THRISSUR -- Metropolitan of the Church of the East here and scholar in Aramaic language Dr Mar Aprem has taken the initiative to revive the interest globally in learning the endangered Semitic dialect believed to have been spoken by Jesus Christ.

Talking to The New Indian Express, Aprem said that Aramaic with different dialectical variations is spoken in parts of Syria, Iraq and Turkey.

He said that over 4 lakh people speak the modern Aramaic at present.

He said that over 2000 years ago Jews spoke Hebrew and Aramaic and its Galilean dialect was believed to have been spoken by Jesus Christ.

Aprem, who is the author of the book 'Teach yourself Aramaic', said that after the release of Mel Gibson's film 'The Passion of Christ' in 2004 with most of its dialogue in Aramaic, people in different part of the world are showing interest in knowing and learning the language.

The Metropolitan said that a body called Association for the Preservation of St Thomas Christian Heritage with close association of the Oriental Institute of the University of Tobingen, Germany, the Syriac Institute USA, Hill Museum and Manuscript Library, USA, Central European University, Hungary and the Kerala Centre for Historical Research has been constituted for the purpose.

He is the honorary president of the association.

He said that initial efforts of the association would be to preserve through digitalisation of printed books, manuscripts both in paper and palm leaves, and other locally available documents in Syrian.

He said that he himself has a collection of about 250 manuscripts and printed books in Syrian language.

These include the Chaldean Kashkol (Breviary prayer book) published in 1585 and Hudra (book arranged for daily prayer for 365 days) published in 1598.

He said that these century old books and manuscripts had escaped the destruction by burning as per the decision of Udayamperoor Synod held in 1599.

He said that similar collection of valuable books and manuscripts are also in the possession of St Joseph's CMI Monastry, Mannanam, Syro- Malabar Archdiocesan Archieves in Ernakulam.

He said that the process of digitalisation of these documents is progressing well at present.

By N. V. Davies
www.expressbuzz.com