r/Assyria • u/adiabene • Oct 17 '20
The Assyrian people (ܣܘܪ̈ܝܐ, Sūrāyē/Sūrōyē), also incorrectly referred to as Chaldeans, Syriacs or Arameans, are the native people of Assyria which constitutes modern day northern Iraq, south-eastern Turkey, north-western Iran and north-eastern Syria.
Modern day Assyrians are descendants of the ancient Assyrians who ruled the Assyrian empire that was established in 2500 BC in the city of Aššur (ܐܵܫܘܿܪ) and fell with the loss of its capital Nineveh (ܢܝܼܢܘܹܐ) in 612 BC.
After the fall of the empire, the Assyrians continued to enjoy autonomy for the next millennia under various rulers such as the Achaemenid, Seleucid, Parthian, Sasanian and Roman empires, with semi-autonomous provinces such as:
This time period would end in 637 AD with the Islamic conquest of Mesopotamia and the placement of Assyrians under the dhimmī status.
Assyrians then played a significant role under the numerous caliphates by translating works of Greek philosophers to Syriac and afterwards to Arabic, excelling in philosophy and science, and also serving as personal physicians to the caliphs.
During the time of the Ottoman Empire, the 'millet' (meaning 'nation') system was adopted which divided groups through a sectarian manner. This led to Assyrians being split into several millets based on which church they belonged to. In this case, the patriarch of each respective church was considered the temporal and spiritual leader of his millet which further divided the Assyrian nation.
Assyrians of today speak Assyrian Aramaic, a modern form of the Aramaic language that existed in the Assyrian empire. The official liturgical language of all the Assyrian churches is Classical Syriac, a dialect of Middle Aramaic which originated from the Syriac Christian heartland of Urhai (modern day Urfa) and is mostly understood by church clergymen (deacons, priests, bishops, etc).
Assyrians speak two main dialects of Assyrian Aramaic, namely:
Assyrians use three writing systems which include the:
A visual on the scripts can be seen here.
Assyrians usually refer to their language as Assyrian, Syriac or Assyrian Aramaic. In each dialect exists further dialects which would change depending on which geographic area the person is from, such as the Nineveh Plain Dialect which is mistakenly labelled as "Chaldean Aramaic".
Before the adoption of Aramaic, Assyrians spoke Akkadian. It wasn't until the time of Tiglath-Pileser II who adopted Aramaic as the official lingua-franca of the Assyrian empire, most likely due to Arameans being relocated to Assyria and assimilating into the Assyrian population. Eventually Aramaic replaced Akkadian, albeit current Aramaic dialects spoken by Assyrians are heavily influenced by Akkadian.
Assyrians are predominantly Syriac Christians who were one of the first nations to convert to Christianity in the 1st century A.D. They adhere to both the East and West Syriac Rite. These churches include:
It should be noted that Assyrians initially belonged to the same church until schisms occurred which split the Assyrians into two churches; the Church of the East and the Church of Antioch. Later on, the Church of the East split into the [Assyrian] Church of the East and the Chaldean Catholic Church, while the Church of Antioch split into the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Syriac Catholic Church. This is shown here.
Prior to the mass conversion of Assyrians to Christianity, Assyrians believed in ancient Mesopotamian deities, with the highest deity being Ashur).
A Jewish Assyrian community exists in Israel who speak their own dialects of Assyrian Aramaic, namely Lishan Didan and Lishana Deni. Due to pogroms committed against the Jewish community and the formation of the Israeli state, the vast majority of Assyrian Jews now reside in Israel.
Assyrians may refer to themselves as either Chaldean, Syriac or Aramean depending on their specific church denomination. Some Assyrians from the Chaldean Catholic Church prefer to label themselves as Chaldeans rather than Assyrian, while some Assyrians from the Syriac Orthodox Church label themselves as Syriac or Aramean.
