Assyrian New Year in Melbourne

Assyrian New Year in Melbourne

Saturday 2nd of April 2011

10am-6pm

Assyrian Martyrs Day Commemoration

Assyrian Martyrs Day Commemoration

Sunday 8 August 2010 - 5.30pm

Ishtar Reception Centre

Assyrian New Year 6760 Report

Ankawa.Com (Arabic News Website) Reports on the Assyrian New Year Festival

This report can be viewed in full at:

http://www.ankawa.com/forum/index.php/topic,406577.msg4559655.html#msg4559655

Assyrian New Year Festival

The Assyrian New Year Festival will be held in MELBOURNE on the 5th of April 2010 (Easter Monday Public Holiday) at COBURG LAKE RESERVE (Murray Road, Coburg) from 11am.

The AAALF extends an invitation to all members of the community to attend this important Assyrian national holiday.

The Australian Assyrian Arts and Literature Foundation was deeply saddened by the news of the passing of His Beatitude the late Mar Narsai DeBaz, Metropolitan of Lebanon, Syria and All Europe of the Assyrian Church of the East.

The announcement of the late Metropolitan's passing was made by His Grace Dr. Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of California and Secretary of the Holy Synod and can be viewed at:

www.assyrianchurchnews.com/News/view/newsID/368

Further information and a full biography of the late Metropolitan's life can also be viewed at the above address.

The Board of the Foundation offers its deepest condolences to His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East and to all Bishops of the Holy Synod and prays for the repose of the soul of the late Metropolitan.

ASSYRIAN MARTYRS DAY 2009

On Sunday 9th of August 2009, the AAALF held the annual Assyrian Martyrs Day Commemoration, organised to remember and honour the memory of all Assyrian martyrs throughout history and particularly those who fell victim to genocide and atrocities in the Assyrian Genocide 1915 and the Massacre of Semele in 1933. The event was attended by the Hon. Jenny Mikakos MP (State Member for the Northern Metropolitan Region and Parliamentary Secretary for Planning), representatives of Assyrian organisations and churches as well as the presidents of both the Panepirotic Federation of Australia and the Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia. In addition, a number of representatives of other Melbourne-based Greek organisations were in attendance. The Mayor of Moreland City Council was also represented by Cr. Anthony Helou J.P., Councillor of Moreland City Council. The program included historical speeches, poems, musical performances and the projection of a genocide documentary. All in attendance reiterated their call for the official recognition of the Assyrian Genocide by the Victorian and Australian parliaments and the necessity for immediate action by the Australian government to aid suffering Assyrian Christians in Iraq.

Pictured: Chairman and Board Members of the AAALF with Hon. Jenny Mikakos MP and Melbourne's Greek/Pontian Community Leaders

AAALF EVENT IN HONOUR OF ASSYRIAN UNIVERSAL ALLIANCE DELEGATES

On the 30th of May 2009, the AAALF in association with the Victorian Assyrian Community Inc. held a function in hour of delegates visiting Australia to attend the 26th World Congress of the Assyrian Universal Alliance. The event was honoured by the presence and support of His Grace Mar Aprim Khamis, Bishop of Arizona and Western United States. Other guests of honour included the Rev. Genard Lazar (Priest of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, Assyrian Church of the East, Sydney), Very. Rev. Nistoris E. Hirmiz (Ancient Church of the East), Rev. Gewargis Toma (Assyrian Church of the East). Delegates of the AUA included the Hon. Yonathan Betkolia MP (Assyrian Representative in the Iranian Parliament), Engineer Odisho Malko (President of the Assyrian Writers Leauge, Iraq), Mr. Hermiz Shahen and Mr. David David (AUA Delegates from Sydney). A number of reports were delivered by the various guests on the status of Assyrians in the country of their origin as well as on the work of the Assyrian Universal Alliance. His Grace Bishop Mar Aprim Khamis delivered an invocation and wished the delegates success in their endeveours. The evening was concluded by a question and answer session in which the delegates were asked questions by attendees from amongst the filled-to-capacity hall relating to their work for Assyrians around the world.

