When God’s messenger visited Baghdad

On 12 June 1991, a UN- charted aeroplane landed at Habbanyia air base (55 miles west of Baghdad), it was the first traveller by air to Iraq after the first Gulf war. On board, was Mother Teresa who had permission to fly to Iraq due to her old age and the nature of her humanitarian mission. Many Iraqis rushed to the usual hotels to find out where she was staying but they were met with the same reply: despite reserving their best suite for her, Mother Teresa wished to stay at the convent in al- Za’afarania district of Baghdad. She said: “I am not an official visitor, I am just a simple nun and I wish to stay at the convent”.

During this time, as a result of allied bombing during the war, a near apocalyptic destruction fell upon the Iraqi civilian infrastructures and institutions. Additionally, the United Nations imposed economic sanctions on Iraq that were regarded as the toughest and most comprehensive sanctions in history. The gracious nun felt the pain and the unmerited ordeals of the innocent Iraqi people both Christians and Moslems.

The convent, where she stayed, was abuzz with government officials, dignitaries, religious men and women. The media descended upon her, she greeted them warmly and said: “I do not wish to do any interviews; I wish to be seen by my deeds and not by my words”.

The excited people swarmed around Mother Teresa, clasping her with tearful eyes and ardently kissing her hand. She would embrace them like a loving mother, offering them words of inspiration. She encouraged them to pray and love the Virgin, by handing them rosaries and small statutes of the virgin. During her many meetings and gatherings, Mother Teresa would excuse herself and would say: “permit me it is time of my prayers”.

After a few days, she started looking for her orphanage house, which lasted for some time and she met with many officials, accompanied by a nun and a doctor from the ministry of health. Eventually, Mother Teresa found an old house, and her orphanage was established under the name of Sisters of Charity of Mother Teresa in Baghdad. She immediately began the work of cleaning the place, she went down on her knees and began scrubbing the floors, she swept and swabbed the house and as soon as it was clean, she invited people for Eucharist Adoration.

The Adoration was a moving sight to see, it was attended by women, who bore the scarce of war, who had lost their husbands, sons and fathers during the war. Mother Teresa was always present, kneeling with a rosary in her hands and praying in silence. Sister Raphael, the director of the Missionaries of charity House in Bangalore, India who accompanied her recalled: “During her stay in Iraq, just as she did during her entire life, the blessed would always be available to the Iraqi people, even in the middle of the night; she would get up and comfort them with her welcoming embrace. It is almost as if mother never went to sleep and yet, there was never any hint of tiredness on her face, she was always calm and resolute, an inexhaustible source of love”.

 Sources: Asia News, al-Fikr al- Masihi, issue 326/328

Sacrifice at the Bridge 

The legend of Dalaleh Bridge (Gishra d'Dalaleh) is one of the most popular and widespread legends passed down by many generations of Assyrians  

By: Robert Ewan  

The ancient Zakho or Dalaleh Bridge is located on the River Khabour near the Iraqi-Turkish border. It was built near a major trade route that linked inland Iraq and Iran to the ports of East Mediterranean and Asia Minor. In the past, the bridge was very important, as it was the only place one could cross the River Khabour. Convoys of traders, carrying raisins and cotton, and military brigades all passed this bridge.

The bridge is about 114 meters long and 4.70 meters wide, the height from the water surface is 15.50 meters. The walls are put together in a beautiful and decorated way by using lime for plastering the walls and consist of a wide and high arch in the middle and other smaller arches on the sides, there are five arches in total. The stones used in the construction of the bridge vary in size – some are more than a meter in length and 80 centimetres wide. On its eastern arches of the bridge, there are rare drawings of the 12 astrological signs unseen on any other bridges in the area

Many historians have researched the bridge’s history but no one have managed to conclude the year it was built and by who, as the bridge’s stones have no original inscriptions or writing on who built it. Some think it may have been built during Byzantine times. Others believe it was built later and dates back to the Abbasid era, between 8^th and 13th century. Some say it was built by Seleucus I Nicator who founded the Seleucid dynasty following the breakdown of Alexander’s empire.

