Qatar Christians celebrate consecration of new church

The Christian community in Qatar celebrates the opening of the new Mar Thoma Church in Doha last Thursday, 11 June witnessed by more than one thousand faithful.

The place of worship is the latest addition to the Inter-Denominational Church Complex, (IDCC) in Mesaimeer, in the southern suburbs of Doha, the capital of Qatar.

Inaugurated as the second church in the country on April this year, the IDCC is to host churches for Malabar Orthodox, Syro Malabar, Mar Thoma, Church of South India (CSI), Pentecost and other evangelical groups. The complex of churches is spread over an area of 4800 square metres. The churches are being consecrated one by one.

The consecration of Mar Thoma church was presided over by Metropolitan Joseph Mar Thoma, leader of the Marthoma church.

Mar Thoma Church is a Christian denomination based in Kerala, India. It is one of the seven churches founded by St. Thomas, the apostle and disciple of Jesus Christ. The church is in communion with the Anglican and Independent Syro-Malabar Churches.

The metropolitan Joseph Mar Thoma thanked the Qatari emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani for allowing them "to consecrate the Church."

He also urged the audience, "to remember the contributions and sacrifices of those who worked hard to make the worship place a reality".

The first Christian church to open in the country was St. Mary's Catholic Church, inaugurated on March 16, 2008 in the same city.

Strict Islamic laws had previously barred the country's Christian community from public prayer and religious services.

In 2005, however, pro-Western ruler Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani granted permission for the construction of Christian churches, in a move to open up and demonstrate an Islam tolerant of other religions.

On 22 May, St Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, the largest among the IDCC members, was consecrated first at Mesaimeer, in the presence of thousands of faithful.

In Qatar, natives account for only 200,000 of its 900,000 population according to Times Online.

As estimated 150,000 Christians of all denominations live in the emirate. About two third of them are Catholic expatriate workers from the Philippines, India and other Asian nations.

Saudi Arabia remains the only Gulf state still to ban churches.