Europe’s only Syriac school inaugurates its new school building

13/09/2026

NORSBORG, Sweden — The new building of the Edessaskolan (Edessa School) was officially inaugurated in a special ceremony held in Norsborg. Construction of the new building began in August 2025.

The building was officially inaugurated yesterday in the presence two bishops of the Syriac Orthodox Church, priests, Syriac Member of Swedish Parliament Yusuf Aydin, European Syriac Union Foreign Affairs head Metin Rhawi, party leader of Kristna Familjepartiet Aday Bethkinne, municipal officials, local politicians, and, most important, teachers, students and their families.

The inauguration was hosted by two of the school’s students and included congratulating speeches for the school employees, its students, and to Samir Rhawi, head of the school’s foundation board and one of the driving forces behind Eddessakolan—the only official Syriac school in Europe. Speakers expressed best wishes and hope for the continued success of the school and its staff in promoting the Syriac language and passing it on to future generations.

In his speech, Samir Rhawi stressed the importance of education and the significance of opening the school’s new building. He described the new building as a dream that had become reality after much collaborative effort. Rhawi noted that his goal in constructing the new building was to provide students with a comfortable environment in which to continue their studies.

The Patriarchal Vicar of one of the Syriac Orthodox archdioceses of Sweden, Mor Dioscoros Benjamin Atas, said that the school is the only Syriac school in Sweden, describing it as a historic achievement for the Syriac people in the diaspora. Mor Yuhanon Lahdo, who leads the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Sweden and Scandinavia highlighted the importance of having such an exceptional school, which places particular emphasis on upbringing and improving the academic performance of students from the Syriac people.

Following the speeches, the school’s students performed Syriac-language songs accompanied by musician Mousa Elias. The two archbishops then led the teshmeshto prayer to consecrate the school, before cutting the ribbon to officially open the building, touring its facilities and learning about its various sections.

Alongside the official Swedish curriculum, Edessaskolan places great emphasis on education in the Syriac language, music and the heritage of the Syriac people.

The school includes both a primary school and a kindergarten. The new building consists of three floors, with each classroom bearing an identifying sign in Syriac and Swedish. Most of the signs feature the names of Syriac villages in Tur Abdin.