SAND is a non-profit organization dedicated to showcasing artistic expressions and personal stories rooted in the Syriac Orthodox tradition. Our goal is to spark and enrich conversations about the Syriac church's presence in the Western world, all while preserving its distinct heritage.
About us
SAND aims to encourage people to embrace creativity and creation as a way to reflect, pray, and open themselves to the unfathomable mystery of God. Art, film, crafts, music, writing, iconography, and other forms of creation can serve as a point of contact with the larger world that humanity is a part of.
“But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8
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Between East and West
The Syriac Orthodox Church is the ancient church of the East, which, since the Ottoman genocide in 1915, has established itself as a significant church in exile across many Western countries. In the diaspora, the church has become a sort of guarantor for survival and security.
SAND aims to foster a deeper understanding of Syriac Orthodox spirituality, the language of icons, and liturgical life among generations living in the West in a way that resonates with them.
For generations raised in the West, Orthodox identity can seem both distant and unfamiliar. The way we approach existential questions often differs between East and West. In the West, the focus tends to be on understanding through reason and clear language. In an Orthodox perspective, however, faith is shaped more by worship and reverence for the mystery, as neither human reason nor language can fully capture it.