CNN Travel publishes an article on Syriac city of Mirde in Turkey

MIRDE, Turkey — The CNN Travel published a long article about the historical city of Mirde (Mardin) in southeast Turkey, its ethnic groups (civilizations) and its ancient heritage.

The CNN article reported that the history of Mirde goes back to thousands of years, and contains stone walls reverberate with the gentle murmur of conversations in Arabic, Syriac, Armenian, Kurdish, Torani, Turkish and Aramaic, an ancient Semitic language once believed to have been used by Jesus.

The article talked about the beauty of the city, including its houses, monasteries, churches and mosques, and its residents’ simple life. It also mentioned the distinguished white walls of its buildings. It shed light on the Syriac language and its importance throughout history.

The article noted that diverse peoples have lived in this city, and built rich civilizations since the 4th century, indicating that the city is of great importance to the Syriacs, Romans, Byzantines, Nabateans and other peoples.

The article referred to the Church of the Forty Martyrs, which was originally constructed in 569 C.E., It took its name when the relics of 40 martyrs were brought there in 1170.

” Architecturally the church is simplicity itself. Outside, an elegant domed bell tower topped with a cross sits in a rectangular courtyard bounded by golden stone walls. Inside, regular services take place, part of an unbroken tradition carried out by Aramaic Christians for more than 700 years,” the article reported.

The article also talked about the sombre yet majestic Deyrulzafaran (House of Saffron) monastery and original seat of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate, its surroundings, and the Mirde Museum, which was formerly the seat of the patriarchs of our Assyrian Catholic people. Antiquities from Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia) during the time of the Romans and the Ottomans were also mentioned.