Syriac town of Sadad celebrates conclusion of Syriac Summer Club activities

SADAD, HMOTH (HOMS), Syria — For the 14th consecutive year, the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Hmoth (Homs), Hemto (Hama), and Tartous organized its annual Syriac Summer Club in Sadad, a tradition first launched by Archbishop Mor Boutros Kassis—currently the Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Holeb (Aleppo)—during his earlier service in Sadad. 

This year’s program, held under the patronage of Archbishop Matta Khoury, carried the theme “Stay Close to Me, My Children.” Nearly 400 children between the ages of 5 and 15 took part, accompanied by their families. Priests, deacons, and around 50 young volunteers from Sadad’s Syriac community supervised and led the activities. 

The club offered a wide range of educational, recreational, religious, and cultural programs. Children engaged in Bible storytelling and competitions, learned prayers from the Syriac Orthodox liturgy, and took part in crafts, games, sports, and outings to local tourist and religious sites. The program also included awareness sessions, community initiatives, and group discussions.

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The closing ceremony featured dance performances and plays prepared by the participants, along with the “Generation of the Gospel” competition, which drew spirited participation and concluded with several winners receiving financial prizes. These engaging activities aimed at encouraging children to deepen their connection to the Bible, serve their church, and return to the club in the future. 

Parents, speaking to satellite channel Suroyo TV, expressed gratitude to the organizers for creating an environment where their children could learn, enjoy themselves, and strengthen their Christian Syriac Orthodox identity. They, along with their children, voiced hope that the club would continue annually, with new activities enriching its long-standing tradition.

Organizers emphasized the broader role of the summer club in bringing together parishioners, strengthening ties with other dioceses, and even encouraging expatriates to return to Sadad and reconnect with their families. The program, they noted, helps develop children’s religious and cultural awareness while preparing them to contribute to their local churches and communities. 

At the conclusion of the ceremony, organizers honored a number of contributors and supporters.

The Syriac Town of Sadad 

Sadad is a predominantly Syriac town located 60 kilometers south of Hmoth (Homs), near the vital M5 highway linking Daramsuq (Damascus) and Hmoth (Homs). Home to around 15,000 people, with a large domestic diaspora, the town has endured two major assaults by extremist groups in the past decade. In 2013, fighters from Jabhat al-Nusra—later rebranded as “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” (HTS) —briefly occupied Sadad. In 2015, the terrorists of the Islamic State (ISIS), advancing from areas under Syrian regime control, threatened the town once again.

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