Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Ankawa Church
Assyrian Catholic cathedral in Ankawa suburb of Erbil
Ankawa's Cathedral of Saint Joseph serves the city's Christian community in Erbil Governorate; visitors attend liturgies and observe local church art within a predominantly Christian neighbourhood.
Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Ankawa at a Glance#
Address: Ankawa, Erbil Governorate, Iraq
Admission: Free (donations welcome)
How to Get to Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Ankawa#
Ankawa is a suburb of Erbil, about 8-10 km north of Erbil’s old citadel. From Erbil International Airport (approximately 30-40 minutes by taxi), take the Ainkawa/Ankawa road toward the Christian quarter; taxis and ride-hailing are the easiest way. From downtown Erbil, a taxi or shared minivan will reach Ankawa in 15-30 minutes depending on traffic.
Tips for Visiting Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Ankawa#
- Visit midweek after morning Mass to avoid family groups and school tours.
- Combine a walk through Ankawa's narrow streets with a stop at a teahouse - the community around the cathedral has lively café life in the late afternoon.
- Be mindful of photography during services; ask permission before taking pictures of worshippers.
Best Time to Visit Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Ankawa#
Best visited outside summer heat and during the week when local parish life is visible; Ankawa can be busy on Sundays.
Weather & Climate near Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Ankawa#
Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Ankawa's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with very hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 1°C to 42°C. Moderate rainfall (583 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Acceptable | 1° - 11° | 5° | 118 mm | partly cloudy | 64% | 1.9 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.8h |
| February | Acceptable | 3° - 13° | 7° | 109 mm | partly cloudy | 62% | 2.0 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 10.7h |
| March | Good | 7° - 18° | 13° | 99 mm | partly cloudy | 56% | 2.4 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Very Good | 11° - 23° | 17° | 73 mm | partly cloudy | 50% | 2.5 m/s | 1.4 high | 13.0h |
| May | Ideal | 17° - 31° | 24° | 27 mm | some cloud | 38% | 2.5 m/s | 1.9 very high | 14.0h |
| June | Ideal | 22° - 38° | 30° | 0 mm | clear | 22% | 2.8 m/s | 2.5 extreme | 14.5h |
| July | Ideal | 26° - 42° | 34° | 0 mm | clear | 17% | 2.9 m/s | 2.5 extreme | 14.2h |
| August | Ideal | 25° - 41° | 33° | 0 mm | clear | 17% | 2.7 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 13.4h |
| September | Ideal | 20° - 37° | 28° | 0 mm | clear | 20% | 2.2 m/s | 1.6 very high | 12.3h |
| October | Ideal | 14° - 28° | 21° | 12 mm | mostly sunny | 32% | 1.9 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 11.1h |
| November | Very Good | 7° - 20° | 14° | 61 mm | some cloud | 51% | 1.5 m/s | 0.5 low | 10.1h |
| December | Acceptable | 3° - 13° | 7° | 84 mm | partly cloudy | 61% | 1.7 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.6h |
