and concerns for their security. <ref>[http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=138167 [SPIRITUAL SITES&#93; Mor Jacob Monastery: a Syriac oasis in Nusaybin<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In 1995 they were still a majority as the largest [[Christian]] denomination in [[Turkey]], with around 50,000 Syriacs.<ref name=autogenerated13 /> Today in [[Tur Abdin]], there remain about 3,000 Syriacs.<ref name="3000turabdin">*[http://sor.cua.edu/SOCNews/index.html SOC News report ,] ''He was documenting life in the Tur Abdin, where about 3,000 members of the Aramean minority still live in''.</ref>. However, after the turn of the century, many Syriacs have started to move back.<ref name=autogenerated4 /><ref name=autogenerated7 />

The Syriac party [[Syriac Union of Lebanon]], also known as SUL, is established in 29 of March, 2005 in [[Lebanon]]. The current leader for the party is Brahim Murat.<ref>[http://www.qenneshrin.com/se/sul-har-blivit.htm sul-har-blivit<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

In 2008 the [[national team]] for the Aramean-Syriac people all over the world was established. The [[football]] team is named [[Arameans Suryoye]] and attended for the first time in [[2008 VIVA World Cup]]. The football team reached the final, but lost against [[Padania]] with 2-0.<ref name=autogenerated3 />

At the end of 2008, the Syriac team [[Syrianska FC]] reaches the second highest division in [[Sweden]], [[Superettan]] for the first time in the history.<ref>http://www.lt.se/index.asp?kat=st&i1=index_red_2007.asp&i2=1&Id=29332&isp2=hela</ref><ref>http://www.syrianskafc.com</ref>

==Institutions==
===Political institutions===
*[[Aramaic Democratic Organization]] (Politic party in [[Lebanon]])
*[[Syriac Independent Unified Movement]] (Politic party in [[Iraq]])
*[[Syriac Union of Lebanon]] (Politic party in [[Lebanon]])
*[[Syriac Universal Alliance]] (Umbrella organization for all Syriac organizations)
*[[European Syriac Union]]
*[[Platform Aram]]

===Other institutions===
*[[Aramean Syriac Football Association]]
*[[Syrianska FC]]
*[[Arameiska/Syrianska KIF]]
*[[Syrianska IF Kerburan]]
*[[Valsta Syrianska IK]]
*[[Suroyo TV]]
*[[Suryoyo Sat]]