Hon. Yonathan Betkolia MP Delivers the Keynote Address

Engineer. Odisho Malko Delivers His Report on the Status of Assyrian Literature in Iraq

Mr. Hermiz Shahen, Deputy Secretary General of the AUA Delivers His Address

The Capacity Audience

ASSYRIAN NEW YEAR 6759 (2009)

The Assyrian New Year Festival 6759 (2009) was once again organised by the AAALF and held at Coburg Lake Reserve on Sunday the 29th of March 2009. The event proved to be immensly successful with about 1200 of Melbourne's Assyrians joing in national holiday festivities.

URHAI ASSYRIAN LANGUAGE BOOK SERIES PUBLISHED

August 2008 saw the AAALF acheive one of its founding ambitions which was the publication of a language book to aid young students of the Assyrian language. With the support of the Victorian Multicultural Commission and a number of Melbourne-based Assyrian scholars, the Foundation was able to publish the first two volumes of the 'Urhai Assyrian Language Book Series'. Along with the blessing of His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand (Assyrian Church of the East), the books were launched by Rev. Gewargis Toma on the 3rd of August 2008 at Ishtar Reception Center. One hundred copies of each book (Begginers and Level 1) were provided to the St. George Assyrian Language School (run under the auspices of the Assyrian Church of the East) for the use of their students. In 2009 the Foundation will complete the 3rd and 4th volumes of the 'Urhai Assyrian Language Book Series' in a bid to continue the maintenance of the Assyrian language amongst young people living in the Diaspora.

Cake designed in the style of both volumes 1 and 2 of the 'Urhai Assyrian Language Book Series'

ASSYRIAN MARTYRS DAY COMMEMORATION 2008

On the 10th of August 2008, the AAALF held the annual Assyrian Martyrs Day Commemoration. The event was attended by more than 400 members of Melbourne's Assyrian community. Distinguished guests included the Hon. Jenny Mikakos MP (State Member for Northern Metropolitan Region and Parliamentary Secretary for Planning), the Hon. Carlo Carli MP (State Member for Brunswick), Rev. Gewargis Toma (Assyrian Church of the East), Very. Rev. Nistoris E. Hirmiz (Ancient Church of the East) in addition to representatives of the Panepirotic Federation of Australia, the Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia and the Armenian National Committee who were in attendance in solidarity with the Assyrian community. The AAALF was honoured to have as its guest of honour, the distinguished Assyrian Genocide scholar and activist, Mr. Sabri Atman who delivered a moving keynote lecture.

Hon. Jenny Mikakos MP Delivering Her Address

Hon. Carlo Carli MP Delivering His Address

Esteemed Assyrian Genocide Scholar and Activist Malfono Sabri Atman Delivering His Keynote Lecture

President of the Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia, Mr. Peter Jasonidies Delivering His Address

Secretary of the Panepirotic Federation of Australia, Mr. Dean Kalimniou Delivering His Address

Representative of the Armenian National Committee, Ms. Sylvia Nercessian Delivering Her Address

Attendees

ASSYRIAN NEW YEAR 6758 (2008)

In association with fellow Assyrian organisations of Melbourne, the annual Assyrian New Year Festival was held at Coburg Lake Reserve in Melbourne and attended by more than 1000 members of the city's Assyrian community.

ASSYRIAN MARTYRS DAY COMMEMORATION 2007

Assyrian Martyrs Day was commemorated in Melbourne on the 5th of August 2007 by the AAALF in association with other Melbourne Assyrian organisations. Among those in attednance was the Hon. Maria Vamvakinou MP (Federal Member of Parliament for Calwell), representatives of Assyrian organisations, representatives of Melbourne's Greek community as well as Rev. Gewargis Toma of the Assyrian Church of the East. The event was attended by more than 300 of Melbourne's Assyrian community. The guest lecture was delivered by Assyrian Genocide researcher and historian, Mr. Stavros Stavridis of La Trobe University.

Mr. Stavros Stavridis Delivers His Keynote Address

Rev. Gewargis Toma Delivers An Invocation

Hon. Maria Vamvakinou MP Delivers Her Address