Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East Mar Awa III Royel inaugurates 8th annual Mar Giorgis Festival in Diyana, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, encourages youth to embrace Christian values

DIYANA, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East Mar Awa III Royel officially opened the 8th annual Mar Giorgis Sports and Cultural Festival in Diyana (Soran) District in northern Erbil Governorate, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The event was attended by Halkurd Sheikh Najeeb, the overseer of the independent Diyana administration.

The following morning, Patriarch Mar Awa III led the morning prayer at the Mar Giorgis Church in Diyana, joined by all festival delegations and local parishioners. During his sermon, the Patriarch commended the ongoing activities of the festival’s eighth edition, offering spiritual guidance and encouragement to the youth. He urged them to embody the principles of Christian sportsmanship in their actions and interactions, and to live by the teachings of the Gospel.

In related festivities, the 4th annual Youth Festival, held under the patronage of Bishop Mar Timothy Musa al-Shamani, began its activities in the Cultural Center of Bartella. The event, themed “On Your Word, Cast the Net,” brought together over 650 young men and women, along with numerous bishops, priests, and monks, marking a significant gathering of faith and community.