Archdiocese of Iraq Celebrates Ordination of 5 Sons

“Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths.” Psalm 25:4

The Diocese of Iraq has again shown it is committed to growing the message of the Assyrian Church of the East’s holy fathers, with the ordination of five sons who have been called to serve in the Lord’s vineyard.

At Mar Gewargis Parish, Kirkuk, north of the capital Baghdad, His Beatitude Mar Gewargis Sliwa, Archbishop of Iraq, Jordan and Russia laid his blessed right hand on Wissam Dawed Dawed and raised him to the ranking of Deacon.

The ordination took place after celebrations for the Feast of the Epiphany (Denkha d’Marn) on 6 January 2011.

Deacon Wissam will now assist Rev. Gewargis Yousep, parish priest of Mar Gewargis Parish.

Further north in Ankawa, Arbil another ceremony was held for the ordination of three sons of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Church of the East.

His Beatitude Mar Gewargis ordained Tony Johnson and Ninp Ramzi as deacons for Saint John the Baptist Parish.

Recard George, 14 years old, was also ordained as a sub deacon (Hewpethyaqna) for the parish.

Prior to the ordinations, Holy Mass was held by His Beatitude and attended by Rev. Semaan Gewargis and Rev. Ninos Esha of Saint John the Baptist Parish, as well as many deacons and a large congregation of Arbil’s faithful.

The ceremonies round off a celebratory Christmas period in the Archdiocese of Iraq, and follow the ordination of Deacon Martin Nabil at Mar Odisho Church, Baghdad in the week leading up to the feast of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

His Beatitude prayed for the Lord to bless the new deacons and was especially delighted in the youth’s interest in helping to continue the message of Jesus Christ, the Son of our Lord.

May God strengthen them to complete the much-needed tasks that will be requested of them, and guide them to serve our holy Church.