Christians who survived jihadist attacks in northern Iraq have come together to celebrate a major festival which will proclaim that faith is still alive in the region. Source: ACN.
Christians from across the region’s different traditions – Assyrian Church of the East, Chaldean, Syriac Catholic and Syriac Orthodox – are joining together this week (September 9-13) for an extended celebration of the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Chaldean Archbishop Bashar Warda, who has been working with leaders from other Churches to plan the events, told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need – which helped support the celebrations – that this was a sign that the faith was still alive.
“The timing of the festival is deeply symbolic. A decade ago, Daesh [Islamic State] sought to erase Christianity from this land,” Archbishop Warda said.
“Today, the very same communities will raise the Cross high in public squares, in churches, and in joyful processions. What once was meant to be silenced has become a proclamation: Faith has survived and hope is stronger than death.”
Islamic State controlled parts of the Nineveh Plains in northern Iraq from 2014 until 2017. More than 120,000 Christians sought refuge in Erbil in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region after fleeing their homes in August 2014.
ACN supported Christian refugees who fled in 2014, and following the defeat of Islamic State helped rebuild Christian towns and villages, to allow communities to return to their homes.
The five-day festival is now set to be an annual event in the Churches’ calendar, following ecumenical celebrations in 2024.
The 2025 festival builds upon last year’s activities, “aiming not only to repeat its success, but also to expand its scope, deepen its content, and involve more youth and families from across the different Churches”.
Archbishop Warda paid tribute to the Joint Youth Committee, composed of 20 volunteers from all four Churches, who have played a lead role.
“Young people from all Churches planned the festival together – organising prayers, sports, marathons, concerts, children’s games, and cultural events. Their collaboration became a visible sign of a new future.”
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Iraq: Ecumenical festival points to future for persecuted Church (By John Newton, ACN)
