8th anniversary of the reopening of Mor Elias Church in Amuda celebrated

AMUDA, Beth Nahrin — Archbishop of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Gozarto (Jazira) and the Euphrates Mor Maurice Amsih yesterday presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Mar Elias Church in Amuda city, Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. The celebration marked the eighth anniversary of the church’s reopening, after it had remained closed for more than 40 years. 

A large crowd of faithful from the Syriac (Chaldean-Assyrian-Aramean) people attended the liturgy, coming from various towns and cities across the Gozarto (Jazira) Canton. 

The occasion coincided with the Feast Day of Mar Elias, which is observed annually on July 20. 

The origins of Mar Elias Church in Amuda date back to 1902. It was officially opened in 1927 and was reopened in 2017 under the patronage of Mor Maurice Amsih and the parish council of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Zalin (Qamishli). Since then, the church has once again welcomed worshippers after decades of closure.