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ArameansAn Official Syriac Orthodox Church Publication About the Name of the Church
"If someone asks about eliminating the confusion resulting from the English use of the “Syrian” name in U.S.A. because it is translated in French “Syrien” and in English “Syrian” for both country and religion, so that no one could distinguish between the different kinds of the religious rites. And if we add the word “Orthodox” to the “Syrian” name, there will be association with Greek Orthodox, who in the recent years, named themselves “Syrians” as coming from Syria.
There is no way to change the accepted French or English use of this word. However, the present ambiguity would disappear if we add “Aramaic” to the Syriac language, and “Aramean” to the Syrian Church.
Now as for using the word “Assyrian” for the language and the community, it contradicts
1. The truth in History.
2. The old tradition kept by our scholars.
3. The universal recognition of our community over all the world.
4. The agreement of all the Western scholars in France, England, Italy, U.S.A.
Thus, it will confuse the popular concept and make people believe that the Syrians living in United States and Canada are strangers to their Orthodox Syrian brothers living in the East, in Malabar India, and in South America. It will work against them, and cut off their right of belonging to the Fathers of this community, and to the Church, to its scholars, to its laws, and rules and history, and, a day may come when someone will deny them also of the rights over its properties.
The “Assyrian” name is an English Protestant invention going back to 1900 A.D. It was bequeathed to the Nestorians in the regions of Mosul 1919-1920 A.D. for a malicious, political purpose, so that the English politicians might create for themselves out of the Nestorian youth a militia they named “Assyrian” aiming at the realization of their political plan in Iraq, a plan which failed in 1933 and resulted in the exile of the Katholikos of the Nestorians and his exile from the country with his followers, the result being that all the nations refused to permit his return to the near East.
In conclusion, the Syrians have no interest whatsoever in taking to themselves this strange name which will make them lose their race, their ecclesiastical support which is their unique and sole means of existence in the world.
No wise man would of his own free will agree to change the name of his race, his community and of his church, all of which had lasted two thousand years."
There is no way to change the accepted French or English use of this word. However, the present ambiguity would disappear if we add “Aramaic” to the Syriac language, and “Aramean” to the Syrian Church.
Now as for using the word “Assyrian” for the language and the community, it contradicts
1. The truth in History.
2. The old tradition kept by our scholars.
3. The universal recognition of our community over all the world.
4. The agreement of all the Western scholars in France, England, Italy, U.S.A.
Thus, it will confuse the popular concept and make people believe that the Syrians living in United States and Canada are strangers to their Orthodox Syrian brothers living in the East, in Malabar India, and in South America. It will work against them, and cut off their right of belonging to the Fathers of this community, and to the Church, to its scholars, to its laws, and rules and history, and, a day may come when someone will deny them also of the rights over its properties.
The “Assyrian” name is an English Protestant invention going back to 1900 A.D. It was bequeathed to the Nestorians in the regions of Mosul 1919-1920 A.D. for a malicious, political purpose, so that the English politicians might create for themselves out of the Nestorian youth a militia they named “Assyrian” aiming at the realization of their political plan in Iraq, a plan which failed in 1933 and resulted in the exile of the Katholikos of the Nestorians and his exile from the country with his followers, the result being that all the nations refused to permit his return to the near East.
In conclusion, the Syrians have no interest whatsoever in taking to themselves this strange name which will make them lose their race, their ecclesiastical support which is their unique and sole means of existence in the world.
No wise man would of his own free will agree to change the name of his race, his community and of his church, all of which had lasted two thousand years."