12th Delbeh Festival celebrates Syriac culture in Tartus, Syria

TARTUS, Syria — The 12th Delbeh Festival for Culture and Arts, titled “Syriac Culture,” took place in Mashta al-Hilu, Syria, from 8–10 August. The event was held under the auspices of the Foundation for the Cultural Charity Forum in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tartus Governorate. The festival was attended by Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II.

The three-day festival featured performances by students and professors from the Higher Institute of Music, conducted by Maestro Misak Bagbudyan, along with a variety of cultural, artistic, and musical activities. The program included the opening of the oil photography exhibition “Under the Delbeh,” an evening dedicated to the works of Nuri Iskander, and exhibitions showcasing Syriac calligraphy, ceramics, and the art of Ebru.

Additionally, the festival included a performance by the Orjwan Choir at the Mor Elias Church House. The Delbeh Festival is an annual event aimed at celebrating and introducing Syriac culture to the broader Syrian public.