04/10/2026
Dayroyo Elyo Atto (1940-2026), abbott of Mor Ephrem Dayro, The Netherlands passed away. The monastery became the first Archbishophric of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Europe in 1981 with thrice blessed Mor Yulios Yeshu` Çiçek (+2005) as the first Archbishop of Central Europe. Dayroyo Elyo served as the abbott of the monastery for decades and was beloved to the Syriac Orthodox across the world. He was a calligrapher and scribed many Syriac manuscripts which were published by the monastery. He visited Malankara several times. His mortal remains will be interred in the crypt for clergy below the altar of the Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral where late Mor Athanasius Samuel, first Archbishop of N. America and late Mor Yulios Çiçek rest; the rite of enshrouding will be held on Tue Apr 14th at 1 pm CET. May his soul rest in peace in the heavenly Yerushalem above.
Procession from the Mor Ephrem monastery to the Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral: https://youtu.be/WqqnOFzmRF8?si=P7Cl7dXbIhCAwjXE
Obituary by H.E. Mor Polycarpos Aydin, Archbishop of the Netherlands, posted on the Hugoye-list:
In Memoriam: Abbot Eliyo Atto
With faith in Christ and in the hope of the resurrection, we announce the falling asleep in the Lord of the Very Reverend Father Abbot Eliyo Atto of the Mor Ephrem Monastery. He departed this earthly life on Wednesday 08 April 2026 at the Mor Ephrem Monastery in Glane, The Netherlands.
Father Abbot Eliyo was born in 1940 to Atto and Zero d-be Misqo in the village of Mzizah in Tur ‘Abdin, the historic heartland of Syriac Christianity in southeastern Anatolia (Turkey). From a young age, he immersed himself in the Syriac language and the rich heritage of the Church Fathers. In 1967, following his late sister Seyde Atto († 10 May 2020), he entered the monastic community of Mor Gabriel Monastery. After his formation there and a period of study at the Mor Ephrem Theological Seminary in Atchaneh (Lebanon), he served with devotion at the Syriac Orthodox Monastery of Saint Mark in Jerusalem (1977–1979).
At the invitation of the late Archbishop Mor Julius Yeshu‘ Çiçek of blessed memory, he helped build the first Syriac Orthodox community in the Netherlands—first at Mor Yuhanon Church in Hengelo, and from 1981 at the Mor Ephrem Monastery in Glane. There he served faithfully as monk and priest before becoming an abbot in 1994. After Archbishop Çiçek had acquired Mor Augin Monastery in Arth-Goldau, Switzerland, in 1996, Abbot Eliyo served there for 1.5 years before returning to Mor Ephrem Monastery in 1998.
His openness to distant lands and peoples enabled him to both give and receive abundant love. He consistently sought the good with a radiant spirit, remaining kind and cheerful even amid trials. Children especially cherished him as the monk who delighted in sharing small gifts. During his charitable journeys to India, he was deeply moved by the quiet spirituality of the faithful.
Adorned with the virtues of monastic life—humility, stillness, obedience, and ceaseless prayer—he lived a life hidden in Christ. As a devoted Syriac scribe and calligrapher, he copied numerous liturgical and biblical texts. His illuminated Syriac Gospel Lectionary remains a lasting testimony to his craftsmanship and love for the sacred tradition of the Syriac Orthodox Church.
Details of the funeral will follow in due course.
May his memory be eternal, and may his soul dwell among the righteous. Amen.
Contact and Condolences
Those who wish to express their condolences may leave a message via this link:
https://forms.gle/C6speXrYk8LfVsEUA
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Mor Ephrem Monastery
Glanerbrugstraat 33
7585 PK Glane, The Netherlands
Tel: +31 53 461 47 64
Email: [email protected]
Biography of Abbot Eliyo Atto
In blessed remembrance of his life and service, we offer the following extended account.
Father Abbot Eliyo Atto was born in 1940 in the village of Mzizah in Tur ‘Abdin, the son of Atto and Zero d-Be Misqo, and brother to Galle, Barsaumo, Isa, Seyde, Misqo, Stayfo, and Meryem. He was raised in a devout and supportive family, where the life of the Church and the practice of faith were naturally woven into daily life. From an early age, he received liturgical instruction in Mzizah according to the tradition of the Syriac Orthodox Church, under the guidance of the teacher (malphono) Eliyo of Beth Sbirino.
As a teenager, he moved to the village of Marbobo (Mar Babai), where he lived with his aunt Zahre for three and a half years and continued his studies under Father Georgis Kaplan and the teacher Aziz Kaplan. At the age of twenty, he completed two years of military service in Istanbul and Izmir. He then remained in Istanbul for an additional four years, working at the Greek hospital, becoming familiar with life in the great city, and forming close ties with the local Syriac community.
In 1967, he returned to Mzizah, where his desire to dedicate his life fully to God deepened. That same year, he entered the Mor Gabriel Monastery in Tur ‘Abdin. There he was ordained deacon and, a few months later, clothed in the holy monastic habit by Bishop Mor Iwannis Efrem Bilgiç. Among his fellow monks (dayroye) were Isa Çiçek—later Archbishop Mor Julius Yeshu‘ Çiçek—Shabo Bilgiç (Iwardnoyo), Tuma Aksoy (Qusnoyo), Samuel Aktaş—now Archbishop Mor Timotheos Samuel Aktaş of Tur ‘Abdin—and Georgis Acar (Keferboyo). At that time, the monastery was under the care of Bishop Mor Iwannis Efrem Bilgiç, while Malphono Isa Garis guided the students with dedication.
