Historical Photos

Men and mayor of Kfarburan

Men of the Aramean village Kfarburan including a priest and mayor Andrawus (Indravus) Demir in the 1970s.

Aramean Folklore Performance

Syriac Aramean Folklore Performance at the University of Aleppo, November 1975. The photograph was taken during the participation of a folk dance group from Qamishli at the University of Aleppo's Faculty of Arts. They performed Syriac Aramaic songs and folk dances. From left to right the dancers : Jan Gallo Estayfo, Madeleine Hosni, Abd Al-Ahad Gallo Estayfo, Yildiz Oussi, and Daniel Shabo. And as you also see in the corner from the left, standing in the back : The artist Sardanapal Asaad, and the artist Joseph Nasrallah on the keyboard.

Scouts of Qamishli, 1973

The 4th Aramean Scout Troop on April 30th, 1973, in front of the steps of St. Jacob of Nisibis Syriac Orthodox church in Qamishli.

Dance at Midyat, 1970

Aramean men of Midyat dancing Hurze in the 1970s. The man on the floor playing Kemenche, a traditional musical instrument.

Mother of God, Hah, 1909

The ancient circular dome of the Mother of God monastery in the village of Hah, in Tur Abdin, pictured in 1909.

Syriac courses Qamishli

Syriac language courses for young Aramean men of the Mother of God Syriac Orthodox church in the Al-Westa neighborhood of Qamishli. The teachers include Riyad Nasrallah and then clerical deacon George Saliba Arboyo, now Archbishop.

Syriac-Aramean Kids in Hah

Arameans of Mardin, 1969

A group photograph of Arameans of Mardin of all ages with Dayroyo Gabriel Allaf

Arameans of Midyat, Together With Ibrahim Shabo

Ibrahim Shabo is the third to the right, on the upper row.

Ibrahim Shabo, the Last Aramean Mayor of Midyat, and his Wife

Ibrahim Shabo, the Last Aramean Mayor of Midyat

Men of Zaz, 1970s

Aramean men of Zaz united for a photography near the small lake of Zaz in the 1970s

Arameans in Zaz, 1970

An Aramean family in Zaz, Tur Abdin, 1970

St. Dimet, Zaz, 1990s

St. Dimet Syriac Orthodox Church in the village of Zaz, in Tur Abdin. Monk Yakub is seen here with three young men, likely in the 1990s. A notable feature in this photograph is the interior partition wall, traditionally used to separate men and women during worship, a strong liturgical custom within the Syriac Orthodox church.

Be Shaghyo, 1981

The family of Gevriye and Hansa Be Shaghyo in Kafro Tahtayto, pictured with their two daughters and two younger sons, at work in the rhythms of daily life.

Aramean football team, Midyat, 1933

Midyat's Aramean football (soccer) team in 1933. Upper row, from left: Shibo Sedde-Ediz, Lahdo Antar-Cakir, Aziz Maksi Galle, Nicmo Abdiyo, Yakub Kittek-Ercan, Sapkali Soför, and Abdulkadir Kahla. Lower row, from left: Gevriye Bogdo, Suphi Kermane, Denho Rhawi-Akbas, and Melek Bisse.

Bishop Mor Qurilos at Mor Sharbel

Inside St. Sharbel Syriac Orthodox church in Midyat, in the 1970s, Bishop Mor Qurilos Yacoub Khoury Iwardnoyo of St. Ephrem’s Seminary (Lebanon) stands with an elderly priest. Recognizable is a young Subdeacon Paulus Akman Arboyo, on the right, who would later become Khuroyo in Enschede.

Funeral of Khuroyo Elias Gerges Hannoush

The funeral of Khuroyo Elias Gerges Hannoush, held at St. George’s Syriac Orthodox Church in Al-Hasakah, where he served faithfully from 1943 until his death on 5 July 1968. He is remembered for overseeing the construction of the current church. He is also remembered for his courageous role in smuggling Archbishop Mor Dionysius Georges Behnam of Aleppo from Turkey to Syria on horseback during a period of unrest. Abun Khuroyo Elias Gerges was born in Qal'at Mara and served there before fleeing to Syria.

Arnas’ Aramean Community, 1988

Photograph taken in 'Arnas around 1988, showing some of the last remaining Aramean families of the village, including members of the Beth Sallo, Beth Ketane Akfidan, Beth Khalaf, Beth Saume, Beith Cace, Beth Gewro, Beth Ya'qo, Beth Hanna, as well as Efrem and Nubar Yalcin, Mushe Unval, and others.

Aramean Youth with Patriarch Zakka Iwas

Photograph taken in Damascus, featuring Aramean youth, His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka Iwas, together with Mor Ostatheos Quryaqos, Archbishop of the Jazirah and the Euphrates, at St George's Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral in Bab Touma on 14 September 1980.

1980's Gathering in Kafro

A convivial gathering of Aramean men sharing dinner in Kafro, likely photographed in the 1980s or earlier.

Men gathered in Kafro Tahtayto

Aramean men gathered in Kafro Tahtayto in the 1970s, sharing food and conversation during daily village life in Tur Abdin.

Conversation at Kafro Tahtayto

Aramean women of all ages, mostly elderly, gathered in conversation in the village of Kafro Tahtayto, Tur Abdin in the 1980s.

Washing of the Feet, Aleppo

Thursday of Mysteries and the Rite of the Washing of the Feet, St George’s Syriac Orthodox Church, Aleppo (1968). Pictured are Archbishop of Aleppo Mor Dionysius Georges Behnam, together with Yaqoub Nashef, Saliba Saadeh, Fouad Saadeh, Samir Freik, George Mawli, an unidentified individual, and Ghassan Klor. In the background appear Subdeacon Abdel Nour Surkli, Deacon Youssef Kousa, Subdeacon Younan Arslan, and, further behind, Abuna Habib Tokmaji and Simon Shahan.