==See also==
{{Aramaeans}}
{{columns
|width=240px
|col1 =
*[[Aramaeans]]
*[[Aramaic language]]
*[[Aramaic Music Festival]]
*[[Aramaean kings]]
*[[Aramaean kingdoms]]
*[[Aramaic Democratic Organization]]
*[[Aramean Syriac Football Association]]
*[[Bahro Suryoyo]]
*[[Beth Nahrin]]
*[[Syriac Orthodox Church]]
*[[Syriac Catholic Church]]
*[[Syriac Christianity]]
*[[Syriac diaspora|Syriac Diaspora]]
*[[Syriac dance|Syriac Dance]]
*[[Syriac genocide|Syriac Genocide]]
*[[Syriac language|Syriac Language]]
*[[Syriac music|Syriac Music]]
*[[Syriac flag|Syriac Flag]]
*[[Syriac sports|Syriac Sports]]
|col2 =
*[[Syriac Universal Alliance]]
*[[Suryoyo Sat]]
*[[List of Syriacs]]
*[[List of Syriac settlements]]
*[[Neo-Aramaic languages]]
*[[Turoyo Language]]
*[[Assyrians and Syriacs in Australia]]
*[[Assyrians and Syriacs in Sweden]]
*[[Assyrians and Syriacs in Germany]]
*[[Assyrians and Syriacs in Georgia]]
*[[Assyrians and Syriacs in Lebanon]]
*[[Assyrians and Syriacs in Syria]]
*[[Assyrians and Syriacs in Iraq]]
*[[Assyrians and Syriacs in Israel]]
*[[Assyrians and Syriacs in Turkey]]
*[[Assyrians and Syriacs in Netherlands]]
*[[Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Syriacs in the United States‎]]
}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite book
| last = Ephrem I Barsaum
| first = Ignatius
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| editor =
| others =
| title = De spridda pärlorna - En historia om syriansk litteratur och vetenskap
| origdate =
| origyear =
| origmonth =
| url =
| format =
| accessdate =
| accessyear =
| accessmonth =
| edition =
| series =
| date =
| year = 2006
| month =
| publisher = Anastasis Media AB
| location = Sweden
| language = Swedish
| isbn = 9197575143
| oclc =
| doi =
| id =
| pages =
| chapter =
| chapterurl =
| quote =
| ref = http://www.bokrecension.se/9197575143
}}
*{{cite book
|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=4mug9LrpLKcC&printsec=frontcover
|title = Massacres, resistance, protectors: Muslim-Christian relations in Eastern Anatolia during World War I
|accessdate =
|accessdaymonth =
|accessmonthday =
|accessyear =
|author = David Gaunt
|last =
|first =
|authorlink =
|coauthors =
|date =
|year = 2006
|month =
|format =
|work =
|publisher = Gorgias Press LLC
|pages =
|language = English
|isbn = 1593333013
|oclc = 85766950
|doi =
|archiveurl =
|archivedate =
|quote =
}}
*{{cite book
| last = Aphram I Barsoum
| first = Patriarch
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| editor =
| others =
| title = The Scattered Pearls
| origdate =
| origyear =
| origmonth =
| url =
| format =
| accessdate =
| accessyear =
| accessmonth =
| edition =
| series =
| date =
| year = 1943
| month =
| publisher =
| location =
| language =
| isbn =
| oclc =
| doi =
| id =
| pages =
| chapter =
| chapterurl =
| quote =
| ref = http://sor.cua.edu/Pub/PAphrem1/ScatteredPearlsIntro.html
}}
*{{cite book
| last = De Courtis
| first = Sėbastien
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| editor =
| others =
| title = The Forgotten Genocide: Eastern Christians, the Last Arameans
| origdate =
| origyear =
| origmonth =
| url =
| format =
| accessdate =
| accessyear =
| accessmonth =
| edition = 1st Gorgias Press ed
| series =
| date =
| year = 2004
| month =
| publisher = Piscataway, NJ : Gorgias Press
| location =
| language = English
| isbn = 1593330774 9781593330774
| oclc =
| doi =
| id =
| pages =
| chapter =
| chapterurl =
| quote =
| ref = http://worldcat.org/wcpa/isbn/1593330774
}}
*{{cite book
| last = Brock
| first = Sebastian
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| editor =
| others =
| title = [[The Hidden Pearl|The Hidden Pearl: The Aramaic Heritage]]
| origdate =
| origyear =
| origmonth =
| url =
| format =
| accessdate =
| accessyear =
| accessmonth =
| edition =
| series =
| date =
| year = 9/9/2002
| month =
| publisher = Trans World Film
| location =
| language = English
| isbn = 1-931956-99-5
| oclc =
| doi =
| id =
| pages =
| chapter =
| chapterurl =
| quote =
| ref = http://www.gorgiaspress.com/BOOKSHOP/pc-151-25-brock-et-al-sebastian-the-hidden-pearl-the-aramaic-heritage.aspx
}}
*{{cite book
| last = Sebastian Brock
| first = David Taylor,
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| editor =
| others =
| title = Vol. I: The Ancient Aramaic Heritage
| origdate =
| origyear =
| origmonth =
| url =
| format =
| accessdate =
| accessyear =
| accessmonth =
| edition =
| series =
| date =
| year = 9/9/2002
| month =
| publisher = Trans World Film
| location =
| language = English
| isbn =
| oclc =
| doi =
| id =
| pages =
| chapter =
| chapterurl =
| quote =
| ref = http://www.gorgiaspress.com/BOOKSHOP/pc-151-25-brock-et-al-sebastian-the-hidden-pearl-the-aramaic-heritage.aspx
}}
*{{cite book
| last = Sebastian Brock
| first = David Taylor,
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| editor =
| others =
| title = Vol. II: The Heirs of the Ancient Aramaic Heritage
| origdate =
| origyear =
| origmonth =
| url =
| format =
| accessdate =
| accessyear =
| accessmonth =
| edition =
| series =
| date =
| year = 9/9/2002
| month =
| publisher = Trans World Film
| location =
| language = English
| isbn =
| oclc =
| doi =
| id =
| pages =
| chapter =
| chapterurl =
| quote =
| ref = http://www.gorgiaspress.com/BOOKSHOP/pc-151-25-brock-et-al-sebastian-the-hidden-pearl-the-aramaic-heritage.aspx
}}
*{{cite book
| last = Sebastian Brock
| first = David Taylor,
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| editor =
| others =
| title = Vol. III: At the Turn of the Third Millennium; The Syrian Orthodox Witness
| origdate =
| origyear =
| origmonth =
| url =
| format =
| accessdate =
| accessyear =
| accessmonth =
| edition =
| series =
| date =
| year = 9/9/2002
| month =
| publisher = Trans World Film
| location =
| language = English
| isbn =
| oclc =
| doi =
| id =
| pages =
| chapter =
| chapterurl =
| quote =
| ref = http://www.gorgiaspress.com/BOOKSHOP/pc-151-25-brock-et-al-sebastian-the-hidden-pearl-the-aramaic-heritage.aspx
}}
*{{cite book
| last = Hollerweger
| first = Hans
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| editor =
| others =
| title = Tur Abdin - A Homeland of Ancient Syro-Aramaean Culture
| origdate =
| origyear =
| origmonth =
| url =
| format =
| accessdate =
| accessyear =
| accessmonth =
| edition =
| series =
| date =
| year = 1999
| month =
| publisher = ?
| location = Österreich
| language = English, German, Turkish
| isbn = 3-9501039-0-2
| oclc =
| doi =
| id =
| pages =
| chapter =
| chapterurl =
| quote =
| ref =
}}

== Further reading ==
==References==
<div style="height: 400px; overflow: auto; padding: 3px; border:1px solid #AAAAAA; reflist4">
{{reflist|3}}
</div>

{{Syriac Christianity}}

<!--Categories-->
[[Category:Syriac people| ]]
[[Category:Ancient peoples]]
[[Category:Semitic peoples]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in the Middle East]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Europe]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Syria]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Lebanon]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Iraq]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Turkey]]

[[bg:Арамеи]]
[[ar:آراميون]]
[[arc:ܐܪܡܝܐ]]
[[arc:ܣܘܪܝܝܐ]]
[[ca:Arameus]]
[[de:Aramäer (Gegenwart)]]
[[el:Αραμαίοι]]
[[eo:Arameoj]]
[[fr:Araméens]]
[[gl:Arameos]]
[[hr:Aramejci]]
[[it:Aramei]]
[[ku:Suryanî]]
[[lt:Aramėjai]]
[[hu:Arámiak]]
[[nl:Arameeërs]]
[[pl:Aramejczycy]]
[[pt:Arameus]]
[[ru:Арамеи]]
[[simple:Syriacs]]
[[sk:Aramejci]]
[[fi:Aramealaiset]]
[[sv:Araméer]]
[[sv:Syrianer]]
[[tr:Süryaniler]]

Revision as of 14:16, 30 November 2008

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