Armenian Orthodox Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in Zakho, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, nears completion with strong official and community backing

ZAKHO, Iraq — Construction of the Armenian Orthodox Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in Zakho, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), has steadily progressed with support from both official channels and the local community.

Governmental approvals have been secured to rebuild the church, situated in the north of the KRI. The initiative, spearheaded by Bishop Dr. Avak Asadourian, former head of the Armenian Orthodox community in Iraq and the KRI, garnered official backing in May 2021.

The foundation stone dedication ceremony, a significant milestone in the project, took place in October 2021. The ceremony, blessed by Bishop Dr. Avak Assadourian and Bishop Mar Felix Chebbi, the Bishop of the Chaldean Diocese of Zakho, saw the participation of numerous members of clergy and Alek Garbian, the former Charge d’Affaires of the Armenian Embassy in Iraq.

The project’s first phase was launched in May 2021, marking a crucial step toward realizing the vision of a new Armenian Orthodox Church in Zakho.

The architectural design of the Church of the Virgin Mary is distinctive, featuring four domes, and its outer and inner coverings are crafted from tufa stone. Notably, this marks a unique milestone as the first church in Iraq to be constructed using this particular stone.