Orthodox Christian pastoral care: Spiritual counseling services of Syriac religious leaders in Turkey

Within the framework of the discipline of Spiritual Counseling and Guidance, this study aims to analyze the pastoral services of Syriac religious leaders in Turkey, while also aiming to construct a framework considering pastoral theology within the Orthodox Christian tradition. Broadly, it is observed that the conceptualizations derived from the Holy Scriptures and tradition of Christian pastoral theology, such as the concepts of 'poimen' (shepherding) and 'koinonia' (community), are also applicable within the Orthodox Christian tradition. Within the context of the spiritual life practices of non-Muslim communities in Turkey, this study focuses on the nature of 'Applied Christian Theology' and Pastoral Theology within the Orthodox Christian tradition. Specifically, it examines how these theoretical concepts are applied in the practice of Syriac Christian clergy in Turkey, with a detailed investigation conducted on the Monasteries and Churches affiliated with the the Syriac Orthodox Mardin-Diyarbakır Metropolitanate. This study aims to examine the origins, theoretical foundations, and applications of pastoral services provided by Syriac religious leaders within an academic framework. The research aims to elucidate how pastoral care is structured to meet the spiritual needs of the Syriac community in Turkey and to evaluate the effectiveness of this service.