The western province of Azerbaijan has had a long series of hostile events toward a Christian minority for many centuries in its history.

All these times of martyrdom were also times of fearless missionary activities and sacrifices which inspired the next generation to fulfill Lord’s will.

Matthew 20:28: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve”. Therefore, all the gifts received need to be put at the service of the plan of God since these should point back to the author of these gifts and not the recipient.

Brief biography of His Excellency Bishop, Thomas Meram.

His Excellency bishop Thomas Meram was born on August 6th of 1943 in the village of Taklif-Iraq.

After he finished His elementary school, He later joined seminary school. He graduated and was later ordained Priest on June 11th of 1967 in Baghdad-Iraq and was sent to Tehran-Iran for priesthood services.

During His 15 years of spiritual duties as a Priest in Tehran, he taught theology, English and Arabic language in the Catholic school of Behnam.

After Mar Samuel Shoriz, who was Archbishop or Urmia, passed away on February 1982, he was sent to continue his service as a Priest at Assyro-Chaldean Catholic Church of Urmia’s jurisdiction. Later that year He was assigned by His Holiness Patriarch Paul Shakhu of Babylon as Principal Director.

He was consecrated as Archbishop of Urmia and Salamas on November 30th of 1983 by the Grand Committee of Bishops. His Excellency’s ceremonial consecration was held on March 11th of 1984 at St Joseph Church of Tehran.

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