Syriac Catholic Exarch Criticizes Suryoyo Abroad

The exarch responsible for Turkey's tiny Syriac Catholic minority, Metropolitan Yusuf (Sag), has criticized recent calls by Suryoyo living in the European Union for the Turkish government to ease the legal restrictions impeding the return of Suryoyo to their homelands in southeastern Turkey, saying in part that, "Those who left are telling lies, and we can't approve of everything they say." More here.

Suryoyo Appeal for Right of Return to Turkey

A Syriac Orthodox organization, the European Syriac Union, has appealed to the European Commission to pressure the Turkish government to remove obstacles preventing the return of Suryoyo living abroad to their homelands in southeastern Turkey and to introduce constitutional protections securing the legal status and ethnic identity of the Suryoyo still living in Turkey.

Roughly 250,000 Suryoyo live in Western and Central Europe, whereas only 15,000 remain in Turkey, of those the majority living in diaspora within the country in Constantinople. More here.

Suryoyo Return to Celebrate Pascha in SE Turkey

A number of Syriac Orthodox Christians from the Suryoyo Diaspora returned to southeastern Turkey this year to celebrate Pascha in their ancestral homeland. The Paschal celebrations, which were held at St. Gabriel's Monastery in Tur Abdin, were encouraged by the mayor of the nearby city of Mardin. More here.