The Christian families and churches of eastern Syria

Including the story of the Tsarist soldier who fled the war in Russia, settled in the Syrian town of Al-Bukamal, and helped build its only church.

The poet Abu Yazan al-Furati is the narrator of this mini-documentary, which explores the story and history of the Christian families who settled, and the churches that were built, along the Euphrates River Valley in eastern Syria.

The followers of the Christian faith in eastern Syria have been typically located in the eastern and western suburbs of Deir ez-Zor, especially in the cities of Al-Bukamal and Mayadin. They built their churches and practiced their rituals and beliefs without any harassment or impediments from their non-Christian neighbours.

Inside the city of Deir ez-Zor there are four churches: the Church of the Virgin Mary (كنسية السيدة مريم العذراء) in the Rashidiya neighborhood, the Church of ‘Jesus the King’ (يسوع الملك) next to the military police HQ, a church of the Syriac Catholics (an Eastern Catholic Christian Church in the Levant) in the Rashidiya neighborhood, and the Church of the Armenian Martyrs (a complex dedicated to the victims of the Armenian genocide, which tens of thousands of Armenian pilgrims would visit until the memorial complex was reportedly blown up by members of the so-called Islamic State in 2014). Local sources say that there 150 Christian families in Deir ez-Zor, which number approximately 1,500 people.

In the city of Mayadin, there are two families, “Babek” and “Armenian”, the latter header by a sewing machine repairman.
In Al-Bukamal, there is one church – the Church of Saint Yohanna (كنيسة القديس يو حنا).

SOME CHRISTIAN FAMILIES FROM MAYADIN:

* the Al-Jarjees family:
Originally from the city of Mardin, they came to Al-Bukamal in 1923.
The sons of the family are: Hanna, Jelo, Joseph, Kamel, Saeed, and Alvin.

* the Kolokov family:
They came from Russia in the days of the tsarist war. Their grandfather Isaac, who was a soldier for the Tsar, fled and came to Al-Bukamal with his sons Joseph, Jack, and Maklov.

* the Rubin family:
The head of the family is a photographer and his children, Perr and Andrew, also came from Russia and settled in Al-Bukamal.

* the Al-Arwa family:
The family children Said, Joseph, and Lewin came from Mardin to Al-Bukamal.

* the Al-Karbait family:
The family includes Abdul Masih Karbayt, called Ammas, and his brothers David and George.

* the Naum Nema family:
They are the family of Amin Naum and Kamel Naum, who were wealthy merchants and landowners, originally from Mardin.

* the Aram family:
A family of Armenian origin, whose members include the photographers Kubro and Anis.

* the Chef Yosef family

* the family of Abu Hanna Al-Qasab:
His children are Bahdi, Hanna, and Hana.

* the Hanna Al-Khayyat:
They are relatives of the Al-Jarjees family, and the family children are Essam, Salim, and Ali.

* Simon’s and David’s family:
Originally from Iran, Simon was a craftsman working with gold. His wife, Marcette, mother of David, was very popular and loved in al-Bukamal.

After the arrival of these Christian families to Al-Bukamal in the 1920s and 1930s, they participated in the construction of the only local church and called it The Church of Saint Yohanna. The people of Al-Bukamal respected these families and their beliefs, and co-existed as friends and cherished neighbours. The small church was visited by the Christians of Al-Bukamal up until the 1980s. This church was destroyed by the War in Syria in 2012.