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Three-dönüm school plot allocated to Syriacs in Istanbul
Three-dönüm school plot allocated to Syriacs in Istanbul
As part of the European Heritage Days, a tour of churches belonging to various denominations took place last week under the "Visit to the Churches of Beyoğlu" program. During the visit to the Syriac Orthodox diocese, Kenan Gürdal—chairman of the Istanbul Syriac Church Foundation—spoke about the centuries-old history of the Syriac people and the steps taken regarding mother-tongue education. He also provided details about the three-acre plot in the Bakırköy district which have been allocated for the construction of a school.
22/09/2026Reporting by Marta Sömek for Gazete Sabro — Beyoğlu, one of Istanbul’s symbolic places with a multicultural fabric and historical depth, hosted colorful and meaningful encounters during the European Heritage Days. The days were held from 12-20 September under the theme “Heritage at Risk: Revive, Persist, Imagine,” and brought the history of Beyoğlu to the attention of visitors through more than 60 free events.
One of the events was the “Visit to the Churches of Beyoğlu” held on 16 September in which historic structures of faith and cultural heritage opened their doors to visitors, shed light on intercultural dialogue and the city’s centuries-old memory. Among the stops were the Syriac Catholic Patriarchal Vicariate, the Surp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Catholic Church, the Beyoğlu Üç Horan Armenian Church, the Chaldean Catholic Church, and the diocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church.
At the gathering at the Syriac Orthodox diocese, Kenan Gürdal, President of the Syriac Orthodox Church Foundation of Istanbul, provided his guests information about the history, language, and rich culture of the Syriac people. He emphasized that Syriacs are one of most ancient communities of Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia) and drew attention to the importance of cultural continuity for future generations. Archbishop Mor Yusuf Çetin explained Syriac religious practices and worship and provided information about the diocese in Istanbul.
Turkish Government allocates three-dönüm plot for educational use
The president of the foundation and the archbishop stated that the Syriac community has, throughout history, lived loyally and in harmony with the state authorities of the countries where it was established.
Stating that Syriacs in Turkey have always been shown respect and attention by the current government, Kenan Gürdal said they had received significant support in solving many problems they faced. Recalling that many Syriacs struggled for years to learn their mother tongue because of a lack of schools, Gürdal stressed that the government took a very valuable step by allocating an education area to the Istanbul Syriac Ancient Foundation.
Kenan Gürdal noted that Syriacs in Turkey have always been treated with respect and consideration by the current government and said that they have received significant support in resolving many of the problems they face. Gürdal recalled that many Syriacs have struggled for years to learn their Syriac mother tongue due to a lack of schools. He noted that the Turkish government has taken a valuable step by allocating to the Syriac church foundation a plot to establish a building for education.
Gürdal remarked the following about Syriac education and efforts to preserve the mother tongue:
“We have a Syriac language that we can teach. We teach it to our children at our Mor Ephrem the Syriac kindergarten. Of course, the children in kindergarten aren’t yet at the level of reading and writing, but they’re very familiar with the Syriac alphabet. They know the letters and can say them out loud. Our teachers also teach them words like ‘good morning,’ ‘good evening,’ and ‘have a good class.’ The children then go home and teach these words to their mothers and fathers.”
“For the elementary and middle schools, the government allocated a total of three dönüms (similar to English acres) of land to us—a two-dönüm plot across from the Veli Efendi Hippodrome in Bakırköy, Istanbul, combined with a small area owned by the Bakırköy Municipality. Three dönüm, or 3,000 square meters, is sufficient for our needs. “We’ll use part of it to create a spacious, green area for the children. It will be a school that includes a sports complex.”