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

Ankawa lived an unforgettable night as St. Joseph Chaldean 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 the Holy Week and the joy of Easter in Ankawa. Hearts and churches were filled, and the number of Masses held on Easter Eve alone exceeded ten across the Chaldean churches of Ankawa. The priests dedicated a special liturgical Mass after the evening prayer 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 Handola, the parish priest. His Excellency Archbishop Mar Bashar Matti Warda then gave the blessing and presided over the festive Mass with words full of hope and peace.

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.

Here is an excerpt from his Easter Sunday homily:
“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.”