On October 24, 2023, the Church of the Arabian Peninsula turned festive as it celebrated the opening of the Extraordinary Jubilee of St. Arethas and Companions on the occasion of the 1500^th anniversary of their martyrdom. A Solemn Pontifical Mass was presided by Bishop Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T., apostolic vicar of Northern Arabia, and concelebrated by Bishop Paul Hinder, OFMCap., apostolic administrator emeritus of Northern Arabia, and Bishop Claudio Lurati, M.C.C.J., apostolic vicar of Alexandria in Egypt. Thirty priests representing the different parishes of the Vicariate of Northern Arabia also participated at the solemn liturgy, led by its vicar general, Fr. Ben Barrameda.

Prior to the Jubilee Mass, the Holy Door of the Parish of St. Arethas and Companions was blessed and opened in a moving ceremony by Bishop Aldo Berardi, along with Bishop Paul Hinder and Bishop Claudio Lurati. Following the Decree issued in August by the Apostolic Penitentiary in the name of Pope Francis, pilgrimage to the Holy Door during the jubilee year grants the faithful a Plenary Indulgence on satisfaction of the three usual conditions (Confession, Communion, Prayer for the intentions of the Pope). Bishop Aldo also blessed the shrine of St. Arethas which is expected to host the holy relics of the great Arab martyr, a magnificent gift of the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I, to the Christian communities in the Gulf.

Across the northern vicariate, the different parishes celebrated the liturgy in honor of the holy martyrs. These various celebrations marked the official opening of the extraordinary jubilee in honor of St. Arethas and Companions being jointly celebrated by the north and the south vicariates of the Arabian Gulf.

In his homily at the Jubilee Mass, Bishop Aldo emphasized the importance of remembering the group of Arab Christians who were martyred for their steadfast faith in Christ and who can be considered as ancestors in the faith of the present generation of Christians in the Gulf. He also exhorted the faithful to renew their missionary spirit and deepen their faith, to bear witness to Christ and the Gospel by living a holy and consistent life.

At the conclusion of the holy mass, Bishop Aldo imparted to the faithful the Papal Blessing with attached Plenary Indulgence in the name of the Pope. The solemn celebration also featured hymns in honor of the martyrs which were especially composed for the inaugural mass of the Jubilee.  

The festivities continued the following day with choirs from several communities performing original songs in different languages as tribute to St. Arethas and Companions. The ministry of Altar Servers presented a stirring stage play on the life and martyrdom of the Najran saints, to the delight of the congregation and guests.

With the success of the weeklong celebrations inaugurating the Jubilee, the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia looks forward to a profound year of grace and blessings.

October 24 begins jubilee celebrations for the 1,500th anniversary of the Martyrs of Arabia and an opportunity to “better understand our vocation as a Catholic Church in this region”.

By La Croix International staff |
October 23, 2023

Kuwait-based Bishop Aldo Berardi of the Vicariate Apostolic in Northern Arabia has announced the start of the jubilee for the 1,500th anniversary of the Martyrs of Arabia and expressed the hope that the period would be one of grace for Christian communities in the Arabian Gulf.

“We consider this year to be a year of grace for the entire Vicariate and for all Christian communities in the Arabian Gulf. We celebrate with faith the memory of our Christian ancestors who gave their lives for Christ, faithful to the end”, said Bishop Berardi, whose vicariate covers Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.

The year commemorates the jubilee of the Martyrs of Arabia (523-2023). On October 24, the Catholic Church in the Arabian Peninsula, which includes the Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Arabia led by the Capuchin Bishop Paolo Martinelli, will commemorate the martyrdom of Saint Arethas and his companions, starting the Holy Year across all parishes.

Saint Arethas and his companions, venerated in both Catholic and Orthodox churches, were Arab Christians from the ancient city of Najran in southern Arabia (modern-day Saudi Arabia). They suffered martyrdom in 523 AD during the systematic persecution of Christians by King Dhu Nuwas of Himyar in present-day Yemen. The persecution involved burning churches, forced conversions, and the execution of those who refused to renounce their Christian faith. Saint Arethas was beheaded, along with about a hundred companions, and more than 4,000 Christians were martyred in this tragic episode. Arethas, whose Arabic name was Al-Harith bin Ka’b, was born in 427 AD and served as prefect of the predominantly Christian city until his martyrdom at the age of 95.

