Assyrian Church of the East dedicates new Virgin Mary Church in London

LONDON — This weekend, the Assyrian Church of the East dedicated the Virgin Mary Church in Saint James district, London. The former cathedral was closed for eight years until it was purchased by the local Assyrian Church of the East congregation.  

The church was dedicated by the Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East Mar Awa III Royel, who has his seat in Arbca’ilo (Erbil) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).  

The ceremony was attended by more than five hundred members of the Assyrian community in England, as well as many guests from various countries. Priests from Australia, the US, Canada, and the Middle East took part in the dedication service and celebration, giving speeches on the importance of the Church as a symbol of faith and unity, its role in preserving religious identity and heritage, and spreading God’s message of love in society. 

After Patriarch Mar Awa illuminated the church’s cross, he planted a tree in the courtyard as a symbol of the establishment of the church and its connection with the faithful. Afterwards, he accepted congratulations from municipal and government officials. 

An event like this deserves celebration. However, it is also a sign of the exodus of the Assyrian faithful from their centuries-old homeland Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia). 

The Assyrian Church of the East is one of the oldest Christian denominations. Its origins date back to the Church of the East in the early centuries of Christianity. Over the centuries, schisms split the Church into the Assyrian Church of the East, the Chaldean Church, and the Ancient Church of the East.