An Apostolic Visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain

By Thomas Abraham

The Patriarch presents a gift to Bahrain’s King Sh. Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa during their meeting on 15th December 2003

It was a cold evening of December 2003. The atmosphere at Bahrain airport’s V.I.P. Lounge was charged with immense pleasure, thrill and enthusiasm. Bahrain’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Islamic Affairs H.E. Shaikh Abdulla Bin Khalid Al-Khalifa, Islamic Affairs Ministry Under Secretary H.E.Shaikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Various Government officials, St. Peter’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church Vicar Fr. Shyjan Kuriakose and we, the Managing Committee members, were talking each other and was eagerly waiting for the arrival of Gulf Air flight No: 902 from Damascus to Bahrain, on the evening of Thursday, 11th December 03.

The mobile phones of the Managing Committee members were ringing relentlessly. The crowd assembled at the Church premises in Salmaniya was so anxious to know about the arrival of the Prince Patriarch of Antioch & All the East H.H. Moron Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas. It was the second apostolic visit of His Holiness to Bahrain, this time to attend the Silver Jubilee celebrations of St. Peter’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church.

The arrival of Gulf Air flight was announced and along with the Deputy Premier, we went to the arrival area of the Airport. The Under Secretary Sh. Khalifa went inside the flight to welcome the State Guest and his delegation. Ending the anxious waiting of us, finally H.H. The Patriarch appeared in the lounge with a blossom smile on his face. Deputy Premier Sh. Abdulla Al-Khalifa welcomed His Holiness with an embrace and presented him a bouquet. The Church Vicar, Secretary and Trustee also presented bouquets to His Holiness and the accompanying delegation.

The Patriarchal entourage first arrived at Hilton Hotel, where His Holiness’s accommodation was arranged. The Deputy Premier and the Under Secretary had a chat with His Holiness for little time and left the hotel. His Holiness and the delegation members Patriarchal First Secretary and Bahrain Church’s Diocesan Bishop H.G. Kuriakose Mor Julius and Patriarchal Assistant Mor Athanatius Elia Bahi got ready to travel to the Church.

The crowd assembled at St. Peter’s Church at Salmaniya welcomed their supreme pontiff with lighted candles and the Church choir was singing the song “Nallidaya Bharana Samatha Nee….” in Syriac and Malayalam. After completing the luthiniya, His Holiness spoke to the crowd and expressed his happiness in meeting his sheep.

Holy Qurbana

On next day morning (Friday, 12th December) His Holiness’s first Holy Qurbana was celebrated at the makeshift Madbaha of Indian School auditorium. A large crowd from all denominations in Bahrain and around the Gulf countries arrived at the auditorium early morning to attend the Holy Qurbana and got blessed. The Patriarch met the “Samajam” members after the Holy Qurbana, who came from Saudi Arabia to attend the programmes.

The second Holy Qurbana was celebrated at the Church on Sunday, 14th December in the evening. After the Holy Qurbana, His Holiness presented mementos to the founding members of the Church and those who completed twenty five and twenty years in the Church.

Public Reception & Silver Jubilee Celebration

The Friday evening witnessed the public reception to the Patriarch and the silver jubilee celebration of Bahrain St. Peter’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church. The Islamic Affairs Undersecretary Sh. Khalifa Al-Khalifa presided the meeting and the Ambassadors of different countries, several dignitaries and a large crowd attended the programme.

Visit to Baith Al-Quran and Hope Institute

His Holiness and the accompanying delegation visited the ‘Baith Al-Quran’, which is the house of rare collections of Quran and Arabic medieval times, on 13th Saturday morning. Later in the evening the Patriarch hosted a banquet to the Bahraini Government Ministers, Undersecretaries, Diplomats, Other dignitaries and Church members at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.

The Patriarch and the delegation visited the ‘Hope Institute for Disabled Children’ on 14th Sunday morning and presented them with a gift, as the silver jubilee charity projects of Bahrain St. Peter’s Church.

Speech at Baith Al-Quran

The Baith Al-Quaran authorities invited the Patriarch for a speech at their premises on 15th Monday evening, organized under the auspices of the Deputy Premier Sh. Abdulla Bin Khalid Al-Khalifa. Several Government officials and dignitaries attended this eloquent speech by His Holiness, which was about the Syrian Orthodox Church and its relation with Arabs.

During the apostolic visit, the Patriarch found time to meet the parishioners and took photograph with them.

Meeting the King Shaikh Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa

On 15th Monday morning, the Bahraini King Shaikh Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa received the visiting Patriarch and the accompanying delegation, at his palace. The King expressed his appreciation of the Syrian Orthodox community in Bahrain and their contribution to the welfare of the Kingdom of Bahrain. His Holiness thanked the King for allowing religious freedom to the Christians and establishing Churches for worship. The Deputy Premier Sh. Abdulla Bin Khalid Al-Khalifa and Islamic Affairs Undersecretary Sh. Khalifa Al-Khalifa attended the meeting.

Departure

After the five days of high-profile apostolic visit, The Patriarch and the accompanying delegation returned to Damascus on Tuesday, 16th December 2005. The high media coverage of this apostolic visit and the Government’s support and assistance rendered to the Church during this period, still remains afresh in the minds of the members of Bahrain St. Peter’s Church.

On behalf of the St. Peter’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Bahrain, I would like to extent our warm wishes and good health to His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, on this happy occasion of the silver jubilee celebration of Patriarchal enthronement. May the Almighty God shower His abundant blessings upon His Holiness during the years to come.
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