Mardin’s approximately 1,500-year-old Mor Behnam Kırklar Church is hosting a contemporary art installation titled “In the Fresh Shadow of the Ancient Word.” The work is dedicated to Syriac clergyman Gabriel Akyüz’s 41 years of service and his 17 books on Syriac history and culture.

The work, created by curator Özcan Geçer, consists of book covers laser-processed onto metal and assembled on a steel base, creating a cross-shaped structure resembling a bird. It measures 6.25 × 3.75 meters and weighs approximately 150 kilograms.

The conceptual foundation of the installation is the “Incarnation of the Word,” an idea that holds an important place in Christian theology. As the sun moves throughout the day, the shadows of the metal covers spread across the church’s stone floor, while at night the installation is illuminated.

The project was carried out under the patronage of Mor Filüksinos Saliba Özmen, Metropolitan of Mardin and Diyarbakır, and with the support of the Syriac community. The “In the Fresh Shadow of the Ancient Word” installation has been open to visitors to the church since August 16, 2026.