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Ishtartv.com
- faithwire.com
A Christian charity has been
praised for its dedication to the restoration of ancient churches that have
been destroyed by Islamic State militants.
Aid to the Church in Need has
pledged to help repair and restore some 14 churches across the country which have
all been ransacked by ISIS fighters. One of the most significant churches to be
restored is the iconic “Great Al-Tahira Church” in Qaraqosh, a large town
located in the Nineveh Plains.
Syriac Catholic Archbishop Petros
Mouche of Mosul said he could not express just how much the restoration work
will mean to the local Christian community as they continue to rebuild their
town following the brutal ISIS invasion.
“For us, [the Great Al-Tahira]
Church is a symbol. This church was built in 1932, and it was the villagers of
Baghdeda who constructed it,” he said, according to the Catholic Herald.
“For this reason, we want this
symbol to remain as a Christian symbol to encourage the people, especially the
locals of Baghdeda, to stay here. This is our country, and this is a witness
that we can give for Christ.”
Among several ACN-approved
projects across the country is the restoration of the Najem Al-Mashrik Hall and
Theatre in Bashiqa — a town with a large Christian and Yazidi population. The
group hopes to rebuild the venue so that it can once again be used for weddings
and family celebrations.
“This project will help ensure
the survival of Christian families and provide them with important services,”
said one local priest, Fr Daniel Behnam.
“In particular, it will help
young people, providing a space for pastoral, cultural and youth activities.”
ACN reports that the number of Christians residing in
Iraq has declined by some 90 percent in just one generation. After the defeat
of ISIS, however, many have begun to return to their beloved hometowns.
“Of the 120,000 Christians who
fled the Nineveh Plains following the Daesh invasion in 2014, more than 45,000
have since returned,” the charity noted.
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