“Opportunity to renew our missionary spirit and deepen our faith”

“We see our continuity with the Christian communities and monasteries that emerged in this region. The archaeological finds confirm this for us. This anniversary year is an opportunity to renew our missionary spirit and deepen our faith. We, in turn, must bear witness to Christ and the Gospel by living a holy and consistent life. In the parishes and prayer groups of all religious denominations and ethnic groups, there is a general effort to engage in the spirit of the Holy Year. Even the children in the catechism are infected by this general enthusiasm,” said Bishop Berardi.

“We have Christian predecessors in these countries who give us an example. Now it is up to us to be witnesses of the Risen One in this day and age. Inspired by the Arab martyrs, the Christians of the Arabian Peninsula today are called to be ‘everyday martyrs’ who live in the little things of life, “Bear a living witness to Christ and his message in everyday life,” he added.

The opening of the Holy Doors at Kuwait Co-Cathedral and Bahrain Cathedral will mark the Holy Year, which begins on October 24 and ends on October 23 next year. Pope Francis has granted a plenary indulgence to those who undertake a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Awali, Bahrain, the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, or the Parish of St. Arethas.

“Our life is a pilgrimage. Our pilgrimage is often not easy, because of the difficulties of life, the environment and the society in which we live,” said Bishop Berardi highlighting the possibility of following Jesus and the Gospel by expressing love for the Father and allowing the guidance of the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Year offers us “the opportunity to better understand our vocation as a Catholic Church in this region,” he said.

The Apostolic Penitentiary has authorized Bishop Berardi to grant the pope’s “apostolic blessing with plenary indulgence” to all the faithful present who show deep remorse and are moved by love” after the celebration of mass on an appropriate day of the Holy Year.

To promote awareness and reverence for the Martyrs of Arabia, a book titled “The Unforgotten Martyrs of Arabia,” initially published in English in 2020, has been translated into various languages and republished.

A relic of Saint Arethas, gifted by Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, is expected to arrive in Bahrain in November. The return of this relic after nearly fourteen centuries is considered a significant blessing for contemporary Christian communities in the Gulf.

The Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia is home to around 2.5 million Catholics, primarily composed of foreign workers from diverse nations and cultures.

*The original article published online by La Croix International can be accessed here.

24 October 2023 – by Dario Salvi

*The original article published in Asia News can be accessed here.

Manama (Agenzia Fides) – There are special events that mark the path of the Catholic Christian community of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia: in particular, today, October 24, all the parishes of the Catholic Church of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia are preparing to celebrate solemn Masses for the liturgical feast of the martyrdom of Saint Arethas (see Fides, 20/10/2023).

“This evening we will celebrate the Jubilee of Saint Arethas and his fellow martyrs. Then on November 4th the Holy Door of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Bahrain will be opened and on November 9th that of the Cathedral of Abu Dhabi”, Bishop Aldo Berardi of the Order of the Fathers of the Holy Trinity and of the Captives (O.SS.T.) tells Fides about the preparations for this important event, which commemorates the 1500th anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint Arethas ( 523-2023), together with his Companions, about 4,000 Arab Christians from the ancient city of Najran in southern Arabia, today’s Saudi Arabia.

“There are no signs or religious symbols in the churches of the Vicariate, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, they are banned except in Bahrain,” explains Bishop Berardi, Vicar Apostolic of Northern Arabia. “I had a large cross put on the new cathedral to show that it is a church.” The Cathedral is outside the city, and to make it easier for the faithful to reach it, a special bus route has been set up, “with the inscription: Cathedral,” adds Bishop Berardi.

“The Vicariate of Northern Arabia consists of four countries with different realities. In the so-called authorized countries, such as Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, there are churches and priests, but there is a lack of space and we would like to build more places of worship. Bahrain is the most open of the four countries, while the other three are still very restricted”, said Bishop Berardi, who also mentioned the commitment to education in this context: “The Sacred Heart School has existed in Bahrain for over 70 years led by the Indian Apostolic Carmelite Sisters and attended by two thousand children. Today the school has a huge campus”.

The bishop cited the inauguration of the Holy Door of the Co-Cathedral of the Holy Family in Kuwait as another important event in the Catholic community of the Apostolic Vicariate. “On September 29, we celebrated the inauguration of the Holy Door in the Co-Cathedral of Kuwait, which was attended by all the faithful of the parishes who prayed and sang specially created songs”, said Bishop Berardi regarding the celebrations which he presided over together with the other priests of the Vicariate.

“But in Kuwait,” the bishop explained about the current setbacks, “there is no political stability, freedom is increasingly restricted. We are also in the process of reviewing many things because new conditions have been created for us. Everything is complicated, the laws are changing constantly, fundamentalists have also appeared on the scene. We have four parishes: the former Cathedral of the Holy Family, the small church that gave rise to the Shrine of Our Lady of Arabia where a large statue brought by the Carmelites is preserved which this year will celebrate 75 years of its presence. Over the years we have sought land to build a church in the area, but agreements with the government ultimately fell through. But we would need many more churches to accommodate all believers!”.

Bishop Berardi adds there are also three schools in Kuwait: one run by the Carmelite sisters, one by the Salesians and another by the Lebanese nuns of the Rosary. “They are not called Catholic schools, Christian religion cannot be taught here. They are mixed private schools open to all, Muslims and Christians. However, we know that they are Christian schools because the nuns wear their religious habit”. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 24/10/2023)

*The original article on Fides online can be accessed here.

28 September 2023

HOLY FAMILY CO-CATHEDRAL, KUWAIT

On 28^th September, 2023 His Excellency Bishop Aldo Berardi in the presence of His Grace Archbishop Eugene Nugent, Apostolic Nuncio for Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, Rev. Fr. Antony, Chancellor,  Rev. Fr. Johnny Lonis Episcopal Vicar of Syro Malabar, Rev. Fr. John Thundiyath Core Episcopal of Malankara, Rev. Monsignor Raymond (Maronites), Rev. Fr. Yassar (Coptic) along with other clergy, nuns and laypeople inaugurated the HOLY DOOR OF JUBILEE at 6.30pm. 

Prior to the commencement of the inauguration, the main door of the Co-Cathedral was closed and the faithful were requested to assemble at the entrance. The BLESSING AND INAUGURATION OF THE HOLY DOOR OF THE JUBILEE began with a solemn procession. The entire service was conducted by His Excellency Bishop Aldo Berardi, the decree (given by Pope Francis) was read by Rev. Fr. Antony, the chancellor, on the occasion of Extraordinary Jubilee of St. Arethas and Companions, which grants us the rare privilege of PLENARY INDULGENCE in the Gulf, especially in Kuwait. His Grace Archbishop Eugene and His Excellency Bishop Aldo blessed the congregation at the entrance and thereafter  made a solemn entrance into the Co-Cathedral after the door was opened.

The liturgy for the Eucharistic Sacrifice was of St. Arethas and Companions.  His Excellency Bishop Aldo in his homily extolled the faithful to be living witnesses of the Good News to one another by our way of life.  He invited everyone to participate actively during this jubilee year and to renew their life and commitment to God by living a holy life. 

The Indulgence leaflet, Jubilee passport and Jubilee prayer were made available for the people in our parishes. 

LET THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY BEGIN, LET THE PILGRIMAGE BRING YOU CLOSER TO CHRIST.

LET THE JUBILEE YEAR BE A BLESSING AND TIME OF GRACE.

The Holy Doors of the JUBILEE are AVAILABLE at the following:

• Parish of St. Arethas and Companions, Martyrs
• St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Abu Dhabi
• Our Lady of Arabia Cathedral, Bahrain
• Holy Family Co-Cathedral, Kuwait

To see more photos of the Jubilee Opening celebration in Kuwait, please click here.

The Catholic Church in the Arabian Peninsula prepares to open a year-long Jubilee celebration to commemorate the 1,500th anniversary of the Martyrs of Arabia, in hopes of strengthening the faith of the 2.5 million Catholic faithful in the region.

By Devin Watkins

The Church in the Arabian Peninsula is set to embark on a Holy Year for the 1,500th anniversary of the Martyrs of Arabia (523-2023).

“We consider this year to be a year of grace for the entire Vicariate and for all Christian communities in the Gulf,” said Bishop Aldo Berardi, Vicar Apostolic of Northern Arabia, speaking to Fides news agency. “We celebrate with faith the memory of our Christian ancestors who gave their lives for Christ, faithful to the end.”

The celebration is a joint endeavor between the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, and the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, led by Bishop Paolo Martinelli.

Martyrs of Arabian Peninsula

The Jubilee officially begins on 24 October, with the commemoration of Saint Arethas and his Companions, known for their martyrdom.

Historical records reveal that they were Arab Christians from the ancient Christian city of Najran in southern Arabia, modern-day Saudi Arabia.

Saint Arethas, whose Arabic name was Al-Harith bin Ka’b, and his companions are venerated in both Catholic and Orthodox Churches. He served as the prefect of Najran until his martyrdom at the age of 95.

In 523 AD, he and his companions endured martyrdom at the hands of King Dhu Nuwas, who started a violent persecution of Christians in the region. Their unwavering faith and sacrifice serve as an inspiration to contemporary Christians in the Arabian Peninsula.

Renewing missionary spirit

The Jubilee offers an opportunity to rediscover the legacy of the martyrs of the Arabian Peninsula and to find consolation in their stories of commitment to Christ, even in the face of martyrdom.

“We see our continuity with the Christian communities and monasteries that emerged in this region,” said Bishop Berardi. “This anniversary year is an opportunity to renew our missionary spirit and deepen our faith. We, in turn, must bear witness to Christ and the Gospel by living a holy and consistent life.”

In the spirit of the Jubilee, Holy Doors will be opened at the Kuwait co-Cathedral and the Bahrain Cathedral.

Pilgrimage and plenary indulgence

Pope Francis issued a decree in August 2023 to officially open the Jubilee of Saint Arethas and his Companions in the Arabian Peninsula, which spans from 24 October 2023 to 23 October 2024.

The decree also grants a plenary indulgence to the faithful who undertake a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Awali, Bahrain, the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, or the Parish of St. Arethas.

“Our life is a pilgrimage,” said Bishop Berardi. “Our pilgrimage is often not easy, because of the difficulties of life, the environment and the society in which we live. But it is always possible to follow Jesus and the Gospel if we express our love for the Father and when we allow ourselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit.”

To foster a deeper connection with the region’s Christian martyrs, a book entitled “The Unforgotten Martyrs of Arabia”, first published in English in 2020, has been translated into several languages.

A relic of Saint Arethas is also expected to arrive in Bahrain in November 2023, marking the return of the saint’s remains to the Arabian Peninsula after nearly fourteen centuries.

In the Arabian Peninsula, which is home to approximately 2.5 million Catholic faithful, the Jubilee for the 1,500th anniversary of the Martyrs of Arabia offers a reminder of the region’s rich Christian history and an invitation for a renewal of faith.

*The original article on Vatican News can be accessed here.

Friday, 20 October 2023

by Antonella Prenna

Manama (Agenzia Fides) – “We consider this year to be a year of grace for the entire Vicariate and for all Christian communities in the Arabian Gulf. We celebrate with faith the memory of our Christian ancestors who gave their lives for Christ, faithful to the end”, said Bishop Aldo Berardi, Vicar Apostolic in Northern Arabia, to Fides, announcing the start of the Jubilee for the 1,500th anniversary of the Martyrs of Arabia (523-2023). A time of remembrance of the martyrs jointly led by the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia (with Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia) and the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern led by the Capuchin Bishop Paolo Martinelli (see Fides, 2/10/2023).

On October 24, 2023, the Catholic Church in the Arabian Peninsula will celebrate the commemoration of the martyrdom of Saint Arethas and his companions with the opening of the Holy Year in all parishes. In this regard, Bishop Berardi of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity and the Captives (O.SS.T.), emphasizes that the Holy Year offers a favorable opportunity to rediscover the memory of the martyrs of the Arabian Peninsula and to find consolation in their stories of faith and closeness to Christ in martyrdom. “We see our continuity with the Christian communities and monasteries that emerged in this region. The archaeological finds confirm this for us. This anniversary year is an opportunity to renew our missionary spirit and deepen our faith. We, in turn, must bear witness to Christ and the Gospel by living a holy and consistent life. In the parishes and prayer groups of all religious denominations and ethnic groups, there is a general effort to engage in the spirit of the Holy Year. Even the children in the catechism are infected by this general enthusiasm,” reports the Apostolic Vicar.

Saint Arethas and his companions are venerated in all Catholic and Orthodox churches. Historical sources report that they were Arab Christians from the ancient Christian city of Najran in southern Arabia (modern-day Saudi Arabia) who suffered martyrdom in 523 AD. Arethas, whose Arabic name was Al-Harith bin Ka’b, was born in 427 AD and served as prefect of the predominantly Christian city until his martyrdom at the venerable age of ninety-five. In the sixth century, the king of Himyar (in present-day Yemen), Dhu Nuwas, began a systematic persecution of Christians in southern Arabia. He burned down churches, forced people to convert, and killed those who refused to renounce their Christian faith. After taking Najran, Dhu Nuwas ordered priests, deacons, nuns and laypeople to be burned alive, and then sent men, women and children to the same cruel fate. Saint Arethas was beheaded along with about a hundred of his companions. It is believed that more than 4,000 Christians were martyred in this persecution. “We have Christian predecessors in these countries who give us an example,” says Bishop Berardi, underlining the importance of the anniversary of Saint Arethas. “Now it is up to us,” he adds, “to be witnesses of the Risen One in this day and age. Inspired by the Arab martyrs, the Christians of the Arabian Peninsula today are called to be ‘everyday martyrs’ who live in the little things of life, “bear a living witness to Christ and his message in everyday life.”

On the occasion of the Holy Year, the Holy Doors will be opened at the Kuwait Co-Cathedral and the Bahrain Cathedral. In addition, on August 29, 2023, at the request of the two Vicars Apostolic of the Gulf Region, Pope Francis issued the Decree opening the Jubilee of Saint Arethas and his Companions in the Arabian Peninsula, which begins on October 24, 2023 and ends on October 23, 2024. The decree grants a plenary indulgence to the faithful who at any time undertake a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Awali, Bahrain, the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, or the Parish of St. Arethas.

“Our life is a pilgrimage,” emphasizes Bishop Berardi. “Our pilgrimage,” he adds, “is often not easy, because of the difficulties of life, the environment and the society in which we live. But it is always possible to follow Jesus and the Gospel if we express our love for the Father and when we allow ourselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit. When this happens, our pilgrimage becomes a blessing. And the Holy Year offers us ‘the opportunity to better understand our vocation as a Catholic Church in this region’”.

The Apostolic Penitentiary has issued a corresponding decree granting the Vicar Apostolic of Northern Arabia, Bishop Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T., the authority to grant the “Apostolic Blessing with Plenary Indulgence” in the name of the Pope “to all the faithful present who show deep remorse and are moved by love” after the celebration of the Holy Mass on an appropriate day of the Holy Year. In order to raise awareness of the Martyrs of Arabia in the local context and promote reverence for them in the communities of the two vicariates, the book entitled “The Unforgotten Martyrs of Arabia”, first published in English in 2020, has been translated into several languages and published.

A holy relic of Saint Arethas, a gift from Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, is expected to arrive in Bahrain in November 2023. According to tradition, the relics of Saint Arethas and his fellow martyrs from Najran were kept in a magnificent cube-shaped shrine that became a popular pilgrimage site for Arab Christians in late antiquity. The shrine was destroyed in the 7th century when Christians were expelled from southern Arabia. It is believed that many of the relics were taken to various monasteries and churches in Syria and Iraq. The relic of Saint Arethas eventually ended up on Mount Athos in Greece. The return of his relic to the Arabian Peninsula after almost fourteen centuries is therefore considered an extraordinary blessing for contemporary Christian communities in the Gulf.

Around 2.5 million Catholic believers live in the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, mostly foreign workers from different nations and cultures. (Agenzia Fides, 20/10/2023)

*The original article that appeared online in Agenzia Fides, on 20 October 2023, can be accessed here.

The official Jubilee Hymn of the Extraordinary Jubilee of St. Arethas and Companions was launched today, 17th October 2023. Entitled “In The Light of Christ,” the hymn affirms Jesus Christ as our Light and Savior. As He revealed to His disciples, He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We are called to walk with Him and be courageous witnesses of His Love and Grace.

The Christ of the Arab saints and martyrs 1,500 years ago is the same Savior who continues to bless us and make us courageous in our personal vocations within the Holy Church today. On this great Jubilee of St. Arethas and Companions, we are all invited to come together in the light of Christ and allow our love for God and our faith — to flourish even more across Arabia.

In the Light of Christ

Intro
In the light of Christ we come together
With Saint Arethas and companion martyrs.
Whose love for God stood the test of all time
And prepared the way for us to flourish
Across Arabia.

Verse 1
“I am the light of the world” Jesus said.
We shall never walk in darkness with Him
But forever possess the light of life
Allow our souls to be filled with His light,
And let that light burn on in our souls.

Verse 2
God’s light enkindled the hearts of our martyrs
With great zeal for the salvation of souls,
We walk with them as living witnesses,
By the power and glory of God’s Name,
By the power and glory of God’s Name.

Verse 3
We have been called by Jesus Christ
To walk with grace as children of the light.
With the flame of faith alive in our hearts.
The living light which gives light to every man:
Jesus is the light, He is our great light.

Bridge
Whoever came to be in Him found life,
When the Lord comes, we go out to meet Him
With all the saints and martyrs in heaven.

Final Refrain
In the light of Christ we come together
With Saint Arethas and companion martyrs.
Whose love for God stood the test of all time
And prepared the way for us to flourish
Across Arabia
we flourish across Arabia.