Syriac–Assyrian Christians celebrate Feast of the Holy Cross across Beth Nahrin

BETH NAHRIN — On the Feast of the Holy Cross, Christians in several regions gathered for celebrations, including the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people across Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia).

One such community resides in Muharkan village, located in the countryside of Qabre Hewore (Qahtaniya), North and East Syria.

The festivities featured lighting fires, a Divine Liturgy at the local church, and traditional folk songs.

In the town of Maaloula, near Daramsuq (Damascus), Christians from across the country climbed to the top of the mountain to light fires, commemorating the historic celebration of Queen Helena, who is believed to have passed through the town on her journey to find the True Cross.

In Iraq, the Syrian Orthodox Umm al-Nour Church in Ankawa concluded its three-day Feast of the Cross festival, with Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Mosul Mor Nicodemus Daoud Matti Sharaf presiding over the Divine Liturgy.

In Turkey, particularly in the historic Tur Abdin region, the Feast of the Cross was also celebrated in areas with a significant Syriac Christian population, maintaining the tradition across the region.