The Third Day of the 2025 Festival of the Cross in Ankawa
The third day of the Festival of the Cross, jointly organized by the Eparchies of Erbil, was solemnly observed on 11 September 2025, with hearts filled with faith and joy, united as one Christian family on a shared spiritual and ecumenical journey.
Amid the splendor of the Cross and the radiance of its love, the faithful assembled at St. Shmoni Church to celebrate this blessed feast in an atmosphere imbued with devotion and unity. The gathering commenced with a pastoral address delivered by His Excellency Bishop Nathaniel Nizar Samaan, Bishop of the Syriac Catholic Eparchy of Hadiab, who welcomed the faithful and guests, describing Ankawa as “a church mosaic adorned with diverse liturgies and a beacon illuminated by the faith of its people.” He emphasized that those present raised “one voice and one heart to glorify the Cross of the Lord, the sign through which humanity overcomes weakness and under whose banner the Church is united in the love of Christ.” He concluded by extending his gratitude and blessing to all participants.
The celebration was graced by the presence of His Holiness Mar Awa III Royel, Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East; His Excellency Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda, Archbishop of the Chaldean Eparchy of Erbil; and His Excellency Bishop Nicodemus Daoud Matti Sharaf, Bishop of the Syriac Orthodox Eparchy of Mosul, Kirkuk, and the Kurdistan Region, together with a number of priests, nuns, and a multitude of faithful whose hearts overflowed with prayer and hope.
Throughout the spiritual evening, sacred hymns intertwined with Syriac liturgical prayers offered by the priests and deacons, accompanied by meditative reflections that extolled the Holy Cross. The choirs lifted their voices in praise of the Wood of Salvation, transforming the church into a true house of prayer filled with peace, and the hearts of the faithful into living altars alive with Christian joy.
The evening concluded with the ceremonial lighting of the festival torch in the church courtyard, where the congregation joined in a simple yet joyous fellowship as one body gathered around the Cross of Life. The festival stands as a living testimony that the Cross is not merely a symbol of suffering, but also of new life, unity, and a hope renewed each day within the heart of the Church.
