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CHRISTIAN EXODUS FROM SYRIA RAISES HOPES FOR RESURRECTION IN TURKEY
Assyrian International News Agency AINA
Feb 26 2013
Escalating violence in northern Syria is forcing Christians to flee
their homeland and take refuge in nearby regions of Armenia and Turkey.
The New York Times reports that several hundred Syrian Christian
refugees have arrived in Turkey throughout the past few weeks, heading
for "the monasteries and towns of Mardin and Midyat in Tur Abdin,
an ancient region in southeastern Turkey, less than 50 kilometers,
or 30 miles, from the Syrian border that is the historical heartland
of the Syriac Orthodox Church."
The exodus from Syria is raising hopes of resurrecting the Christian
presence in southeastern Turkey, which "is still dotted with Syriac
churches like Mor Gabriel, which was founded in the year 397 and is
one of the oldest active monasteries in the world today," reports
the Times. "But apart from the monks, very few Syriacs remain."
USA Today also reports that an "estimated 7,000 of Syria's
Christian-Armenian community have arrived in Armenia since the start
of the uprising." Christian refugees have headed for Aleppo, which
is now the temporary home for nearly 8 in 10 of the Syrian Christians
in Armenia.
CT previously has reported on Syria, including how many Christians
backed Assad's regime and have been working to avert an all-out civil
war. CT has also noted the legal troubles of Mor Gabriel.
CT has also reported on Syriac Christians, who speak Aramaic (the
language of Jesus), and "religicide" in the Middle East.
By Melissa Steffan http://blog.christianitytoday.com
http://www.aina.org/news/20130226154433.htm
Assyrian International News Agency AINA
Feb 26 2013
Escalating violence in northern Syria is forcing Christians to flee
their homeland and take refuge in nearby regions of Armenia and Turkey.
The New York Times reports that several hundred Syrian Christian
refugees have arrived in Turkey throughout the past few weeks, heading
for "the monasteries and towns of Mardin and Midyat in Tur Abdin,
an ancient region in southeastern Turkey, less than 50 kilometers,
or 30 miles, from the Syrian border that is the historical heartland
of the Syriac Orthodox Church."
The exodus from Syria is raising hopes of resurrecting the Christian
presence in southeastern Turkey, which "is still dotted with Syriac
churches like Mor Gabriel, which was founded in the year 397 and is
one of the oldest active monasteries in the world today," reports
the Times. "But apart from the monks, very few Syriacs remain."
USA Today also reports that an "estimated 7,000 of Syria's
Christian-Armenian community have arrived in Armenia since the start
of the uprising." Christian refugees have headed for Aleppo, which
is now the temporary home for nearly 8 in 10 of the Syrian Christians
in Armenia.
CT previously has reported on Syria, including how many Christians
backed Assad's regime and have been working to avert an all-out civil
war. CT has also noted the legal troubles of Mor Gabriel.
CT has also reported on Syriac Christians, who speak Aramaic (the
language of Jesus), and "religicide" in the Middle East.
By Melissa Steffan http://blog.christianitytoday.com
http://www.aina.org/news/20130226154433.htm