On Saturday, July 4, 2026, amid the celebrations of the feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle, the evangelizer of the East and the patron saint of the Chaldean Church, the Chaldean Archdiocese of Beirut celebrated the priestly ordination of Deacon Nabil Riyad Al-Dallo at St. Raphael Cathedral in Baabda. The ordination took place at 5:30 p.m. through the laying on of hands by His Excellency Bishop Michel Kassarji, with the participation of a large number of clergy, faithful of the diocese, and the family and friends of the newly ordained priest. The celebration was attended by Their Excellencies Bishop Mathias Charles Morad, Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Catholic Church; Bishop Michael Abrass, former Melkite Greek Catholic Metropolitan of Tyre; Bishop Krikor Robert Badishah, Patriarchal Vicar of the Armenian Catholic Church; Bishop Michel Farah, Melkite Greek Catholic Metropolitan of Baalbek and Dependencies; Archbishop Theophilos George Saliba, Bishop of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli; Archbishop Boulos Abdel Sater, Maronite Archbishop of Beirut, represented by Fr. Ronnie Matouk; and Bishop Michael Shimon, Bishop of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, represented by Fr. Andreas Khazaal. The Divine Liturgy was also attended by numerous priests from sister Churches, including Fr. Youssef Nasr, Secretary General of Catholic Schools, as well as Dr. Mike Bassous, President General of the Bible Society, Mr. Habib Ephrem, President of the Syriac League, Brigadier André Rahal, Security and Political Advisor to the President of the Republic, Mr. Antoine Hakim, President of the Supreme Council of the Chaldean Community in Lebanon, Mr. Vincent Zarifa, President of the Chaldean Charitable Association, and Mrs. Mona Naameh, Founder of the Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament Association, along with various apostolic movements and fraternities. Bishop Michel Kassarji was assisted during the ordination by Monsignor Raphael Trabelsi, Episcopal Vicar General, Fr. Nadim Helou, godfather of the newly ordained priest, and Fathers Guy Sarkis and Frank Marrouki. The Holy Mass was served by the St. Joseph Choir of Sed El Baouchrieh and the Cathedral Choir. Afterwards, Fr. Nabil received congratulations in the Archbishopric reception hall, where a special cake was cut for the occasion and everyone shared a meal of fellowship in an atmosphere of joy and celebration.
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