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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Kareem Chehayeb

A Christian town in Syria keeps the biblical language of Aramaic alive. But it fears for its future

Syria Aramaic Christians - (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Church bells echoed across the rocky slopes of this ancient Syrian town on a cold Sunday morning. But few families remained.

Maaloula is one of the world's few places where residents still speak Aramaic, the language that Jesus is believed to have used. The town is also home to Syria's two oldest active monasteries. But since the fall of former President Bashar Assad in an insurgent offensive late last year, some residents fear their future is precarious.

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