Some archaeologists in Iraq think The Dalaleh Bridge was erected by one of the Badinan Sultans (Badinan Emirate, a Kurdish principality from the 13th century to the mid-19th century) but it is certain that the bridge was built on the remains of an ancient one. It is possible that one of the Badinan princes repaired an old partly destroyed bridge.

The famous Arab traveller Muhammad bin Ahmed known as Al Maqdisi, who studied and travelled extensively in Iraq, stated in his book in 985 AD that the bridge was built at least 1000 years ago. Another traveller Khalaf al Baqi visited the bridge and recorded the ruins of an old town and a castle on a hill called Kraa Baft.

The explorer Ibin Shaddad, who lived during the 13th century Iraq, visited the bridge and mentioned the ruins of a town he called Khanqa Bafta.The famous English traveller Gertrude Bell commented about the bridge in her book Amurath to Amurath, which was published in London in1910.

Like every ancient bridge in the world, the Dalaleh Bridge has its own story to tell. One of the storeys revolves around a young man in the Abbasid era that fell in love with a girl living in the village on the opposite side of the river; he built the bridge so he could be with her. Another story focuses on a Turkish architect who came to Zakho in the middle Ages. Once he completed bridge, the Turkish governor had amputated one of his hands to ensure that the bridge would remain unique. 

By far the most popular and widespread legend regarding the bridge is an endearing tale, passed down by many generations of Assyrians. According to this legend, many builders and masons were gathered to build the bridge under the leadership of the master builder. The builder built the bridge by constructing both ends and then having them linked in the middle. During the day, the workers would complete the centre of the bridge only to crumple by nigh. This incident continued for weeks.

As the last ray of sun had lifted upon the horizon, the agitated builders sat bewildered and confused at was causing the collapse of the base. After several hours of discussions, they all concurred that the bridge must be cursed by God and as a last resort an offering must be made to God. Therefore, they decided to sacrifice the first thing that walked into the building site by placing it at the base of the bridge. They all pledged to keep this as a secret. Most of the builders brook their promise and told their wives and children not to come near the bridge. The master builder kept his vow.

As the morning sun unfolded, the builders resumed their task of building the centre of the bridge. To the horror of the master builder he saw his daughter in law Dalaleh approaching the bridge with her dog.The noise of her singing set the air alight.She was bringing food to the builders.Somtimes the dog would overtake her and other times would fall behind her.

As it happens, luck interfered with pitiless cruelty and as she approached the bridge her dog fell behind her. Her distraught father in law fainted and collapsed.Dalaleh sprinkled some water on his face, and as he opened his eyes he clutched her tightly, he took a deep breath as if preparing to pronounce a deep sentence. He told her about the vow made by the builders and that she will be encased in the foundations of the central pillar. To the amazement of the father in law, Dalaleh agreed to fulfil their vow and immolate herself for the benefit of her beloved people. The ferocity of her desire shocked him, but there was nothing he could do to stem it.

 Dalaleh was placed at the foundations of the central pillar. Her father in law allowed for a small gap in his building so that she could breathe and they could pass food and water to her. The distraught builders resumed their work. A renewed energy swept through them spurred by the encouraging words from Dalaleh

When the last gleam of light faded the gloomy builders returned to their homes. A kind of stillness descended on the village, heavy, cloying, like the stillness before the storm thereafter their was no sound except for the screams of a child longing for his vanished mother. A melancholy mist hung over the bridge, in the silent night tears leaked from Dalaleh’s eyes and dripped down her cheeks, but no matter how hard she cried nor how deeply she sobbed the desolation did not dissipate. She thought of her son and was wracked by sorrow and longing for the days she held him in her arms. 

