Mosul: all Syriac church services and activities suspended

Mosul – Responding to directives issued by the Iraqi state, the Syriac Orthodox, Syriac Catholic and Chaldean Churches suspended all masses and activities in all their churches in Mosul. The suspension is for all daily church services and activities until the 28th of March. All Syriac churches have arranged Facebook prayers or the faithful can tune in to “Voice of Peace” radio station.

The churches further decided to hold funeral services only in the small church of the Mosul cemetery to limit participation to only family and closest relatives of the deceased. Moreover, acceptance of condolences are forbidden in the churches community centers and wakes, kisses and shaking hands are not allowed.

The Syriac parishes of Mosul called on the concerned authorities to sterilize all the churches and public facilities and they demanded their faithful to adhere to the issued directives for their safety.