WCA Proclaims 'Aramean New Year' of 1 October as Aram Day, National Day of the Aramean People
Centuries-old Aramaic calendars and church books show that 1 October was celebrated as “the New Year of the Arameans.” On this day, our church fathers also decided to honor St. Aday (one of Jesus’ 72 disciples from Luke 10:1) for Christianizing the Arameans of Aram. As a means to preserve this ancient but meaningful tradition, and thus to help strengthen our collective identity, WCA has proclaimed the Aramean New Year of 1 October as Aram Day, as the National Day of the Aramean People. Read more about it below in these 9 languages:
WCA Representative Asks UN-led Syrian Constitutional Committee in Geneva to Recognize Aramaic
Yesterday, on 1 November 2019, Ms. Hala Naoum Néhmé presented an oral statement in Geneva to the Syrian Constitutional Committee under auspieces of the United Nations. As recently announced, Ms. Néhmé is one of the five candidates proposed by WCA to the UN for a committee consisting of 150 eligible members who will be tasked with drafting a new constitution for Syria. Here we share the English translation of the speech given in Arabic, but both versions can be downloaded below.
WCA Requests Ministry of Tourism to add Aramaic as a Language for Certified Tour Guides in Türkiye
After the recent meeting with Türkiye's Minister of Culture and Tourism, the WCA followed up on one of its questions. The below letter is the formal request to introduce Aramaic as a language for certified tour guides. Because "there is a growing need for it...[it] will show the world Türkiye’s ongoing appreciation of its diverse national heritage. Also, it will attract many thousands of Arameans from Europe to Australia and from America to the Middle East to regularly visit their homeland and be guided in their mother tongue."
Call to Tur-Abdin Aramaic Language Teachers and Linguists
How do you translate new words such as NOMOPHOBIA in Tur-Abdin Aramaic? The Tur-Abdin Aramaic Language Committee (TALC) will focus on reassessing existing words and on introducing new ones in this centuries-old Aramaic dialect. It's high time to bring the right people together to reach a majority consensus about these questions so that Aramaic can be modernized and its speakers can continue to keep this beautiful dialect alive.
A Blessed Easter from WCA to you!
“I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. HE THAT BELIEVETH IN ME, THOUGH HE WERE DEAD, YET SHALL HE LIVE; AND WHOSOEVER LIVETH AND BELIEVETH IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE. BELIEVEST THOU THIS?” – JOHN 11:25-26
Saturday, 7 April 2018
In 2017, the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”) and its Member Federations celebrated the Year of the Aramean Identity. This year, we mark the Year of the Aramean People. While wishing all WCA Members a Blessed Easter, we also take the opportunity to highlight the importance of this year’s theme that will introduce fantastic projects and activities to help strengthen our sense of peoplehood.
WCA Christmas Card and Message 2021
Click here for WCA's Christmas Card and WCA's Christmas Message in seven (7) languages. As part of WCA's Christmas Week 2021, both were included in WCA's Christmas Gift that has been sent to WCA's Members and Sponsors of this year.
Congratulations on Your Election as the 46th U.S. President
Your Excellency,
Dear Mr. President Biden,
On behalf of the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) and its national member federations across Europe, America, Australia and the Middle East, we wish to congratulate you on your inauguration as the 46th President of the United States of America.
5 NGOs Ask Dutch Minister to put ISIS question on UNSC Agenda Next Month
Addressing Critical Question of ISIS Perpetrators and Victims as UNSC Chair
On 22 February 2018, five (international) NGOs presented a joint statement to the Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms Sigrid Kaag, on the issue of ISIS. As one of the 2018 UN Security Council Members, and President of the Council in March, the Netherlands has expressed that it would actively combat ISIS and bring its fighters to justice.
