Group visits to Assyria on the rise as diaspora seeks to reconnect with its roots

While once rare, the increased stability following the defeat of ISIS has enabled diaspora groups to help more Assyrians discover and reconnect with their homeland. The trend has become particularly notable this summer, according to people familiar with the matter.

The most prominent diaspora organization arranging such visits is Gishru (English: bridge). The U.S.-based organization, dedicated to reconnecting Assyrians in the diaspora with those in the ancestral homeland, is now in its tenth year of organizing group trips, which have grown in popularity year after year. Gishru has developed into a professional organization offering carefully tailored trips designed to maximize immersion in local Assyrian life.

Assyrian church organizations are also active in encouraging members to explore the roots of their faith. One example is SOKU, the Syriac Orthodox Church’s Youth Federation in Sweden, which recently brought a group of young people to the Turabdin Region. Their visit included tours of ancient churches and monasteries, communal prayers, and exchanges with local Assyrians. Similarly, the World Council of Arameans, an Assyrian organization focusing on Syriac church heritage, led a group visit to Turabdin earlier this summer, highlighting the region’s rich monastic history.

Even local diaspora associations are joining the effort. The Assyrian Mesopotamian Association in Enschede, the Netherlands, organized a group trip for its members this summer, showing that interest is spreading beyond larger umbrella organizations.

With growing stability in the Assyrian homeland and increasing curiosity among new generations of diaspora Assyrians, demand for such group visits is expected to rise further in the years ahead.