Syriac people in Iraq and Syria organize Christmas events despite hardships

NINEVEH PLAINS, Iraq / ZALIN, Syria — With the approach of Christmas and the New Year, the Syriac Catholic Sultanate of Peace Church in Ankawa, Iraq, held an evening of Christmas hymns performed by the church choir.

The event was attended by Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Hadyab Mor Nathanael Nizar Ajam, pastor of the church Fr. Nihad Qas Musa, a number of nuns, and a group of believers.

In Batnaya, Iraq, the Mor Quryakos Church opened the first charity market in cooperation with the Take Heart team.

The market was inaugurated by Chaldean Archbishop of Alqosh Mor Boulos Thabet at the hall of the Mor Boulos Center for Pastoral Services in the presence of priests, nuns, and a large number of locals.

Archbishop Thabet commended such activities and the importance of establishing the market, as well as the role of people of the town in service of the Church and society.

The archbishop thanked all the people working in making this market a success.

In Zalin (Qamishli), North and East Syria, the Religious Education Center held a Christmas recital, entitled “Christmas of Hope”, in the Virgin Mary Church.

The event was attended by clergy of the Syriac Orthodox Church and a large number of believers.

The Mor Aphrem Choir in Zalin presented a series of hymns from the eight Sunday prayers that precede Christmas and from Christmas prayers.