IRAQ: Historic Syriac Orthodox Mor Tuma Church in Mosul restored and reopens with bell ringing ceremony
MOSUL, Iraq — The Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Mosul, Kerkheslokh (Kirkuk) and Kurdistan Mor Nicodemus Daoud Matti Sharaf rung the bell of the Syriac Orthodox Mor Tuma Church in the Al-Saa’a neighborhood in central Mosul for the first time after a years-long period of reconstruction.
The ringing of the church bell marks the revival of the oldest church in Mosul, which was badly damaged after the Islamic State (ISIS) terror organization took control of the city in the mid-2010s.
The threats and attacks against Mosul’s Christians began earlier. For example, on 24 December 2009, two people were killed and six others injured in an explosion that targeted the Mor Tuma Church. A vehicle loaded with flour was parked in front of the church and exploded, also causing significant damage.
Before the takeover by ISIS, tens of thousands of Christians of various denominations lived in the metropolis of Mosul. Since then, their numbers have dwindled to a few thousand, perhaps even down to a few hundred.
Hasakah residents protest against Constitutional Declaration, demand inclusive Syrian state
HASAKAH, North and East Syria — Residents of Hasakah and representatives of the Democratic …
