Syrian Christians
Christianity substantially started from Antioch:
The Church of Antioch is considered to be the most ancient and widely known of all churches after the Church of Jerusalem. After the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD by the Roman Emperor Titus, the Christians in Jerusalem were scattered and many made their way to Antioch. It was from Antioch that the disciples went to the then known parts of the world, spreading the Gospel and establishing churches, monasteries and schools. These monasteries and schools produced many illustrious scholars who enlightened the world with their religious and scientific achievements.22 The fathers of the Syrian Church of Antioch made great and memorable contributions in the study of the Holy Bible, both Old and New Testaments. It was their translation of the Holy Bible into the Syriac language that came to be known as (Peshitto) or 'simple'. They also translated the Bible into Arabic,Persian and Malayalam (a South Indian language).23 Their work was not limited to translation; it included commentaries and exegesis of the Holy Scriptures. They have left behind them a rich heritage that should be counted as unique by today's scholars. This church played a great role in spreading the Gospel to many nations of the world such in Arabia, Armenia, India, Ethiopia. In the process, it suffered the loss of thousands who laid down their lives as martyrs for the faith.24http://www.nadamelchurch.org/churches-and-monasteries/syrian-orthodox-church-antioch-glance
It further expanded as far as East Asia, since Christ Jesus Himself spoke Syriac Language.
Accordingly, Syrian Orthodox Church has prevailed even in India.
It is estimated that the (Syrian Orthodox) church has about 7,000,000 members globally including around 5,600,000 members in India.[16] There are 680,000 Syriac Orthodox members in Syria and 5,000 in Turkey, 2,000 in Israel and the Palestinian Territories (500 in Jerusalem and 1,500 Bethlehem) (numbers in Iraq is unknown). In Lebanon they number up to 50,000. In the diaspora, there are approximately 80,000 members in the United States, 80,000 in Sweden, 50,000 in Germany, 15,000 in the Netherlands, and thousands of members in Brazil, Switzerland, and Austria.[17]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Orthodox_Church
And, somebody has discovered that Christ Jesus appears every month in the Syrian Orthodox church in Jerusalem of today.
Back to Antioch, its importance should be more reviewed as it was the third largest city in the Roman Empire.
During the first century, Antioch was the third biggest city in the Roman Empire (after Rome and Alexandria). Its population was over 500,000 (significant because we would not have a city of a million people until 1850).
It was the third largest city but by far the most ethnically diverse. To large degree this was due to its location (see map). It had two interstate highways running by it; the north-south route connected it to Egypt and the east-west highway linked it to Rome. Antioch also had a major river that cut through it that was the starting point of the trade route to central Asia. This led to an incredibly cosmopolitan and diverse city. You had large numbers of Africans, Asians, and Europeanshttp://danielgaryhill.wordpress.com/2010/05/21/the-energy-of-heaven-produces-the-church-in-antioch/
So, Syria is important in terms of history, religion, and language.
The bloodshed in Syria must be stopped.
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Mar 2:28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.