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Aramaic in Syria: Can The Language of Jesus Survive?

Published May 29th, 2019 - 06:04 GMT

Aramaic language which is the language of Jesus Christ has survived for 2,000 years in the village of Maalula, which is considered as one of the world's oldest Christian areas. 

After the war in Syria and the displacement of millions, only a few people can now speak Aramaic, including the 62-year-old George Zaarour.

"Aramaic is in danger, If things continue like this, the language will disappear within five to 10 years," Zaarour added.

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George Zaarour, a specialist in the Aramaic language, shows a book written in the Aramaic script in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP

George Zaarour, a specialist in the Aramaic language, shows a book written in the Aramaic script in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP

George Zaarour, a specialist in the Aramaic language, uses a magnifying glass to decipher Aramaic script in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP

George Zaarour, a specialist in the Aramaic language, uses a magnifying glass to decipher Aramaic script in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP

Antoinette Makh, instructs her pupils in the Aramaic language at a school in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP

Antoinette Makh, instructs her pupils in the Aramaic language at a school in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP

Rita Wahba recites hymns in Aramaic, at the Saint Sarkis monastery in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP

Rita Wahba recites hymns in Aramaic, at the Saint Sarkis monastery in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP

According to experts, 80 percent of the current inhabitants do not speak the language, with the remaining 20 percent over the age of 60. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP

According to experts, 80 percent of the current inhabitants do not speak the language, with the remaining 20 percent over the age of 60. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP

George Zaarour, a specialist in the Aramaic language, a notebook with Aramaic script written on it, in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP

George Zaarour, a specialist in the Aramaic language, a notebook with Aramaic script written on it, in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP

Aramaic was once widely used in Maalula, a mountain village etched out in the cliff face and full of churches, convents, and monasteries, and considered the symbol of Christian presence in the Damascus region. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP

Aramaic was once widely used in Maalula, a mountain village etched out in the cliff face and full of churches, convents, and monasteries, and considered the symbol of Christian presence in the Damascus region. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP

Angel Allam, a nun and teacher instructs her students in the Aramaic language, the biblical language of Jesus, at a school in the mountain village of Maalula, in Syria's Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP

Angel Allam, a nun and teacher instructs her students in the Aramaic language, the biblical language of Jesus, at a school in the mountain village of Maalula, in Syria's Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP

George Zaarour, a specialist in the Aramaic language, shows a book written in the Aramaic script in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
George Zaarour, a specialist in the Aramaic language, uses a magnifying glass to decipher Aramaic script in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
Antoinette Makh, instructs her pupils in the Aramaic language at a school in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
Rita Wahba recites hymns in Aramaic, at the Saint Sarkis monastery in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
According to experts, 80 percent of the current inhabitants do not speak the language, with the remaining 20 percent over the age of 60. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
George Zaarour, a specialist in the Aramaic language, a notebook with Aramaic script written on it, in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
Aramaic was once widely used in Maalula, a mountain village etched out in the cliff face and full of churches, convents, and monasteries, and considered the symbol of Christian presence in the Damascus region. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
Angel Allam, a nun and teacher instructs her students in the Aramaic language, the biblical language of Jesus, at a school in the mountain village of Maalula, in Syria's Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
George Zaarour, a specialist in the Aramaic language, shows a book written in the Aramaic script in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
George Zaarour, a specialist in the Aramaic language, shows a book written in the Aramaic script in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
George Zaarour, a specialist in the Aramaic language, uses a magnifying glass to decipher Aramaic script in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
George Zaarour, a specialist in the Aramaic language, uses a magnifying glass to decipher Aramaic script in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
Antoinette Makh, instructs her pupils in the Aramaic language at a school in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
Antoinette Makh, instructs her pupils in the Aramaic language at a school in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
Rita Wahba recites hymns in Aramaic, at the Saint Sarkis monastery in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
Rita Wahba recites hymns in Aramaic, at the Saint Sarkis monastery in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
According to experts, 80 percent of the current inhabitants do not speak the language, with the remaining 20 percent over the age of 60. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
According to experts, 80 percent of the current inhabitants do not speak the language, with the remaining 20 percent over the age of 60. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
George Zaarour, a specialist in the Aramaic language, a notebook with Aramaic script written on it, in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
George Zaarour, a specialist in the Aramaic language, a notebook with Aramaic script written on it, in the Syrian mountain village of Maalula, in the Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
Aramaic was once widely used in Maalula, a mountain village etched out in the cliff face and full of churches, convents, and monasteries, and considered the symbol of Christian presence in the Damascus region. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
Aramaic was once widely used in Maalula, a mountain village etched out in the cliff face and full of churches, convents, and monasteries, and considered the symbol of Christian presence in the Damascus region. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
Angel Allam, a nun and teacher instructs her students in the Aramaic language, the biblical language of Jesus, at a school in the mountain village of Maalula, in Syria's Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP
Angel Allam, a nun and teacher instructs her students in the Aramaic language, the biblical language of Jesus, at a school in the mountain village of Maalula, in Syria's Damascus region on May 13, 2019. LOUAI BESHARA / AFP

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