SYRIACS MET IN ADIYAMAN

On the occasion of the establishment of the Syriac Kadim Church in Adiyaman, a ceremony was held on 29th June.
The Central European Archbishop for the Syriac Congregation Mor Yulios Isa Cicek, The Archbishop for Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Adiyaman Filuksinos Yusuf Çetin, the Adiyaman Church priest Melki Urek and the Syriacs from the Adiyaman Syriac Congregation living in Istanbul, European countries and the USA for years, participated the ceremony in the church which was established in the 5th century.
Approximately 600 people attended the ceremony and after that holy bread was given to participants and a baptism ceremony was held and everyone had lunch with the citizens of Adiyaman.
The Central European Archbishop Mor Yulios Isa Cicek who came to Adiyaman for this special occasion said after the ceremony: "the Syriacs who left this land for various reasons but always longed for the places where they have been born and brought up, have found a chance to cease their longing as a result of the sympathy and affinity shown to them by the Government".
The Archbishop for Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Adiyaman Filuksinos Yusuf Cetin, reminded people that they were in Adiyaman for the church occasion and said: "hundreds of Syriacs came from all around the world to celebrate this occasion. We thank our friends from Adiyaman who have created such a friendly environment filled with trust".
Cetin claimed that the Syrian Congregation was happy to come to their home lands which they have left many many years ago and to see their old friends after so many years.
After telling that Turkey is a religious mosaic Cetin concluded his speech by saying the following:
"I am calling to our brothers who are abroad; you should come here either to live or just to visit as a tourist. You should get to know people and the region. We are all brothers and sisters. There are lots of rich Syriac businessmen. Return to this place and make a contribution its economy and to the improvement of the land in which you were born."
The Syriacs who claimed that although they left Adiyaman years ago their hearts were always here and that they would visit Adiyaman and their beloved ones and friends more often and that they would keep the history alive from now on.

(The Press, 29th June, 2001).