IRAQ: Bartella honors Syriac Catholic Archbishop Emeritus Athanasius Matti Mattoka in solemn funeral service presided over by Patriarch Younan

BARTELLA, Iraq — A solemn funeral service was held in the Syriac town of Bartella, located in Nineveh Plains region of Iraq, to honor Syriac Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Baghdad Athanasius Matti Mattoka. The ceremony was presided over by Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan and drew a large assembly of bishops, clergy, and faithful.

On Thursday evening, Patriarch Younan presided over the funeral rites at St. George Church, paying tribute to the late archbishop for his lifelong dedication to the Church. Attendees included bishops from dioceses across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, priests from the Syriac Orthodox Church, monks, nuns, deacons, local officials, military personnel, and numerous parishioners.

In his heartfelt eulogy, Patriarch Younan highlighted Archbishop Mattoka’s significant contributions to the Church since his episcopal ordination in 1979. Serving the Archdiocese of Baghdad from 1984, Archbishop Mattoka was remembered for his pastoral, spiritual, and administrative leadership, including his efforts in reconstructing Church properties. Patriarch Younan also reflected on the tragic 2010 attack on Our Lady of Salvation Cathedral in Baghdad, a pivotal event during the archbishop’s final year in office.

The funeral adhered to the solemn traditions of the Syriac Antiochian liturgy, with prayers and hymns sung in Syriac. In a poignant procession, bishops, priests, and deacons carried Archbishop Matoka’s casket around the church’s main altar and through the aisles.

Following the service, Archbishop Matoka was laid to rest in the burial crypt beneath St. George Church, joining other late bishops and clergy who served the Syriac Catholic community in the region.