Insight

For two thousand years, the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch, which is the oldest Christian church after Jerusalem, has survived under the most difficult conditions in regions located in Iraq, Syria and Turkey. However, in recent decades political and religious events have led to a mass exodus of our members, the Aramaeans, especially to Christian Europe.

Our church in Vienna currently comprises around 700 families, which are divided into three parishes. However, due to the situation in Syria, the number is increasing monthly. The integration process does not pose a particular challenge for the newly arriving families, on the one hand because of their grateful attitude towards the Austrian state, but also because of their respect for Austrian culture and language. This strong will to integrate is in no way opposed to living out our own religion and culture and preserving our Aramaic language, which, as the mother tongue of Jesus Christ, is one of the oldest in the world.

In order to take into account the religious, cultural and social requirements of our parishioners, but also to make the process of living together in Austria as beneficial for all sides as possible, we commissioned the planning of a new church and culture center on Leopoldauer Platz in Vienna . The planning includes the construction of a new church building, a dormitory, a kindergarten, and the revitalization of the existing building.

Leopoldauer Platz has been the center of life for most believers for several years and will be a very special location for many other members in the future.

The current existing building is also a popular space for the Leopoldau population. Due to the excellent neighborhood between our parish and the residents, joint events are regularly organized and celebrated. Important representatives from religion, politics, art and culture have already been welcomed with open arms in our cultural center.