Perspectief 2019-44

Perspectief 16 The Dispersion of the Syriac-Orthodox Throughout the World in the Diaspora of education, the community has already begun to establish foundations and raise funds for the better education of her faithful. For instance, there is now a number of institutions for Syriac Studies such as Beth Mardutho, the Syriac Institute in America, and the Founda- tio Nisibinensis based at Frankfurt University in Germany. Also a number of scholarship Funds such as Lily and Sirazi Scholarship Fund, Mor Aphrem Stiftung, Yoken Bar Yoken Stiftung, and the Inana Foundation to name but a few. Also, the Syriac Orthodox Church under the auspices of HH the Patriarch has established a Syriac Orthodox Theological Seminary affiliated to the University of Salzburg, Austria. In Sweden, the Syriac community managed to establish a Syriac elementary school and in fact the former education Secretary of Sweden, Mr. Ibrahim Baylan, hails from the Syriac community. Also, use has been made of the internet and media, and now there is an electronic academic journal titled Hugoye for Syriac studies, 3 and a number of TV stations such as Suroyo TV, Suryoyo Sat and Assyria TV all based in Sweden with offices spread out in Germany and The Netherlands. In brief, North America, Australia and Europe have many resources, excellent academic institutions, libraries and networks for the use of their citi- zens; and, the Syriac community in the Diaspora can greatly benefit from them. 9. Religious and Political Freedom In the traditional homeland, religious and political freedom to a varying degree was re- stricted for the Syriac community and other Christian minority groups living there. This of course varied from one country to another, largely depending on the size of the commu- nity and the ruling party in the country. North America and Western Europe, on the other hand, offer more religious and political freedom for all communities regardless of their religious or cultural background. Furthermore, and most importantly, in the Western Di- aspora one has the freedom to share the faith with others. Thus, the Church has the opportunity to fulfill her missionary role and do theology in the public square. 10. Link to the World at Large In the Middle East, the Syriac community was hardly noticeable by the world at large. Her presence both in Europe, Australia, New Zeeland and the Americas, has led to greater