TUR ABDIN

Perched on the heights of Tur Abdin in southeastern Turkey, the Mor Gabriel Monastery stands proudly as one of the oldest continuously functioning Christian monasteries in the world. Since its founding in 397 AD, this spiritual beacon has never ceased to fulfill its religious and cultural mission, defying wars, upheavals,…

TUR ABDIN — Syriac Orthodox Christians in Tur Abdin celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in large numbers on August 14 and 15 in the various towns and villages of Tur Abdin, reports Gazete Sabro.   Archbishop of Tur Abdin Mor Timotheos Samuel Aktaş presided over…

ARKAH, Turkey — The Syriac village of Arkah will officially open its new cultural and community center this weekend, reported Arkah News reports. The building project was largely made possible by the financial support of emigrant villagers, organized in the Arkah Reconstruction and Relief Association. For the festive occasion, the…

MIDYAT, TUR ABDIN — The Syriac (Chaldean-Assyrian-Aramean) people of Beth Nahrin spare no effort in revitalizing the spirit of Tur Abdin, one of their vibrant homelands, whether through the restoration of historic churches, the reconstruction of homes left behind by Syriac émigrés to Europe and beyond, opening of food establishments,…

MİDEN, Turkey — In a vivid display of Syriac Orthodox tradition, the village of Miden in Tur Abdin witnessed a collective ordination ceremony that brought 28 young men into clerical service at the historic Church of St. Jacob. The liturgy was presided over by Metropolitan Mor Timotheos Samuel Aktas, head…

MEDYAD (MIDYAT), Tur Abdin — As in previous years, the winners of the 21st annual Suroyo TV celebration, which took place on June 28 at St. Ephrem Church Hall in the Austrian capital, Vienna, are being reached and presented with their prizes through dedicated efforts. On the 20th and 22nd…

MEDYAD, Tur Abdin — Will Syriacdom revive in Tur Abdin? That is a question that Semir Sumer asked himself. He decided to make an economic contribution and opened the Assyria Hotel in the center of the Old City of Medyad (Midyat). The construction of the hotel lasted 2 years, Semir…

This article was originally published by Agos Gazetesi on 14 July 2025. The original can be found here. A special report by Marta Sömek for Agos Gazetesi — According to data, in the 1913-1914 academic year, there were a total of 2,580 schools belonging to Christian communities in the Ottoman provinces and districts. Of…

MEDYAD (MIDYAT), Tur Abdin — This Monday was a historic day in the decades-long struggle for recognition, democracy, and equality before the law of the different peoples in Turkey. Thirty fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) laid down their weapons by putting them in a fire during an official…

ANKARA — The 13th-century Armenian Surp Minas Church (Սուրբ Մինաս) in the Zara district of Sivas Province has been the target of repeated diggings and associated destructions by illegal treasure hunters. According to a report published by the Armenian Agos newspaper, published in Turkey, the church’s cemetery was recently damaged…