SYRIACS ARE HAPPY IN TURKEY

Members of the Syriac Community residing in the USA, in European countries, Istanbul and other cities visited the ruins in the Mount Nemrut in the Kahta district after they had joined the liberation day activities of Adiyaman Church in the 29th of June.

Syriacs were filled with admiration for the 2,150 meters high Mount Nemrut where they climbed together with their husbands, children, Central Europe Metropolitan Mor Yulios Isa Cicek, and Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adiyaman Metropolitan Filuksinos Yusuf Cetin.

Syriacs who were happy to have seen the 2000 years old huge statues of deities, stone inscriptions and the tumulus, which remained from Commagane Kingdom, on the Mount Nemrut that is described to be "the 8th Wonder in the World" and known to be "the place where the best sunrise and sunset are watched".

Central Europe Metropolitan Cicek has stated that this was his first visit to Adiyaman and added: "I'am very happy to see the place. I am living in the Netherlands. It is not possible to see the sunrise there as it is here."

Explaining that he found the statues and the other works impressive, Cicek told: "Nemrut is really very beautiful. I am filled with admiration. When I return to the Netherlands, I will tell about the beauties here to our community and our friends and recommend them to come here."

Reminding that when the Syriacs come to Turkey they visit Antakya and from there they go to Mardin, Cicek further told that he would urge them to climb Nemrut henceforth before passing from Antakya to Mardin.

Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Adiyaman Metropolitan of the Syriac Community FiluksinosYusuf Cetin has stated that they were pleased with the interest showed to them in Adiyaman where they came for the occasion arranged by the church. Telling that they were happy to see the Mount Nemrut which is on the UNESCO's list of cultural heritage, Cetin finished his words by saying:

"This place is really very beautiful. We were excessively impressed by the statues, the sunrise and the sunset. The development of tourism and the increasing of the number of tourists shall flourish the economic and social life in Adiyaman. We will tell everywhere we go about the warm interest and attitude displayed here towards us and about the beauties of Nemrut."

Besides, the Bozdogan Otel, where the members of Syriac Community who watched the sunrise and the sunset in Nemrut stayed, had arranged a traditional ceremony (in which men gather to talk and listen to music) for the Syriacs. The Syriacs, who joined from time to time in the songs and Turkish folk songs sang by the local singers, ate "raw meatballs" (traditional spicy Turkish meatballs) and participated in the entertainment.

(Press, June 03th, 2001)