Suroyo TV celebrates 21st anniversary in Vienna

VIENNA — The 21st annual celebration of Suroyo TV was held in the hall of St. Ephrem Church in the Austrian capital, Vienna, in a festive atmosphere and with broad participation from members of the Syriac community. The event featured artistic performances, official speeches, congratulatory messages, and entertainment segments, including a raffle draw. 

The celebration began at 8:30 p.m., with presenters Metin Rhawi and Rahel Vergili opening the evening. Attendees observed a moment of silence in honor of the martyrs of the recent terrorist bombing that targeted the Mar Elias Greek (Rûm) Orthodox Church in Daramsuq (Damascus), Syria. 

The cultural program opened with a musical performance by artist Sargon Sharro, who sang a selection of national and traditional songs. He was followed by artists Paul Ayar and Andre Sukkar. Later, Jacob Mirza delivered a speech on behalf of the channel, emphasizing the significance of the occasion and the vital role Suroyo TV plays in advocating for the issues of the Syriac people. He affirmed the channel’s ongoing commitment to empowering the people and strengthening Syriac media. 

Israel Günel of Vienna’s church council spoke about Suroyo TV’s media journey, while Tuma Çelik, a former member of Turkish parliament and a member of the Bethnahrin National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo D’Bethnahrin, MUB), praised the event and the channel’s dedicated media coverage and diverse programming. 

Throughout the evening, congratulatory letters from various institutions were read, interviews were conducted with attendees, and individuals and organizations that contributed to the success of the channel were honored. 

A raffle draw was also held during the festivities. 

The event concluded with the cutting of a celebratory cake, marking 21 years since the founding of the Syriac-language satellite channel.