Tur Abdin village of Arkah marks opening of community center

ARKAH, Turkey — The village of Arkah, in the heart of the historic Tur Abdin region of southeastern Turkey, inaugurated its new community center on Sunday, 17 August, in a celebration that united locals with members of the Syriac diaspora. The ceremony was led by Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Tur Abdin Mor Timotheus Shmuel Aktaş.

The opening, organized by the Arkah Development and Relief Association, followed invitations extended to community members both in Turkey and abroad. What began as a local ceremony soon became a broader celebration of heritage and diaspora ties, as visitors from across Europe filled the village squares.

Festivities included welcoming speeches, tours of the new center’s facilities, traditional food and drink, and lively dabke dance circles.

Archbishop Aktaş emphasized that the community center was more than just a building, describing it as “a platform of connection for future generations” and a hub for safeguarding Syriac heritage and cultural identity.

Organizers highlighted the project as a strategic step toward ensuring the continuity of cultural, national, and religious life in the Syriacs’ ancestral homeland.

The gathering brought together local residents and diaspora visitors, underscoring the enduring ties between the Syriac community in Tur Abdin and its global diaspora, despite migration pressures and regional challenges.