Saruj

Hikayemiz

Suruç,is a rural district and city of Şanlıurfa Province of Turkey, on a plain near the Syrian border 46km south-west of the city of Urfa (36° 58' 33.9" N, 38° 25' 32.8" E).EtymologyThe modern Turkish name "Suruç" is derived from Serugh, the pre-Islamic name for the area. The name literally means "woven" (Hebrew: סרוג 'sarug' meaning: "knitted") or "latticed", and either refers to weaving or saddle making, both of which are traditional in the district. Alternatively, the name is associated with Serug (שרוג, śərûḡ) the great-grandfather of Abraham (Genesis 11:20–23; I Chronicles 1:26; Luke 3:35).The main town of the district is also called Suruç. However, the older name for the town is Batnan or Batnae. The site of the Ancient city is still called Tell-Batnan. Today, Suruç is an agricultural district, famous for pomegranates.HistoryIn antiquity the Sumerians built a settlement in the area. The city was a centre of silk-making. They were succeeded by a number of other Mesopotamian civilisations. The Roman Emperor Constantine I brought the town under the control of the city of Edessa (modern day Şanlıurfa). One of the most famous residents of the district is its 6th century Syriac bishop and poet-theologian Jacob of Serugh. The Roman Catholic Church hold the bishopric as a titular see of that church, though they had little presence in the area, while the Syriac church holds a separate Bishopric in the town.