Syriac people in Beth Nahrin and diaspora celebrate Epiphany

BETH NAHRIN— On 6th January, the Syriac (Aramean-Chaldean-Assyrian) people, in Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia) and diaspora, celebrated Epiphany, which coincides with Christmas, according to the Eastern Orthodox calendar. 

The Syriac people in Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia) still adhere to rituals of religious holidays, including Epiphany. Hundreds of Syriac people attended the Divine Liturgy in all churches across Syria, Iraq and Tur Abdin in Turkey.

The rituals include choosing three persons from the gathering of believers to carry the cross, Holy Bible and water bottle, blessed by the priest. The three chosen persons become best men for Christ in baptism.

Then, congratulations are offered and sweets are distributed in churches.

On Thursday evening, 5th January, Epiphany was also celebrated in Al-Qosh in Iraq, at Mor Gorgis Church in Al-Qosh, Nineveh Plain. 

 The celebration included the ritual prayer, followed by the Divine Liturgy which was presided over by Chaldean archbishop of Alqosh archdiocese Mor Bulos Thabet, assisted by Father Rudi al-Saffar, deacons and church choir.

The celebration was attended by a gathering of the town’s residents.

Epiphany is usually celebrated in other regions of Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia), including Lebanon and Turkey, especially the historic Tur Abdin region in southeastern Turkey, by holding Holy Liturgies and ritual prayers.  

Despite, wars and political and economic crises in Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia), especially Syria and Iraq, Syriac people adhered to celebrating Christmas and Epiphany.

Epiphany was also celebrated by the Syriac people across the world, including the Mor Afrem Cathedral in Södertälje, Sweden.

The Holy Liturgy  was presided over by Mor Philoxenus Mattias Nayis and Mor Dioskorus Benjamin Ataş, in addition to Khuroyo Yausef Ataş and Khuroyo Malke Yilmaz.