The Ongoing Formation Course for Deacons Launches in the Diocese

On the evening of Tuesday, October 7, 2025, the first session of the Ongoing Formation Course for the Deacons of the Chaldean Diocese of Erbil was launched, in the presence of His Excellency Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda, who opened the meeting with a lecture titled “The Importance of Diaconal Service and Its Role in the Church.”
He emphasized that the deacon is a bridge of love between the altar and the community, and a servant of the mysteries who makes the Church’s presence alive in the world.

This was followed by a lecture from Fr. San Hikmat on the spirituality of diaconal service, in which he discussed the inner dimension of the diaconal vocation and how to live it with humility and joy within the heart of the ecclesial community.

The course is supervised by Fr. Savio Handola and will continue over eight sessions presented by the priests of the diocese. The topics include Biblical, theological, liturgical, and spiritual themes, aiming to deepen the awareness of the deacon’s vocation and service in light of the tradition of the Church of the East.

At the end of the meeting, the participants expressed their gratitude and joy for this initiative, which provides them with a continuous formation journey that nourishes their ministry and strengthens their ecclesial and spiritual sense.