CULTURE

BETH NAHRIN — Amid hymns and joyful celebrations, Christian communities around the world observed the Feast of the Palms, marked by prayers, rituals, and blessings. The Feast of the Palms, which occurs a week before Easter, commemorates Christ’s entry into Jerusalem and is among the most significant Christian holidays. This…

BAGHDAD —  New Lines Magazine has highlighted the gradual disappearance of the Mandaeans, one of the oldest religious communities in Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia). In “The Weight of Gold: A Mandaean Journey“, journalist Nora Adin Fares, who lives in Sweden but of Mandaean origin, describes how post-Saddam Hussein violence has led…

ARBCA’ILO (ERBIL), Kurdistan Region of Iraq — At the 17th edition of the Arbca’ilo (Erbil) International Book Fair, the spotlight turned to the preservation and future of Syriac heritage in two thought-provoking panel discussions. Organized by the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts under the Ministry of Culture of…

HILLAH, Iraq — In a moment rich with symbolism and pride, Iraq marked the inaugural International Day of Babylonian Civilization on Thursday with festivities held amid the ancient ruins of one of humanity’s earliest and most influential cities — Babylon. The two-day celebration, under the warm sun of Babylon Governorate,…

DHI QAR, Iraq — In a historic and spiritually significant ceremony at the ancient site of Ur in Iraq’s Dhi Qar province, Chaldean Patriarch Cardinal Mar Louis Raphael Sako presided over the consecration of the Church of Prophet Ibrahim. The ceremony, attended by bishops, priests, nuns, and devoted members of…

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — Controversial remarks by Syrian Transitional Government (STG) Minister of Culture Mohammed Saleh, dismissing the historical significance of the Syriac language, have sparked widespread backlash from organizations committed to preserving Syria’s cultural diversity. The Syriac e-Learning School, an online platform dedicated to promoting Syriac heritage and…

BAGHDAD — Chaldean Patriarch Mar Louis Raphael Sako led the closing ceremony of the 4th Pope Francis Football Championship, organized by the Catholic Youth Committee, at the Apostles Church stadium in Baghdad’s Al-Dora District. The event saw participation from prominent figures, including Primate of the Armenian Church in Iraq Archbishop…

BETH ZALIN, North and East Syria — The Cultural Board of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES) issued a sharp critique this week of recent statements made by Mohammad Saleh, Syria Transitional Government (STG) Minister of Culture, accusing him of undermining the linguistic…

ANKAWA, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — The 5th Syriac Heritage Festival commenced on Monday, 7 April, organized by the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). This year’s festival, running for four days, celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people and includes…