Our people first started arriving in Western New York in the late 19th century. after the Christian massacre in Diyarbakir. Turkey. We witnessed another large influx of immigrants after the Christian genocide in 1915 under the sword of the Ottoman Turks. during which nearly I million Armenians and about 500.000 Assyrians were killed. As a result. many of our people left Mardin. Midyat and other cities in Turkey and eventually settled in parts of New York and New Jersey. But after visiting Long Island. it was hard to resist its beautiful green pastures. and its relaxing beaches. Eventually. a small group made their way out and settled there. mainly in parts of Queens. and then later to Nassau County. These immigrants worked hard. and became prominent entrepreneurs mainly in the jewelry and garment industry. trades brought with them from the old country. back in the early 70s. They built homes. grew families and raised children who became lawyers. doctors. teachers. business owners. and upstanding members in the community. Eventually. in 1985. this growing community. now comprised of immigrants from Turkey. Syria. Iraq. and Jordan. became large enough to establish a church where they could all congregate and meet regularly with other Assyrian Americans to preserve their ancient culture and practice their sacred religion.
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immigrants