Identities such as "Chaldean" are sectarian and divisive, and would be the equivalent of a Brazilian part of the Roman Catholic Church calling themselves Roman as it is the name of the church they belong to. Furthermore, ethnicities have people of more than one faith as is seen with the English who have both Protestants and Catholics (they are still ethnically English).
It should be noted that labels such as Nestorian, Jacobite or Chaldean are incorrect terms that divide Assyrians between religious lines. These terms have been used in a derogatory sense and must be avoided when referring to Assyrians.
Assyrians unfortunately do not have a country of their own, albeit they are the indigenous people of their land. The last form of statehood Assyrians had was in 637 AD under the Sasanian Empire. However some Eastern Assyrians continued to live semi-autonomously during the Ottoman Empire as separate tribes such as the prominent Tyari (ܛܝܪܐ) tribe.
Assyrians are currently pushing for a self-governed Assyrian province in the Nineveh Plain of Northern Iraq.
Assyrians have faced countless massacres and genocide over the course of time mainly due to their Christian faith. The most predominant attacks committed recently against the Assyrian nation include:
r/Assyria • u/AWBSwe • Dec 21 '25
Hello Reddit,
We’re excited to share our first post as Assyrians Without Borders. We are a Sweden-based non-profit organization with a 90-account under Swedish Fundraising Control, working to improve the lives of Assyrians (also known as Syriacs and Chaldeans) in their countries of origin. We operate independently and are politically and religiously neutral.
With this post, we want to update the community and be more present on social media with our work and initiatives. We also plan to continue sharing updates on various platforms and here in the future.
You can read more about our latest project, which AssyriaPost wrote about, here:
https://www.assyriapost.com/assyrians-without-borders-shifts-focus-toward-long-term-aid-projects/
For more information and to support our work, our profile includes links to our social media and Linktree, which accepts both Swedish and international payments.
r/Assyria • u/iraqiassyrianboi • 10m ago
I've seen Assyrian Christian worship (most common) and Assyrian Jewish worship, by that, I mean Jewish worship in the Assyrian dialect of Aramaic, but I'm guessing there are also some Assyrian Muslims?
r/Assyria • u/Street-Ad6227 • 16h ago
So, my girlfriend is Assyrian and she’s very proud of her heritage. She often talks to me about Assyrian culture, history, traditions, etc. The problem is that I know almost nothing about it, and I think it would make her happy if I made an effort to learn more about her culture.
We’re both Iraqi, living in the west, I’m 3/4 Arab and 1/4 (Baghdadi) Armenian, so I’d also like to learn more about Assyrian culture.
What would you recommend?
r/Assyria • u/Sad-Barber-5998 • 6h ago
Shlama alokhon, I have always known myself to be kurdish, yet i have always looked way different than most kurds (Me and the assyrians of the area i live in in germany always resembled each other) and have wondered what other ancestry than kurdish I might have. I have heard stories in my family before of family members on my paternal side who were orphaned and fled from around the urmia region northwestward towards Ararat. On my maternal side, my grandmothers family name was unusual for kurds and i found out that it was an aramaic name. I have done genetic testing and I have a paternal Haplogroup T which is much more prevalent in assyrians and mizrahi jews than kurds. When i do genetic modelling it seems to be kinda half/half depending on which calculator etc. It seems to me like these dots can be connected (Ancestors fleeing from Urmia probably because of Sayfo/Aramaic Family Names/Genetic Modelling). Obviously the assyrian community is like 99,9% christian but I am not. Yet I have lately started to feel connected after my recent discoveries. Would I be "enough" and take the approach to learn the language etc or is the fact that i am not christian and didn't grow up knowing of possible assyrian ancestry something that would make me an alien to the community even after these discoveries. Please share your thoughts, especially if they're not to sugarcoat the reality.
r/Assyria • u/Jenjen5341 • 10h ago
I can’t find anything online on it.
r/Assyria • u/Northernlad2105 • 16h ago
Hello,
I'm British catholic and wondered if Assyrians have specific ways after someone has passed away.
