ܣܘܪ̈ܝܐ ܕܝܘܢ Ασσύριοι στην Ελλάδα | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Total population | |
| 6,000[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Languages | |
| Neo-Aramaic andGreek | |
| Religion | |
| Syriac Christianity |
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Assyrians in Greece (Syriac:ܣܘܪ̈ܝܐ ܕܝܘܢ) (Greek:Ασσύριοι στην Ελλάδα) include migrants ofAssyrian descent living inGreece. The Assyrian community in Greece is primarily composed of individuals who migrated due to political, religious, and ethnic persecution in their countries of origin, particularly in Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and Syria. The number of Assyrians in Greece is estimated at around 6,000 people.[1]
The modern history of the Assyrians in Greece dates back to the 1920s, particularly during the period of theAssyrian genocide (1914–1920) when a number of Assyrians fled the Ottoman Empire to escape violence and persecution.[2] Following the genocide, a number of Assyrians settled in various parts of the Middle East, and a significant portion later migrated to Greece.[1] The Assyrians who were settled in Greece formed theAssyrian Federation of Greece to represent their community and advocate for the rights and needs. This organisation was officially recognised by the Greek state in 1934.[1]
More Assyrian refugees, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s, later arrived fromTurkey,Iran,Iraq andSyria due to instability in those countries and using Greece as an immigration bridge to western and northern European countries, like Germany and Sweden, where it is possible to get easier access to asylum and social benefits.[3]
Currently there are more than 6,000 Assyrians in Greece, around 1,000 of them are naturalised while most of the rest live in limbo with no permit.[1] These areas have become home to various Assyrian cultural organizations and churches, which serve as centers for community life and spiritual practices.[4] The ethnic Assyrians are mostly concentrated in suburbs ofAthens, mainly in theEgaleo andKalamaki.[1]
The Assyrian community in Greece is predominantly Christian, with the majority adhering to theAssyrian Church of the East, theChaldean Catholic Church, or theSyriac Orthodox Church. Religious life is central to the community, with many Assyrian Christians participating in church services, festivals, and cultural events that preserve their Assyrian heritage.[5]
Assyrians in Greece also maintain a strong sense of cultural identity through various community-based organizations, including cultural centres and media outlets that aim to promote and preserve Assyrian language, traditions, and history.[1] These institutions also serve as gathering points for Assyrian refugees and their descendants to connect with their roots and maintain a sense of belonging.[6] In terms of language, Assyrian Neo-Aramaic remains widely spoken among the community, especially within households and religious settings, alongside Greek, which is increasingly adopted by younger generations for practical purposes.[7]
| Hellenic | |
|---|---|
| Traditional | |
| Recent | |
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