St. James Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Patriarchal Vicariate of Doha – Qatar

              St. James Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Doha was consecrated in the name of St. James, brother of Jesus Christ, as one of the churches under the Holy throne of St. Peter of Antioch and the East.Jacobite Christian Believers from India who came to Qatar in search of a livelihood were longing to have a church for their worship since the beginning of 1970s.The commencement of the first Syrian Jacobite Congregation in Qatar was initiated by the present, Catholicose of Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church, His Beatitude Dr. Baselious Thomas I on 4 May 1979. The church formed in the name of St. Peter, disciple of Jesus became home for worship by the Jacobite and Knanaya Christians from Malankara who had come to Qatar for their livelihood. From 1979 till 2001, rented buildings in different parts of Doha were used for worships.As the number of worshippers increased gradually, the idea of having separate churches emerged within the Jacobites and Knanaya believers.As per the decree No. E96/01 dated 24 March 2001 issued by Late Lamented His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, The Patriarch of Antioch, the St. James Church Doha, came into existence, coinciding with the festival of Palm Sunday.  It was Rev. Fr. Samson Meloth, Vicar of St. Peter’s SOC Bahrain, who conducted the first Holy Mass. 

            In 2005, the Government of Qatar allocated land for Christian Churches in Abu Hamour area which later became the Religious complex. Thereafter, the foundation stone for the new church building was laid by His Grace Gheevarghese Mor Athanasios on 27 January 2006.The newly built Church was consecrated on 26 February 2009 by Late Lamented His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, The Patriarch of Antioch.The Holy relic (remains) of late Bishop Moran Mor Ignatius Elias Third, buried in Manjinikkara, was installed in the church on 29 September 2016 by the Patriarchal Vicar of the Church then, His Grace Dr. Anthonios Yakub Metropolitan. Subsequently, every Second Saturday is being celebrated as monthly festival by the parish.The main altar of the church is dedicated to St. James, brother of Jesus and the first Chief priest of Jerusalem, Apostle, Virtuous, and Sahada. While the altar on the northern side is dedicated to Mother Mary, the southern side altar is dedicated to Parumala Thirumeni. This Holy Church is one among the very few churches dedicated to St. James in the Holy Jacobite Church. The rare Holy ‘Thaksa’ procession in Jacobite community is observed during the month of June along with the main feast of the parish.

Main Feasts

29 January – Feast of the stone

12 February – Memorial Feast of Elias Thrithiyan Bava (Manjinikkara)

7 May – Memorial Feast of St. George

11 June – Memorial Feast of Yacob Sleeha (St. James)

15 August – Memorial Feast of Mother Mary

7 September - Feast of eight days fasting (Mother Mary)

1 October – Memorial Feast of Yeldo Mor Baselious Bava

5 November – Memorial Feast of Parumala Gregorious Thirumeni

Note : The Parish Vicar / Managing Committee have authorised to change date near to Friday for Members convenience. 

Worship timings

Friday - 8 AM to 10AM  : Holy Mass

Sunday – 7.15 PM to 9.00 PM  : : Holy Mass

Wednesday - 8 PM to 9.00 PM  : Evening Prayer followed by Intercessory Prayer

First Wednesday - 7:15 PM to 9:00PM Evening Prayer, Intercessory Prayer, Preparatory Meditation for the beginning of the month (‘Masarambha orukka Dhyanam’)

Second Saturday - 7:15 PM to 9:00 PM Monthly Festival of Manjinikkara Bava

During the Great Lent (50 nomb), the Holy Mass will not be held on Sundays, instead the service will be held on Saturdays from 7:15 PM to 9:00 PM

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