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Hundreds of devoted Christians prayed for peace at Good Friday church services across Abu Dhabi, as the country continues to come under heavy attack from Iran.
Parishioners from all corners of the globe who call the UAE home united in a show of solidarity and celebration of their faith.
During a mass at St Paul’s Catholic Church, mobile phone warnings of missile threats rang out, with the service paused temporarily to allow worshippers to check the emergency notifications.
On Friday morning, UAE residents received a series of alerts urging them to take shelter as the country's air defence systems dealt with Iranian strikes.
While mindful of the challenges facing the Emirates, churchgoers in Abu Dhabi were grateful for the opportunity to come together to deliver a message of hope.
Love will win
Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, told a packed congregation at St Therese Church, part of the St Joseph's Cathedral complex, of the unifying power of faith and pledged that love would prevail over acts of evil.
“In these days of war, we experience the absurdity of violence that does not solve problems but creates and aggravates them,” he said.
“We see death and destruction. We experience fear and uncertainty.
“Dear brothers and sisters, contemplating the cross, we recognise that love is stronger than evil. May God's mercy transform even evil into new paths of good.”
Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is a solemn day observed two days before Easter Sunday, the most important feast in the Christian calendar.
Dayo Olarewaju, an Abu Dhabi resident from Nigeria, was among the worshippers who packed the pews in St Therese Church and St Joseph's Cathedral.
“Community is very important because we have to be there for each other,” he said.
“It's a good way to connect with each other, through community. And also share our faith here.”
Ester Ayoub, from Syria, came late to the service after travelling from work and struggled to find a space due to the large turnout.
“Sorrowful Friday is significant at all times – whether in war or in peace; it is important at every moment,” she said.
“But right now, we are in dire need of prayer – that peace may prevail across the entire globe.”
Simon Robert, from The Philippines, attended the service with his two sons.
“Even though there's tension in the Middle East, our faith is more stronger than the kind of struggles that we're facing,” he said.
At St Paul's Church, parishioners said the war had not deterred them from marking Easter.
“The church was full of people, as you can see. It wasn’t just us,” said George, who attended the Arabic-language mass with his wife, who is six months pregnant.
“We don’t feel we need to worry. We still feel safe and secure here, and we understand that the loud blasts we hear are interceptions,” he added.
Maria, a Lebanese Christian, said the mass carried added emotional weight this year.
“We came here to pray on this holy day, to pray for peace,” she explained. “We couldn’t be at home in Lebanon this year because of the war there. These are difficult times for all of us.”
Bonds of faith
In Dubai, churches are closed to the public until further notice as a precautionary measure. Limited Easter services are available to watch online during the traditionally busy period.
Borja Castillo and his wife Loreto Sanchez-Galindo are among thousands of other Christians praying at home. The Spanish national said the couple would pray for the UAE and for families separated due to the Iran war.
“We will pray for peace for this country, for this community so that all this trouble gets solved and that everyone around us can be safe,” he said. “We will miss seeing people at the Mass today and on Sunday but we understand why we need to pray at home.
“We will pray that peace of God arrives as there are a lot of people suffering. Some people have lost jobs, in other families the husband is working here but wives and kids are outside the country.
“People get exaggerated information outside the country so there are a lot of calls and a lot of anxiety. At this time when families are far away, it’s important to pray and take care of each other.”
Nadia Shaffow, an Iraqi national, is praying in her Dubai home with her husband and teenage daughter.
The Dubai resident follows a family tradition she learnt from her mother. She had stayed up late cooking a special harees soup made from lentils, chickpeas and wheat to give out.
“I follow an Iraqi tradition of my mother, cooked the harees overnight and distributed it to many friends in the morning,” Ms Shaffow said.
“We usually meet 20 to 25 family and friends after the Mass, but safety is important and we will all say prayers at home. There will be no big gathering.
“I will pray for peace and that we love each other. Jesus said, ‘Do not judge, and help each other,’ and this is what we need in this life.”
