Easter Vigil: The Divine Liturgy Celebration at the Archdiocese’s Cathedral

Ankawa burst with Easter joy as Mar Yousif Cathedral, along with all the churches in the town, overflowed with faithful believers who gathered to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The celebration was not limited to the local community; hundreds of returnees from the diaspora also joined, eager to live Holy Week and Easter in Ankawa. Hearts and churches were filled, and the number of Masses held for the Easter Vigil alone exceeded ten across all parishes.
The Feast of the Lord’s Resurrection began with evening prayer followed by a special liturgical Mass for children and their families. At 10:00 P.M., the cathedral bell rang to mark the beginning of the Resurrection procession, led by the deacons with solemn hymns. This was followed by the “Teaching of the Resurrection” led by Fr. Savio Handula, pastor. His Excellency Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda then gave the blessing and presided over the festive Mass.
In his homily, Archbishop Warda reflected on the words of Christ to the repentant thief: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise,” affirming that this phrase sums up the entire message of the Resurrection. Paradise, he explained, is not a distant place we await after death, but a life that begins now—in the heart that opens itself to God and lives in His love. The Resurrection is not a postponed dream but a reality we live each time we forgive, love, and celebrate new life with the Lord.

As he noted, “The Resurrection is the triumph of love over hatred, and reconciliation over division. It is a call for us to be witnesses of Christ’s light in a world so often drowning in the darkness of pain and loss. Let us carry this light with us and be a living Church in every time and place.”