Christianity in Iraq went through one in every of its most difficult periods after the US invasion toppled Saddam Hussein’s government. Decades of sectarian conflict and instability, and the rise of ISIS and other militants led to a mass exodus. A population of around 1.5 million fell to only 1 / 4 of one million.
However, there may be at all times a remnant.
Now Christians in northern Iraq have joined together for a festival proclaiming not only the facility of the cross of Christ, however the continued existence of Christianity within the country.
The Assyrian Church of the East, Chaldean, Syriac Catholic and Syriac Orthodox churches have united in celebration of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The festival has been going down this week and ends on Saturday.
Speaking to Catholic charity, Aid to the Church in Need, Chaldean Archbishop Bashar Warda, said, “The timing of the festival is deeply symbolic. A decade ago, Daesh [ISIS] sought to erase Christianity from this land.
“Today, the exact same communities will raise the cross high in public squares, in churches, and in joyful processions. What once was meant to be silenced has change into a proclamation – faith has survived, and hope is stronger than death.”
ISIS controlled much of northern Iraq from 2014 until the group was declared defeated in 2017.
Over 120,000 Christians fled to Erbil within the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Many have now returned home and rebuilt their lives and their homes.
On Tuesday, as a part of the festivities, Christians took part in a two kilometre candlelight procession from the Shrine of St Elijah to the Assyrian Cathedral of St John the Baptist. The procession was followed by a meal, prayers and a homily by Assyrian Church of the East’s Patriarch Mar Awa III.
Other events include music, sports competitions, and prayers before the grand event, the vigil of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, set to happen on Saturday.
The event also took place last 12 months and it is rather much hoped by organisers that it’s going to proceed to be an annual event.
Archbishop Warda praised the contribution made by young believers who helped organise the event.
“Young people from all Churches planned the festival together – organising prayers, sports, marathons, live shows, children’s games, and cultural events. Their collaboration became a visual sign of a recent future,” he said.
“Older generations watched with admiration because the youth discovered that what unites them – their faith in Christ – is way greater than what divides them. In their hands, the dream of Christian unity in Iraq is already becoming a lived reality.”
He added, “The cross has not been silenced, and in Iraq, a small and wounded Church has shown the world the facility of unity, the courage of religion, and the enjoyment of resurrection life.”
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