By Avin Alo
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Sitting alone at the dining table, lost in memories of bygone days, Fahima Qadso remembers the times when her children would gather around her, invoking prayers before each meal.
However, these prayers and other Syriac customs and traditions have faded as her children migrated to Europe fleeing the ongoing war in the country.
Qadso, a resident of the town of Derbasiyah in the northern Hasakah governorate, northeast Syria, talked in an interview with North Press about the difficulty of longing for her customs and traditions, especially when trying to find them in an environment that has become nearly devoid of the Syriac community.
While Kamil Eilo, a resident of the town of Amuda in northeast Syria, used to wander alone inside the church of Mar Elias for over 20 years. Afterward, he closes its doors and returns to his nearby home.
Eilo told North Press that he was still practicing the old rituals and traditions, but he criticized the younger generation of not adhering to them as much.
“They are badly affected by war, and we can’t force them. That’s why we fear they won’t embrace the customs of our fathers and ancestors.”
Despite the vacant seats in the churches of Hasakah governorate, northeast Syria, which lack Syriac attendees, they still observe their culture and religious beliefs during festivities and celebrations.
Symbolic churches
Despite the emigration, the churches continue to play a significant role in preserving the customs and traditions of the Syriac community; they protect the rituals and practices that are integral to the Syriac identity.
Previously, prayers were conducted in the churches on a daily basis. However, according to Eilo, there are currently no deacons in the church of Amuda due to the declining number of community members. As a result, church visits have been limited to Sundays, which may lead to a gradual fading of these rituals.
The priest Mikhail Yakoub talked about the impact of emigration on these traditions. He further explained that although the quantity of participants has diminished, the essence of the rituals remains unchanged. The empty pews in the church serve as a reminder of the significant reduction in the number of attendees.
The regions of northeast Syria, particularly the Assyrian villages in the Khabur Basin, have experienced a large-scale emigration during the Syrian war. Christians have been affected, especially after a major attack on these villages by the Islamic State (ISIS) in February 2015.
Fears and challenges
In the 1990s, a significant number of Syriac individuals relocated from Amuda to Qamishli and Hasakah. However, with the onset of the Syrian crisis, many of them further migrated to Europe, resulting in profound impacts on their customs and traditions.
Abdulahad Hanna, a resident of Derbasiyah, expressed concern about the migration of Christian families, emphasizing, ‘We have become a minority, and our cherished traditions are rapidly disappearing.
He noted that before the Syrian war, there were over 50 Christian families residing in Derbasiyah, but today, only a few families remain”. There are no longer deacons in the church, and the prayer rituals are performed only by the priest, his family, and a few remaining church members, totaling fewer than ten.”
In order to protect the culture and traditions of the different communities in northeast Syria, civil society organizations and institutions of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) held several forums in 2023 under the banner of “Preserving Traditions”.
They concluded that traditions and norms can be strengthened and protected through active engagement and dialogues to deepen understanding and prevent the loss of cultural heritage.
Robel Baho, deputy Co-chair of the Foreign Relations Department of the AANES, told North Press that “with the significant emigration of our people, the churches have remained as symbolic institutions that continue to bring our community together to some extent.”
Bahho emphasized that with ongoing emigration, “we cannot expect the Syriac people to remain in the region unless there is assistance and support in enacting laws that can preserve the existence of our community.”
Late in 2023, the AANES issued a new social contract that includes provisions for protecting culture and the rights of all communities, as well as safeguarding the duties and rights of all people.
Article 17 of the social contract specifically focuses on the Syriac-Assyrian people, ensuring their economic, political, and cultural rights, and preventing any demographic changes in the region. It also solidifies the principle of consensus democracy, which represents our people in the AANES, Bahho concluded.