In 1976, together with his sister, Dayrayto Seyde, he went to the Mor Ephrem Theological Seminary in Atchaneh, Lebanon, to deepen his knowledge of Syriac studies. A year later, in 1977, both were sent by order of His Holiness Mor Ignatius Yacoub III to the Mor Markus Monastery in Jerusalem. There, in a small monastic community consisting of Bishop Mor Dioscoros Luca Esha‘ya and Raban Abdelmesih Shero, he served quietly and faithfully until 1979.
That same year, following the consecration of Mor Julius Yeshu‘ Çiçek as Archbishop of Central Europe and the Benelux, he was invited to join the new monastic community. With the blessing of His Holiness the Patriarch, he travelled to the Netherlands. Initially, the community resided at Mor Yuhanon Church in Hengelo. In 1981, the Mor Ephrem Monastery in Glane was acquired, becoming their permanent home. The early community included Archbishop Mor Julius Yeshu‘ Çiçek, Deacon (shamosho) Hanna Aydin—later Archbishop Mor Julius Hanna Aydin—Dayroyo Eliyo, and his sister, the late Dayrayto Seyde.
In 1989, he was ordained to the holy priesthood. In 1994, His Holiness Mor Ignatius Zakka I appointed him Abbot of the Mor Ephrem Monastery, granting him the title Abba and the rank of Rish Dayro (Head of the Monastery), along with a pectoral cross.
In 1996, following the acquisition of Mor Augin Monastery in Arth-Goldau (Switzerland), he was sent there to help establish the new community. After one and a half years, he returned to Glane, where he continued his monastic and pastoral ministry with unwavering dedication. From 1991 onward, he travelled regularly to India—first accompanying Mor Julius Yeshu‘ Çiçek—and remained deeply moved by the faith of the people, returning often for charitable work.
As a devoted Syriac scribe and calligrapher, he carefully copied numerous liturgical, biblical, and theological manuscripts. His richly illuminated Syriac Gospel Lectionary stands as a lasting testament to his artistry and to his deep love for the sacred tradition of the Syriac Orthodox Church.
Father Abbot Eliyo lived a life marked by prayer, humility, and quiet faithfulness. He served God and the Church with both word and deed, becoming for many a spiritual father, a listening ear, and a gentle guide who encouraged, comforted, and led others closer to Christ. He showed genuine interest in every person, was hospitable and generous, and approached all—especially the vulnerable—with deep respect. He delighted in offering small, thoughtful gifts, chosen with care during his travels.
Known for his warmth, humour, and openness, he engaged the world with curiosity and joy. He saw and emphasized the good in every situation, cherished the beauty of nature, and rejoiced in seeing young people grow, learn, and flourish.
We entrust him now to the Lord whom he served from his youth to his old age, praying that He may receive him into the light of His Kingdom, grant him rest in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and number him among His saints.
With profound sorrow, we share the passing of a devoted servant of Jesus Christ and a deeply respected figure among our people.
† In Loving Memory of Dayroyo Eliyo Atto (1940–2026)
Born in Mzizah, Tur ‘Abdin—the historic heartland of our people—he dedicated his entire life to faith, service, and the preservation of our Aramaic heritage. Through decades of quiet yet steadfast devotion, especially from the Mor Ephrem Monastery in the Netherlands, he became a cornerstone of spiritual and cultural life for our people.
Working alongside the late Archbishop Mor Yulius Yeshu‘ Cicek, he helped lay the foundations for thriving Aramean Christian communities across Europe and beyond. But his contribution went far beyond the institutional. It was deeply personal as it was shaped by genuine care, a quiet presence, and lifelong commitment.
Dayroyo Eliyo Atto was known for his humility, integrity, and unwavering dedication to others. His life reflected the very values he embodied: faith, compassion, and quiet dignity.
In times of uncertainty and change, he stood as a source of stability and moral clarity. He was a devoted guardian of our cultural heritage, preserving and passing on the ancient art of Aramaic calligraphy, thus safeguarding a sacred tradition for future generations. True to his church traditions, he remained firmly rooted in his Aramean heritage and identity until he breathed his last yesterday, on 8 April 2026.
His passing is a profound loss to our people. Yet his legacy will endure: in the communities he strengthened, in the countless lives he touched, and in the heritage he faithfully preserved and passed on until the moment our Lord called him to eternal rest.
Funeral Announcement
The funeral service of Dayroyo Eliyo will take place next Tuesday, 14 April 2026 at 13:00 at the Mor Ephrem Monastery in Glane, The Netherlands – one day after the departed are commemorated (yaumeh di thnahto).
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Atto family, the Syriac Orthodox Church, the faithful, and all who mourn his loss.
🕯️ May his blessed soul rest in peace
mihasina ba-slawotho du mnoho.
ko tulbina risho basimo li iqartho d-be ATTO, li ‘ito Suryeyto u lu ‘amo Suryoyo.
Zel ba-shlomo, faloho towo.
Zel ba-shlomo su Moraydokh.
Dukthokh huwyo i malkutho shmayonitho, bayn a kine wa zadiqe.
World Council of Arameans (Syriacs)
