The Christian community in Qatar celebrates the opening of the new Mar Thoma Church in Doha last Thursday, 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 in April this year, the IDCC is to host churches for Malabar Orthodox, Syro Malabar, Mar Thoma, Church of South India (CSI), Pentecostal and evangelical groups.

The complex of churches is spread over an area of 4,800 square metres, with the churches being consecrated one at a time.

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 those present at the consecration “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 in March 2008 in Doha.

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 that Islam was tolerant of other religions.

As estimated 150,000 Christians of all denominations live in Qatar. About two thirds 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.