      |
Syria lies on the Mediterranean Sea and is bounded on the
north by Turkey, on the east by Iraq, on the south by Jordan and on the
west by Israel and Lebanon. The name "syrian" was derived from
Cyrus the king of Persia (559-529 B.C.) who conquered Babylon (539 B.C.)
and liberated the Jews by permitting them to return to Judea. His name is
mentioned by the prophet Isaiah, connected with Christ. The name
"Syrian" is equivalent to the term "Christian" which
was applied to the disciples in Antioch for the first time because those
converted Jews believed that Cyrus, their liberator from captivity in 538
B.C. resembled Christ the liberator of captive mankind. So they used to
repeat Christ's name connected with his name for pride and honor, as their
forefathers did upon their return to Judea. When this news arrived to the
gentile elements in Antioch they called them "Syrians" or
"Christians." From that time onwards "Syrian"
prevailed first among the Christians of Syria and afterwards among the
Christian of Mesopotamia, Persia, India and the far east, through the work
of the Syrian Apostles and preachers. This name was used in Syria to
distinguish between the Christian Arameans and the Arameans who were not
yet converted. Hence the word "Aramean" became synonymous to the
word "heathen" and the word "Syrian" synonymous to
Christian. Likewise, the Aramaic language was called Syriac. Until the
present days the Christians who speak Syriac, are called in this sense
"Suroye" or "Suraye" or "Curyaye" whereas
the name "Christian" prevailed among the western
Christians
Contact the Webmaster |