Syriac Orthodox Diocese of Tur Abdin reopens restored Church of the Virgin Mary in Zaz

ZAZ, Turkey — The diaspora community of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) continues to play a vital role in preserving and restoring the churches of their ancestral villages.

Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Tur Abdin Mor Timotheus Shmuel Aktaş recently presided over the opening and sanctification ceremony of the newly restored Church of the Virgin Mary in the village of Zaz.

Zaz, a village whose residents now visit annually during the summer months, recently completed the construction of 25 homes. To mark the occasion, the consecration of the church was conducted with great reverence. Archbishop Aktaş, accompanied by priests, deacons, and a group of faithful believers, led the ceremony. A communal dinner followed, celebrating the long-awaited restoration.

The village had once been home to the Church of Saint Dimit, but in 1972, at the request of the villagers, construction on the Church of the Virgin Mary began. However, due to emigration, the project was left incomplete, and the partially built structure fell into disrepair.

Thanks to the support of Mrs. Rifqa and Father Samuel Bahdou from Istanbul, restoration efforts were revived. With the help of the Zaz village committee, including key members such as Aydin Aslan from the diaspora, the project was successfully completed, bringing new life to the church and its community.