An organization dedicated to upholding the Aramaic language organized a musical event on Saturday titled “Aramia 2016” in the town of Maaloula in the Damascus countryside, featuring songs and poetry in Aramaic.
The event also honored poets and Aramaic language enthusiasts from the town.
The head of the Syrian Global Society for Preserving the Aramaic Language, Jihad Zakhour, said that the language is a Syrian language, noting that Syria gave the world the first alphabet and the musical note.
He said that the Society seeks to spread the teaching of the Aramaic language in all its accents and its authentic alphabet.
Meanwhile, scholar Elias Nassr, who authored the Maaloula Encyclopedia, said that celebrating the event with the students who trained in Aramaic singing heralds Syria’s victory and shows that the will to live triumphs over the culture of death.
In a statement to journalists, Tourism Minister Bishr Yazigi who attended the event said that Syria hosts many priceless cultural treasures for humanity, including the Aramaic language, noting that the Syrian government provided all possible facilitations to preserve and promote the language of Jesus Christ.
The event was also attended by Social Affairs and Labor Minister Rima al-Qadiri, Damascus Countryside Governor Alaa Munir Ibrahim and other figures.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