Dalaleh’s sister wept bitterly as she saw her child calling for his mum. There was something about his cries that made her husband cover his ears and flee, as if the moans of some poor, damned soul had leaked out of hell. It was a sound of torment and it drilled into his most primal part of his brain. A sudden surge of anger welled up inside him and he picked his axe and headed for the bridge. He took a deep breath flooding his body with oxygen and started hammering at the base like a tormented madman. 

Every time he hit the base of the bridge, Dalaleh could feel pain inside her. She pleaded to him to stop and to go back and raise their child. She told him that she is carrying the bridge on her shoulders. Her husband could not hear her cries and, his eyes were mist with tears and continued hitting the bridge until he collapsed.

Dalaleh saw his pale and haggard face devoid of life. A chilling howl of lament emerged from her throat; her wails of pain had reached the vaults of heaven. Her heart banged her ribs as if it wanted out; she felt heavens spreading inside her. She breathed long and deep, slowly her eyes closed. She suffered the torments of martyrdom and in her agonies transcended all agonies. 

With the construction of modern concrete and iron bridges in the area, the Dalaleh Bridge has become much less important. But locals still use the bridge to get from one Zakho neighbourhood to another and the bridge, with its five arches and large stones, still has an undeniable charm.
The Dalaleh Bridge is mostly a tourist attraction now and according to Zakho’s tourism department, between 100,000 and 150,000 persons visit the site each year. However, the bridge is in urgent need of maintenance. Several civil society organizations in Iraqi Kurdistan demanded that the bridge be better maintained and in accordance to UNESCO’s scientific standards and to have this bridge listed as one of the world’s important archaeological sites. One only wonders: will this historical relic go the same way as so many of Iraq’s lost antiquities have?

 

References:
www.niqash.com
www.flicker.comwww.wikipidia.com
Bayn- Al Nahrain Quarterly, volume 7, number 28, 1979

A  SACRED HUT BY THE RIVER

The storey of the first church in Iraq

By: ROBERT EWAN
 
As the mid afternoon Iraqi sunshine fades to an ochre glow the remains of the first church in Iraq stand defiantly aware of its unique place in history.

Koukhi was the first church established in Iraq. According to the "Acts of St. Mari”, one of the seventy two apostils of Jesus, he started his mission at Edessa (Turkey) and continued into the mountainous regions heading south for Seleucia (Iraq). In this Hellenic city, Saint Mari preached the gospel and performed several miracles by curing the sick. However, the pagans fearing for the demise of their religion complained against St. Mari to the Persian king Artaban.The king brought St. Mari before him and threatened him with dire consequences if he did not stop from preaching and proselytising. Additionally, the king tried to test his faith by asking St. Mari to cure his ill sister which was duly cured.St. Mari asked the king's sister to grant him the fire temple on the banks of river Tigris which he transformed to a church and became known as the church of Koukhi at about AD 80.
The name Koukhi is from the Aramaic word "Koukh" meaning hut or cottage, because there were many Christian farmers in this area who lived in huts. The building that St. Mari established was a large room used by parishioners for praying and celebrating feast days. In 280 Mar Papa established Koukhi as the seat of the Catholicos and later patriarch of the Eastern Church till the tenth century.

KOUKHI AND THE FORTY YEARS PERSECUTION

For The first three hundred years of Christianity, it was the Roman Empire that prosecuted the Christians. The Persians, especially the Parthians, were tolerant of minority groups and the Sassanids, in the beginning, were too busy fighting the Romans. Moreover, as long as the Roman emperors considered the Christians as enemies of Rome, the Persian emperors considered them friends of Persia. By the time of Shapur II who came to the throne in 309, Christianity became the main religion of the Roman emperors. Constantine the great even claimed a protectorate over all Christians everywhere and in 315 he wrote to Shapur II asking for the protection and favours for the Christians. The first edict of prosecution under Shapur II ordered all Christians to pay double tax as a contribution to the cost of war between Persia and Rome. The Patriarch of Koukhi Mar Shimun bar Sabbae was ordered to collect vast amounts of taxes. He refused to do so on the ground that his people were too poor to pay and that he was not a tax collector. His arrest and the destruction of all Christian churches were immediately ordered. He was offered freedom, not only for himself, but for all his people, if he would worship the sun only once. The intrepid bishop accepted death with some alacrity saying:“The sun went into mourning when it’s creator died”. The king begged by his memory of their personal friendship to yield, but the Patriarch remained firm, and on the morning of the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread in 339, along with five bishops and a hundred minor clergies, he sealed his testimony with his blood. Mar Shimun the last of the company to suffer martyrdom died for two of the noblest causes for which it is possible for man to suffer: his faith in God and his duty to his people.

