Launching of the Feast of the Cross Festival 2025
Under the motto: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5), the Festival of the Cross 2025 was launched in the city of Ankawa on the evening of Tuesday, September 9, with a distinguished official and spiritual presence. The gathering brought together His Holiness Mar Awa III Royel, Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East worldwide; His Excellency Archbishop Mar Bashar Matti Warda, Archbishop of the Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil; Archbishop Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf, Archbishop of Mosul, Kurdistan Region, and Kirkuk of the Syriac Orthodox Church; Archbishop Nathaniel Nizar Semaan, Archbishop of Hadyab of the Syriac Catholic Church; along with priests, nuns, Mr. Nabz, Acting District Commissioner of Ankawa, and crowds of the faithful.
The opening day began with the Candlelight Cross Procession, where the crowds set out from the Shrine of Mar Elias and proceeded to Mar Yohanna Church. There, the festival torch was lit, announcing the start of the spiritual and cultural celebrations at St. John the Baptist Cathedral, in an atmosphere filled with faith and love.
The evening included spiritual hymns performed by the Patriarchal Cathedral Choir, immersing participants in a shared prayerful atmosphere that expressed the unity of faith among the apostolic churches in Ankawa. On this occasion, His Holiness Mar Awa III delivered a pastoral message for the Feast of the Cross, urging all to remain steadfast in faith and to strengthen love and hope in the lives of families and believers. He also extended thanks to the bishops, priests, and contributors for organizing this festival.
The cathedral’s courtyard and hall also hosted displays of traditional foods and handicrafts, with the participation of believers of all ages, creating a warm family atmosphere filled with joy and Christian brotherhood.
It is worth noting that the Festival of the Cross 2025 will continue for six days, with celebrations held daily in a different church in Ankawa, reaffirming the unity of the faithful and their steadfastness in belief in Christ, the crucified and risen Lord.
