Bishops Lent Appeal 2004

One of the most ancient Christian communities in our far-flung diocese is the small community of Syrian Christians in the Tur Abdin. Isolated and, in more recent times, subject to political and military pressure, they have struggled to keep their Christian identity and maintain a faithful witness, though many have left to take refuge in Western Europe. There has been a long-standing relationship with Anglicans who sought to help them in the past, and I was deeply moved by my own visit to them many years ago. I can still remember coming into the courtyard of the ancient church at Hakh and finding children being taught the Christian faith and the ancient language that our Lord himself spoke and which has been the language of their community from earliest times, something forbidden by the authorities at that time. Times have become a little easier, and it is now possible for the children to be taught their faith and culture – but not in state schools. The church has set up schools and can provide teachers but needs resources to do so. In response to this a ‘Teachers’ Fund’ was set up, which needs an income of 18,000 Euros each year but this money is difficult to raise. Our chaplain in Ankara, Fr Geoffrey Evans, has been a strong supporter and advocate of this worthy cause, and I write now to commend it to you as my Lent Appeal for the Diocese. We need to keep the church and culture alive and ensure a Christian religious education for the poor children of the Tur Abdin villages. Please give generously to help us meet the needs of the children of this ancient and very faithful Christian community.

+Geoffrey