George Cacan, Syriac musician and priest of Syriac Orthodox Church, passes away at 75

NORSBORG, Sweden — George CaCan, musician and Priest of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Norsborg, passed away at the age of 75 years old. Cacan was born in the city of Zalin (Qamishli) in North and East Syria in 1946 to Hanna and Shahrah Cacan, originally from the village of Arbo in Tur Abdin. After completing high school, he joined the Music School in Daramsuq (Damascus) and obtained a university degree in music.

Cacan worked as a music teacher in Zalin until he immigrated to Sweden where he was ordained as a priest in the Mar Gorgis Church in Norsborg. He served there until his passing.

He was one of the first composers of Syriac songs in a colloquial dialect, contributing greatly to Syriac culture.

Cacan worked with many Syriac songwriters and poets, including the late Danho Dahho and the poet George Shamoun, in addition to great Syriac musicians, including Gabriel Asaad and Paul Michael.

His passing is a great loss for both Syriac culture and the Syriac Orthodox Church.

He was known among the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) community in Norsborg for his purity of heart and dedication to the Church.

On Sunday morning, after the Divine Liturgy, he sat with the church committee and to drink coffee. He passed away at the door of the church where he was going to perform baptismal rites.