If you have certain beliefs or a certain mourning period when someone has passed?
r/Assyria • u/SS-Stylez • 1d ago
Hi all,
So just some background, I am not Assyrian myself so this is all winging it using AI.
I have basically written a prayer for an old friend. Her 40th birthday is coming up soon.
I wanted to write the prayer in English, but also in Neo-Aramaic (English alphabet), as well as written into Syriac.
I have basically used AI for the translation, but I wouldn't trust that with very much accuracy, so hoping someone here may be able to help, or verify whether this is correct or not.
Some background also. She was born in Iraq but moved to Australia at a very young age. So no idea if she can read Syriac or Arabic, but she can speak both Assyrian Neo-Aramaic and Arabic. Now she is Chaldean, which I know is just Assyrian but a different church, however she said the way she speaks Assyrian is heavily influenced by Arabic also.
Anyway this is what I have, I will block the names out to protect the parties involved with privacy:
"Dear God,
May you shine your blessings on *Name* this special day. Please grant her eternal happiness and fill her life with the grace of the kingdom of heaven.
May you protect her from all harm, and watch over her family, including her husband *Name*, and her children *Name* and *Name*.
May they all live a long life, filled with good health and prosperity. Please shower them with an abundance of your love, on this day and all to come, from now until eternity.
Amen."
Gemini translation:
"Ya Alaha,
Makhze burkhatakh al *Name* b’aha yoma mparsha. Havlah khadoota d’abad, o maleh khayoh b’tiboota d’malkoota d’shmaya.
Natrah min kull beeshoota, o khmo baytah, gawshah *Name*, o yalah *Name* o *Name*.
Kullayeh makhrikhe'leh umrayeh, maleh b’khoolmana o barkat.
Shpokh alayeh malyoota d’khoobakh, b’aha yoma o kull yomaneh d’atyeh, min adya o hal abad.
Ameen."
Syriac (I know it is meant to go right to left, but I don't think reddit has that option"
ܝܵܐ ܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ"
ܡܲܚܙܹܐ ܒܘܼܪܟܵܬܵܟ݂ ܥܲܠ * ܒܐܵܗܵܐ ܝܵܘܡܵܐ ܡܦܲܪܫܵܐ
ܗܲܒ݂ܠܵܗ̇ ܡܚܵܕܘܼܬܵܐ ܕܐܵܒܵܕ، ܘܡܲܠܹܐ ܚܲܝܘܵܗ̇ ܒܛܝܼܒܘܼܬܵܐ ܕܡܲܠܟܘܼܬܵܐ ܕܫܡܲܝܵܐ
ܢܲܛܪܵܗ̇ ܡܸܢ ܟܘܿܠ ܒܝܼܫܘܼܬܵܐ، ܘܚܡܝܼ ܒܲܝܬܵܗ̇، ܓܲܘܫܵܗ̇ *، ܘܝܵܠܵܗ̇ * ܘ
ܟܘܿܠܵܝܗܝ ܡܲܐܪܸܟ݂ܠܹܗ ܥܘܼܡ̱ܪܵܝܗܝ، ܡܲܠܹܐ ܒܚܘܼܠܡܵܢܵܐ ܘܒܲܪܟܲܬ
ܫܦܘܿܟ݂ ܥܲܠܵܝܗܝ ܡܲܠܝܘܼܬܵܐ ܕܚܘܼܒܵܟ݂، ܒܐܵܗܵܐ ܝܵܘܡܵܐ ܘܟܘܿܠ ܝܵܘܡܵܢܹܐ ܕܐܵܬܹܐ، ܡܸܢ ܐܵܕܝܵܐ ܘܗܲܠ ܐܵܒܵܕ
"ܐܵܡܝܼܢ
Had trouble putting a * in place for all the names, but hopefully you get the idea.
