Patriarch Mar Paul III Nona Presides Over the Evangelical Diaconal Ordination of Seminarian Mivan Nazim
Patriarch Mar Paul III Nona Presides Over the Evangelical Diaconal Ordination of Seminarian Mivan Nazim
Armota – Friday, 21 August 2026
His Beatitude Mar Paul III Nona, Patriarch of the Chaldean Church, presided over the Divine Liturgy and the rite of the Evangelical Diaconal Ordination of seminarian Mivan Nazim on Friday morning, 21 August 2026, at the Church of the Virgin Mary in the town of Armota, in the presence of clergy, religious, and a large gathering of the faithful.
The celebration began with a solemn procession of the deacons and priests of the Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil, accompanied by the prayers and hymns of the faithful, who gave thanks to God for the gift of vocations and prayed that He would accompany Seminarian Mivan and strengthen him throughout his journey of service.
During the liturgical rite, Seminarian Mivan Nazim received the Evangelical Diaconal Ordination through the laying on of hands and the prayer of His Beatitude the Patriarch. He thereby committed himself to the service of the Word of God, the altar, and the faithful community, in a spirit of obedience, humility, and love.
In his homily, His Beatitude congratulated Deacon Mivan and his family, the Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil, and the parish of the Virgin Mary in Armota, wishing him a fruitful journey of service and continued preparation for the priesthood.
His Beatitude also reflected on the spiritual lessons offered by the servants at the Wedding at Cana. They listened to the instruction of our Mother Mary: “Do whatever he tells you,” and faithfully carried out what the Lord Jesus asked of them with obedience, reverence, and trust.
His Beatitude emphasized that authentic diaconal service flows from listening to the word of Christ and putting it into practice, even when the servant may not immediately understand the fruits of what is being asked of him. At Cana, the servants obediently carried the water, and the Lord transformed their humble service into a sign of glory and joy. In the same way, the deacon is called to make his service an act of faith and glorification of God, placing himself and his gifts in Christ’s hands for the building up of the Church and the service of God’s people.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude the Patriarch took commemorative photographs with Deacon Mivan and his family, as well as with the priests and deacons, in an atmosphere of joy and thanksgiving to God for this new grace in the life of the Archdiocese and the Church.
