Young participants dressed in vibrant traditional attire sit in the front row during the annual Syriac and Bible Quiz held at Mar Bolus Hall in Baghdida, Nineveh. The event brought together over 700 attendees of all ages, highlighting the community’s dedication to preserving Christian and Syriac heritage.
Nineveh
Baghdida hosts annual Syriac language and Bible contest to preserve Christian heritage
NINEVEH — More than 700 men and women of all ages gathered at Mar Bolus Hall in Baghdida for a religious and Syriac language competition, part of a growing tradition aimed at preserving Christian heritage and identity in Nineveh governorate.
Organized by the Archdiocese of Mosul, the event featured questions on biblical fasting, prayer, general religious knowledge, and the Syriac language. Winners received handcrafted religious sculptures as prizes.
“I’ve participated in every competition since it began in 2018,” said Yousef Mikha Zahra. “The main reason I take part is to read the Bible, deepen my knowledge of Syriac, and search for the right answers. This contest helps us understand the Scriptures and preserve our Syriac language—our fathers’ and grandfathers’ language, the language of our liturgy and our identity.”
Deacon Issam Mikha Yako said the competition, held during Lent, focuses on encouraging participants to engage with their religious and linguistic traditions. “Our main goal is to encourage people to read the Bible and dive deeper into our Syriac language, because it’s part of our heritage and identity,” he said. “When we started in 2018, we had 250 participants. Today, we reached 700.”
Father Ephraim Soni, another organizer, credited Bishop Benedictus Younan Hano for supporting the initiative. “The goal of this competition is to motivate people to read the Bible and learn the Syriac language,” he said, adding that eight handcrafted religious gifts were donated by the For Their Sake Center to help preserve the community’s heritage.
Now held annually since 2018, the event has become a local tradition in Baghdida, drawing growing interest from residents each year and reinforcing ties to Syriac language and Christian teachings across generations.
