|
SYRIAC CUSTOMS AND RITES
Film at the Ottoman Bank Museum
 The Museum is showing the Turkish documentary Süryoyo on Thursday, March 30 at 7:00 p.m. under the theme “Social Memory/ Documentary Film. The film, directed by Mustafa Ünlü and Selda Meral, focuses on Syriac customs and rites. Following the screening, Gabriyel Akyüz, amateur researcher in history and culture, writer, and priest will conduct a discussion entitled, Syriac Culture and Syriac Christians Today.
The documentary focuses on the everyday lives and religious ceremonies of Syriacs living in Mardin. It tells the story of 92-year-old weaver Merrin Hanım,
70 year-old master stonecutter Gebro, filigreed handcrafter Gevriye Hanım, and 80 year-old Nasra Hanım – only remaining weaver of the typical basma cloth – attending mass at sundown, on a religious holiday.
The Museum's film program is prepared in collaboration with the Documentary Filmmakers Association (BSB) and offers a film, complemented by a discussion, on a different theme every week Screenings are held free of charge but reservations must be made.
Süryoyo Directed by: Mustafa Ünlü
Selda Meral / Turkey/ 2000
Running time: 45 min. |
Gabriyel Akyüz
Chor-Episcopos Gabriyel Akyüz was born in 1959 in the village of Bakıysan/Alagöz in Midyat, Mardin. After finishing his elementary education in his own village, he entered Mor Gabriyel Monastery in 1970 to learn the Syriac language. He graduated from middle school in Nusaybin and Mardin and in addition completed a Bible correspondence course with Soon Bible Course in the UK. In 1974, he began to serve as deacon and teacher in the village church of Gündükşokro/Odabaşı. After holding this post for 8 years, he was ordained priest of the Mardin Syriac Kadim community on March 10, 1985 with the recommendations of the Board of Executives and of priest Cebrail Allaf, the spiritual leader of the Syriac Kadim community in Mardin. On May 4, 2003, he was promoted to Chor-Episcopos by Archbishop Filüksinos Saliba Özmen. Akyüz has written numerous magazine articles and presented papers at symposiums. Many of his works and writings have been published.
|
|
Documentary Filmmakers Association (BSB) started out as a civil platform and began its structuring process following the National Conference held in March 1997. Today it continues its activities as an association with professional status, certified by the Ministry of Culture. Starting with Istanbul, Ankara, Eskisehir and Izmir, BSB is in contact with documentary filmmakers throughout Turkey. Convinced that civil culture is crucial in designing better social futures and filling the blanks of collective social memory, the Documentary Filmmakers Association considers these functions complementary to the creative aspect of documentary filmmaking. BSB creates and promotes screening spaces other than television, organizes and participates in film festivals all over Turkey and offers film screenings with discussions, especially in universities. |
|
