Syriac Orthodox Diocese of Mor Mattai Monastery honors 340 outstanding students in Bashiqa

BASHIQA, Iraq — On Sunday, the Syriac Orthodox Diocese of Mor Mattai Monastery celebrated the achievements of 340 distinguished students in a special ceremony at Najm al-Mashriq Hall in the Nineveh Plains town of Bashiqa, Iraq. Presiding over the event was Metropolitan Timotheus Mousa al-Shamani, head of Mor Mattai Monastery, who led the celebration honoring the students’ academic excellence.

Held under the motto, Acquire gold in moderation, but seek knowledge without limit — for gold is prone to decay, while knowledge brings peace and fulfillment, the ceremony recognized outstanding students from the diocese’s parishes in Bartella, Bashiqa, Bahzani, Meraki, and surrounding villages of Mor Mattai Monastery. Honorees included students who excelled across all grade levels, from elementary to high school, as well as those who earned exemptions in non-final classes.

The evening began with a formal reception for the honorees, followed by an award ceremony organized by academic stage. The hall filled with applause, cheers, and traditional songs, as families proudly celebrated the accomplishments of their children.

In his remarks, Metropolitan al-Shamani praised the students’ perseverance and dedication, calling them role models for their peers. He expressed gratitude to parents for their encouragement and to teachers for their devotion to nurturing young minds, urging all students to pursue knowledge with equal determination.

The ceremony concluded with the archbishop offering thanks to priests and organizing committees whose careful efforts ensured the evening’s success. The diocese extended warm congratulations to all honorees, wishing them continued success in serving their families, communities, and Church.

As families and students departed, the sound of applause and joyful chants lingered — marking an evening that blended pride in cultural identity with a strong belief in education as a path to dignity and renewal.

Bashiqa and Bahzani, towns in Nineveh Plains, are home primarily to the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian and Yezidi peoples. During a 2022 visit to Bashiqa, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II inaugurated the new St. George Cultural and Educational Center, a multi-purpose complex that includes a kindergarten, a co-educational elementary school, and a cultural center.