Bahrain:

A Holy Year will be observed by the Church in the Arabian Peninsula in commemoration of the 1,500th anniversary of the Martyrs of Arabia (523-2023).  "We consider this year to be a year of grace for the entire Vicariate and for all Christian communities in the Gulf. We honor the memories of our Christian forefathers who dedicated their lives in service to Christ by doing so with faith,” Bishop Aldo Berardi, the Vicar Apostolic of Northern Arabia said.

The Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia and the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, led by Bishop Paolo Martinelli, is collaborating on the event.

The Jubilee begins on October 24, when Saint Arethas and his fellow martyrs are remembered. Historical records show they were Arab Christians from the ancient Christian city of Najran in southern Arabia, present-day Saudi Arabia. Both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches honor Saint Arethas and his companions. Until his martyrdom at the age of 95, he was the prefect of Najran. He and his companions suffered execution at the hands of King Dhu Nuwas in 523 AD, who began persecution of Christians in the area. Contemporary Christians in the Arabian Peninsula are inspired by their everlasting faith and selfless commitment.

The Jubilee presents a chance to rediscover the legacy of the Arabian Peninsula martyrs and to draw comfort from their accounts of steadfast devotion to Christ in the face of martyrdom. Bishop Berardi stated, "We perceive our continuity with the Christian communities and monasteries that flourished in this region. This anniversary year is a chance to rekindle our sense of mission and grow in our religion. In turn, we are responsible for serving as witnesses for Christ and the Gospel by leading a morally upright life.”

Holy Doors will be opened in the Kuwait Cathedral and the Bahrain Cathedral in keeping with the Jubilee. The Jubilee of Saint Arethas and his Companions in the Arabian Peninsula, which runs from 24 October 2023 to 23 October 2024, was officially declared open by Pope Francis in August 2023.

The decree also gives a plenary indulgence to believers who go as pilgrims to the Parish of St. Arethas, the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, or the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Awali, Bahrain.

A book called "The Unforgotten Martyrs of Arabia" which was first released in English in 2020 has been translated into a number of languages to help people feel a stronger connection to the region's Christian victims.

The return of Saint Arethas' bones to the Arabian Peninsula after nearly fourteen centuries will be commemorated by the arrival of a relic in Bahrain in November 2023.

The Jubilee for the 1,500th anniversary of the Martyrs of Arabia gives a reminder of the region's rich Christian heritage and an appeal for a revival of faith in the Arabian Peninsula, which is home to some 2.5 million Catholic believers.