Syriac Culture and Arts Director delivers lecture at Harvard on preserving Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian heritage

BOSTON — The Director General of Syriac Culture and Arts, Kaldo Ramzi Oghanna, delivered a lecture titled Preserving and Promoting the Culture of Chaldeans–Syriacs–Assyrians in Contemporary Iraq at Harvard University’s Emerson Hall in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

The lecture, hosted at the invitation of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University, was part of an academic event reflecting the growing global interest in the cultural heritage of Chaldeans–Syriacs–Assyrians in Iraq.

Oghanna discussed the considerable challenges facing the ancient Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian culture, which has its roots in ancient Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia). He highlighted the modern-day struggles this culture has encountered due to wars, displacement, and cultural marginalization amidst Iraq’s political and social transformations.

He also emphasized the ongoing efforts to protect this rich heritage, including the organization of festivals, support for Syriac studies, cultural events, and specialized programs aimed at revitalizing the Syriac language.

Oghanna called for stronger collaboration between international academic institutions and cultural organizations in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) to bolster these initiatives and ensure their sustainability. He stressed the need for increased support for projects that aim to safeguard this ancient human heritage from extinction.

The lecture received significant attention from researchers, academics, and cultural enthusiasts, sparking rich discussions on the best ways to protect this cultural legacy, which represents an essential part of the region’s history.