Mar Thoma the Apostle Parish Concludes Its Annual Festival with a Eucharistic Celebration

Mar Thoma the Apostle Parish wrapped up its annual festival on Sunday, July 5, 2026, with the celebration of the Holy Mass in honor of St. Thomas the Apostle, the patron saint of the church. The celebration took place in a joyful atmosphere with the participation of a large number of parishioners.

The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Bashar Matti Warda, Chaldean Archbishop of Erbil, in the presence of Bishop Nicodemus Daoud Matti Sharaf, Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of the Kurdistan Region, Mosul, and Kirkuk. He was joined by Fr. Shwan Hanna, pastor of Mar Thoma the Apostle Parish, along with several priests, deacons, and a large gathering of the faithful.

A special highlight of the celebration was the presence of the relics of St. Thomas the Apostle. At the end of the Mass, the faithful had the opportunity to venerate the relics and ask for his intercession, praying that the Lord would continue to strengthen His Church and keep His people steadfast in faith, hope, and love.

The Eucharistic celebration marked the grand finale of the parish’s four-day annual festival, which featured a variety of spiritual, cultural, and social activities. The festival brought the parish community together, strengthened the bonds of fellowship, and reflected the Church’s mission of serving people and building a united community of faith.