Heads of Churches congratulate Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East Mar Awa Royel on his ordination

ANKAWA, Iraq — During the ordination of Mar Awa Royel as Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East on 13 September at Mar Youhanna Cathedral in Ankawa, letters and telegrams congratulating the Catholicos-Patriarch were read aloud.

Among the well-wishers was the Patriarchate Advisor for the Syriac Orthodox Church Bishop Mor Gregorius Saliba Chamoun, who read a congratulatory message on behalf of the Syriach Orthodox Church. The message wished Mar Royel success during the trying and difficult circumstances in Iraq and the Middle East. It also expressed the hope that the bonds of brotherhood and rapprochement between the two Churches would be deepened for the good of the Church and believers.

Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church Louis Raphaël I Sako sent a congratulatory message to Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Awa Royel. He offered regrets for his absence from the ordination as he was out of the country on Church business. Patriarch Sako expressed the Chaldean Church’s willingness to cooperate with the new Catholicos-Patriarch and expressed openness to any service or dialogue with the Assyrian Church of the East.

In the same vein, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and all the East Ignatius Ephrem Joseph III Younan extended warm congratulations to Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Awa Royel, hoping that his efforts would bear fruit in the service of the Church of Christ.

The Pontifical Ambassador to Iraq, Monsignor Mitia Skovar, also congratulated the Catholicos-Patriarch on his ordination and wished him success in his duties.