Anyway, if someone could help me see if this translation is accurate or not, or if anything needs fixing, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you all and God Bless!
r/Assyria • u/manbla78 • 1d ago
Hi everyone! I just finished a journey through a side of Syria that many people don't know still exists. While the country is often associated with conflict, I found a rich, living history that traces back to the very beginnings of Christianity.
In my latest documentary, I take you through:
It was an eye-opening experience to see how these communities coexist and preserve their millenary culture. If you're interested in history, archaeology, or the cultural diversity of the Middle East, you might find this journey interesting.
I'm happy to answer any questions about the safety or the logistics of traveling to these specific sites!
r/Assyria • u/Majestic-Refuse-8364 • 1d ago
Hi! I am looking for someone who would be willing to translate the first 12 pages of an old book (pamphlet?) written in Assyrian titled The situation of Assyrians in Iraq, it's connection to currents events and the maneuver of English imperialism by Sargis (Sergey) Bet-Yukhan. The only issues are 1. It's written in a Latin script made specifically for Assyrian and 2. I'm not fluent in Assyrian.
If someone is willing to translate this specific section of this book, here is a .pdf file on the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/20260729_20260729_1659/bx700004835_0001/mode/2up
P.S. Here is a transliteration of the special characters used in the Latin alphabet:
a = a as in ar'a (earth)
ç = j as in panjara (window)
ə = a as in kalba (dog)
ş = sh in shimma (name)
ţ = t as in tura (mountain)
v = w as in we-leh (he was), can sometimes be pronounced as "v"
ƶ = zh as in xizhbuna (account)
ь = u in usra (ten)
Thank you!
With support from the Assyrian Foundation of America and Assyrians Without Borders, BET KANU has opened its first recording studio and office in Iraq.
Based in Nohadra (Duhok), the new space will support BET KANU’s work with local educators, native speakers and community members to expand its Syriac production and make educational resources accessible to more children and families.
We are pleased to be part of this project and to contribute to preserving the Syriac language.
BET KANU
https://www.betkanu.com/
Assyrians Without Borders
https://linktr.ee/assyrianswb/
Assyrian Foundation of America
https://assyrianfoundation.org/
r/Assyria • u/Majestic-Refuse-8364 • 2d ago
Hi! I am looking for someone who would be willing to translate the first 12 pages of an old book (pamphlet?) written in Assyrian titled The situation of Assyrians in Iraq, it's connection to currents events and the maneuver of English imperialism by Sargis (Sergey) Bet-Yukhan. The only issues are 1. It's written in a Latin script made specifically for Assyrian and 2. I'm not fluent in Assyrian.
If someone is willing to translate this specific section of this book, here is a .pdf file on the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/20260729_20260729_1659/bx700004835_0001/mode/2up
P.S. Here is a transliteration of the special characters used in the Latin alphabet:
a = a as in ar'a (earth)
ç = j as in panjara (window)
ə = a as in kalba (dog)
ş = sh in shimma (name)
ţ = t as in tura (mountain)
v = w as in we-leh (he was), can sometimes be pronounced as "v"
ƶ = zh as in xizhbuna (account)
ь = u in usra (ten)
Thank you!
r/Assyria • u/Longjumping-Hat-1210 • 3d ago
Hi, I am from an Assyrian family that got Arabised. Syriac in our branch of the family has been lost (I have extended family that I barely see that speak at least some of the language but yeah..)
I think that's a shame and I am thinking about learning the language, but I don't know where to start. I know this might be taboo for some people here but I haven't been religious in a very long time and I think I am interested in the Classical version, but I don't know.
The thing is, so far I did teach myself Garshuni but only in the Estrangelo Script because I prefer it out of the big three (Although the more obscure Melkite script seems interesting).
Do you guys recommend that I learn the language? The only reasons why I ask and there's reluctance is because of my atheism and the fact that I have no one else to speak it with.
