Breaking of Holy Fast of Nineveh at Church of Saint Jacob of Nisibis in Zalin, North and East Syria

ZALIN, Syria — On the occasion of the Holy Fast of Nineveh, a large number of Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) believers from the homeland and abroad gathered at the Church of Saint Jacob of Nisibis in the Zalin (Qamishli), North and East Syria, for the fasting liturgy.

Suroyo TV covered the prayer ceremonies and interviewed the priest of the church, Father Ahu Ibrahim. Father Ibrahim stated that the liturgy was held to mark the end of the Holy Fast of Nineveh and to allow the believers to participate in the Divine Liturgy, emphasizing the importance of fasting and learning from the experience of the Prophet Jonah.

Father Ibrahim prayed to God to protect the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people and all of humanity from war, crisis, and disaster.

The Fast of Nineveh symbolizes the story of Prophet Jonah when God sent him to the city of Nineveh. Fearing the people, Jonah tried to escape but was swallowed by a whale for three days. From the belly of the whale, he prayed to God and was saved. Afterwards, he went to the people of Nineveh and urged them to repent for their sins.