On Friday, June 10th, 2021, His Eminence Mor Dionysius John Kawak gathered clergy, deacons, and the faithful especially the youth at the Mor Aphrem Center in Paramus, New Jersey for the annual Sayfo commemoration.After welcoming remarks, His Eminence lead the faithful in a Teshmesto d’Sohde prayer (Service of the Martyrs) which was followed by the keynote speech by Dr. Sarah Bakker Kellogg. Dr Bakker Kellog’s talk centered around the daily stories of life in the diaspora and how through the practice of liturgy one can express their ihodiyutho, the singleness in Christ. After the lecture, they gathered in prayers and lit up the torch of the Syriac Sayfo Monument that commemorates all our Syriac Martyrs that were lost during the bitter year of Sayfo (sword) 1915. May we always remember to keep them in our prayers.”
