21/06/2023

Syriac institutions in Switzerland commemorate Sayfo Genocide 

BADEN, Switzerland — In partnership with the Mor Abrohom Syriac Orthodox Church, the European Syriac Union (ESU) in Baden, Switzerland, held a memorial event for the martyrs of the 1915 Sayfo Genocide.

The event began with lighting candles with a group of children in the Syriac Cultural Club in Baden. The children were informed about the symbols and meanings of the Sayfo and why the martyrs are commemorated every year.

A Divine Liturgy and prayer for the Sayfo martyrs was also held in the Gibbenstorf Church in Switzerland with the participation of Father Mikhail and Father Karim Asmar.

The prayer was attended by a crowd of Syriac people and Swiss supporters, as well as representatives of several communities from all over Switzerland.

The Divine Liturgy ceremonies began with children holding candles. This was followed by a violin performance by Dr. Cornelia inspired by the events of the Sayfo. The event continued with a memorial evening held at the Syriac Cultural Club. It began with an opening speech by official of the Bethnahrain National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo D’Bethnahrin, MUB) — Switzerland Branch Ayfer Gabriel.

Several speeches were delivered on the occasion and a prayer was also held for the souls of the martyrs.

The evening was attended by the Club’s officials Erdoran Kayir and Lucas Sagur, who delivered the ESU speech.

Former Turkish MPs Tuma Celik and Abdullah Demirtaş, as well as Mesla Club representative Ozlem, and Fathers Karim Asmar and Behanan Konotcan also attended the event.

Singer Aslan Tujan recited an elegiac poem and songs inspired by the occasion. The evening was concluded with the thanking of news websites that covered this event, including Furat News and Suroyo TV.