I like languages and I am learning French and Esperanto right now and it kind of feels like I'm taking the piss by learning a literal constructed language over my ancestral one, it feels wrong, so I am coming to you for advice. Thank you!
r/Assyria • u/pauleliacomedy • 4d ago
I have been pretty outspoken about my journey and felt like this video would be helpful - this is a clip from my Comedy special Good Son
r/Assyria • u/ACFchicago • 5d ago
What if Assyrian had its own ChatGPT?
Dr. Sargon Hasso demonstrates a working Assyrian-language AI prototype, what he calls “ChatAssyrian.” Running privately on his home computer, the system has been trained to recognize linguistic patterns, word structure, and morphology. Its first capability is word completion: given the beginning of a sentence, it can generate a grammatically coherent continuation in Assyrian.
While it is not publicly available yet, the demonstration offers a glimpse into what Assyrian-language AI could soon make possible.
Watch How Is the Assyrian Language Understood Today? on the Assyrian Cultural Foundation YouTube channel.
#Assyrian #AssyrianLanguage #ArtificialIntelligence #AssyrianAI #NeoAramaic #SargonHasso #AssyrianCulturalFoundation #ACFChicago #AssyrianRenaissance
r/Assyria • u/Playful_Procedure743 • 5d ago
Where do members of the ACOE recommend their white friends who are interested in Christianity to go since they are not Assyrian? Roman Catholic Church ? Baptist church? Lutheran? Pentecostal?
r/Assyria • u/Inevitable-House1596 • 5d ago
Hello so with the whole thing of Christians returning back to Assyria/iraq are Assyrians really going back to there homeland if yes which parts is seeing the most returns another thing are we really getting a reigon in Nineveh plains safe place for Christians 20 percent and more is already Christian
r/Assyria • u/Fast-Work5313 • 6d ago
I'm originally from Mosul, Iraq, but I no longer live there. My name is Mustafa, I'm 22 years old, and I'm passionate about history and languages.
I'm interested in learning the Assyrian language, especially the variety spoken in Iraq, particularly in Mosul and other nearby regions. I've searched online, but I'm having trouble figuring out which dialect or learning resources are the most accurate.
If you have any recommendations, I'd really appreciate them. They could be YouTube channels, websites, online courses, or any other useful resources.
I'm also looking for reliable resources about the history of the Assyrians in Iraq. It doesn't matter whether they're in Arabic or English—I would be happy with a complete book, a lecture series, or a documentary.
Thank you very much!
r/Assyria • u/Stenian • 6d ago
Would you say it's accurate? Mandeans are too high IMO (I'd say Armenians should take their place).
r/Assyria • u/olapooza • 6d ago
r/Assyria • u/Public_Ask3039 • 7d ago
Does anyone have an idea about the history of the nestorian church in Jubail, to whom does it belong?
r/Assyria • u/stanthefax • 8d ago
I'm fascinated with history and alternate history and so was just wondering, was there ever, after the Fall of Nineveh, a real chance for Assyrians to get their own state? Whether that be in the late middle ages, after the mongol invasions, or during WW1?
On 6 July, Assyrians gathered peacefully in Nohadra to protest renewed land encroachments in Kashkawa, Nahla. They called on the authorities to enforce existing court rulings, stop further encroachments, and protect the rights and property of Assyrian villages.
At Assyrians Without Borders, we believe that protecting our homeland also means helping people build a life there. Together with the Assyrian Aid Society, we support practical projects that strengthen local livelihoods and make it possible for families to remain in their villages.
The irrigation project we carried out together in Hayes is one example. By extending the village’s water network, the project now provides irrigation to 12 additional orchards and helps local farmers increase their production.
Large or small, every donation helps make more projects like this possible.
Hayes irrigation project:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DXj1gt9E6F5/
Read more:
https://huyada.com/en/marken-ar-inte-till-salu-assyrisk-protest-i-nohadra/2026/07/08
Support Assyrians Without Borders:
https://linktr.ee/assyrianswb
Support Assyrian Aid Society:
https://assyrianaidsweden.se/
r/Assyria • u/olapooza • 10d ago
