Fast of Nineveh celebrated in Hasakah and Qabre Hewore

HASAKAH / QABRE HEWORE, Syria – Under the patronage of the Syriac Sect Council and in the presence of Father Simon Issa, Priest of the Virgin Mary Church, the Religious Education Center held a spiritual evening marking the Nineveh Fast in the town of Qabre Hewore. The fasting period was from 10 to 12 February.

The three day fast commemorates the three days that the Prophet Jonah spent inside the belly of the Great Fish and the subsequent fast and repentance of the Ninevites following a message of warning delivered to them by Prophet Jonah.

The spiritual evening began with the divine prayer, followed by a film about the Prophet Jonah. The film also showed how sin kept the people of Nineveh away from God, before they repented. Their repentance was approved by God who saved them. Finally, these people changed and became God’s people.

The evening also included church hymns inspired by the occasion performed by the church choir. Following the hymns, a play entitled “Repentance” was performed, it included the real meaning of repentance.

At the end of the evening, the priest and chairman of the Syriac Sect Council distributed gifts to everyone who carries the name Jonah, Ninos, Nineb, or Nineveh.

The Syriac Women’s Union in Hasakah also celebrated the Fast of Nineveh on Wednesday at the Bethnahrin Young Women’s Academy. The celebration including a telling of the story of the Prophet Jonah and the repentance of the people of Nineveh. Many kinds of sweets specifically served at the breaking in this fast were presented to the attendees.