WCC NEWS: WCC minute urges acknowledgement of Syriac-Aramaic genocide, which “must be named by the right name”

The Syriac-Aramaic genocide, or “SAYFO,” must be named as an historical reality, and the “persistent and present threat of genocide for some peoples” must be acknowledged, urged a minute released at the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly. 4 September 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: Candles lit around a monument marking the word 'Oikoymenh' -- or Oikoumene ('the known world') -- in the Christi-Auferstehungskirche (Christ's Resurrection Church) in Karlsruhe. Held in connection with the World Council of Churches 11th Assembly, a Taizé prayer brings together hundreds of people in the Christi-Auferstehungskirche (Christ's Resurrection Church) in Karlsruhe. The 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches is held in Karlsruhe, Germany from 31 August to 8 September, under the theme "Christ's Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity." Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 08 September 2022 During the “Syriac genocide,” or “SAYFO,” in 1915, over half a million Syriac-Aramaic Christians were estimated to have lost their lives. “Though taking place in the same historical and political context, these events are understood as distinct and separate from the Armenian genocide” on which the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan issued a minute. “Alongside the Armenian genocide, the upheavals of that historical period were marked by genocidal acts against several – mostly Christian – communities of Aramean, Chaldean, Syrian, Assyrian and Greek descent, which have blighted history at the beginning of the 20th century,” reads the minute. “We acknowledge that these tragic events occurred, and that they must be named by their right name.” The text requests that the general secretary "provide information to WCC member churches on this matter and to continue to pursue it in appropriate contexts,” Minute on Syriac-Aramaic genocide “SAYFO” Livestream of the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany Photos of the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland