Chaldean Catholic Church's Patriarch Louis Raphaël Sako has urged Iraq's Christians to dedicate their annual 'Nineveh Fast' to praying for peace and stability in the Middle East and globally. Leading the three-day fast, known as the Baotha d'Ninwaye or “Petition of the Ninevites,” Syriac Christians are observing it from January 22-24, coinciding with the run-up to Lent.

Patriarch Sako, elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in 2018, is calling on believers to lift their prayers for peace in Iraq, the Holy Land, Ukraine, and worldwide. Emphasizing the importance of seeking reconciliation and fraternal relations, he urged fervent prayers for world leaders to prioritize peace over war.

The Nineveh Fast commemorates the three days that prophet Jonah spent in a whale's belly and the fasting in Nineveh after its residents heeded Jonah's call to repentance. Syriac Christians, facing the challenges of war and instability, observe the fast with various forms of abstinence, such as refraining from food and drink from midnight to noon or avoiding meat and animal products throughout.

These ancient Syriac Christian communities, rooted in theological and liturgical traditions in the Syriac language, trace their origins back to the earliest days of Christianity. Despite facing devastation due to conflicts, they maintain a fragile presence in the Middle East, with substantial communities in southwest India and the diaspora.

Syriac, a dialect of Aramaic—the language of Jesus, is a linguistic connection for these communities. The call for peace through the Nineveh Fast resonates as they navigate challenges, emphasizing their commitment to a peaceful and tolerant world.