Mar Shimun was succeeded by Shahdoast at the seat of Koukhi, he was later arrested alongside one hundred and twenty eight of his companions. They were tortured for five months and were executed by beheading. Barbashmeen (nephew of Mar Shimun) succeeded Shahdoost, he was ordained clandestinely as the Patriarch in a secret location after he served for several year he was arrested with sixteen companions and were imprisoned for eleven months .They were martyred in 349.  After this incident Koukhi wallowed in the murk of its sole and remained leaderless for nearly forty years. The Sassanid destroyed all Christian places of worship and Koukhi was not spared the Christians were forced to worship in secrecy till the violence subsided and they rebuild their church.

In 363 Jovian, the Roman Emperor, signed a treaty with Shapur II .By this treaty, Mesopotamia and Armenia came under the control of Persia. Temporary peace was established. In 409, The Persian king Yazdegard by an edict of toleration brought an end to the persecution of the Christians. The peace brought about by the edict helped the Christians to re-organize themselves. It is estimated that 16,000 Christians perished in this carefully calibrated persecution.

The church of Koukhi was rebuild again by the Mongol Patriarch Yaballaha I between  415-420, financed by the generous grants from emperor Taudosious II.It was further remodelled and extended by Patriarch Mar Abbae I between 550-551. Patriarch Mar Abbae issued a decree that all future Patriarchs must be ordained in Koukhi.The church was in constant use and several church Synods of the Eastern Church were held in Koukhi and up to 25 Patriarchs were buried there the first being Apres(121-123 ) the last being Hananeshoo II in 779.

MAJOR CHANGES

In the middle of the eight century the Abbasids took control of the Arab empire. The Abbasid Caliphate was based on them being descendants of the uncle of Muhammad and being part of the Quraysh tribe. They used Shi’a resentment, Khorasanian movements and appeals to the ambitions of the newly conquered Persian aristocracy to overthrow their predecessors, the Umayyads.They considered themselves the inheritors of two traditions: the Arab-Islamists, bearers of the mantle of Muhamed, and Persians, successors to the Sassanid monarchs. The ascension of the Abbasid Caliphate led to the Islamic Golden age, sometimes known as the Islamic Renaissance lasting till the 13^th centuary.During this period the Muslim world became the unrivalled intellectual centre for science, philosophy, medicine and education as the Abbasids championed the cause of knowledge.

On July 766 Caliph Abu Ja’far Al-Mansour built the city of Baghdad. He believed that Baghdad was the perfect city to be the capital of the Islamic empire. Within a generation of it’s founding, Baghdad became the hub of knowledge and commerce and it was likely the largest city in the world with several estimates suggest that the city contained over a million inhabitants at its peak .The Patriarchs at Koukhi realised that they were far away from the centre of power and influence, made a strategic decision of moving the seat of the Eastern church to Baghdad. The seat was relocated from koukhi to Baghdad by one of the greatest Patriarchs of the Eastern Church, Timothy I. He believed that understanding the Abbasside rule and mentality was vital for the church and its growth. He was convinced that the church had to play an important part in the growth of the society in Baghdad through its medics, philosophers and translators. By the middle of the sixth century the mustard seed of Khoukhi had spread into Egypt, Syria, and Arabian Peninsula, Iran, India, Sri Lanka, Mongolia and China.

Despite moving the Patriarchal seat to Baghdad Koukhi remained at the heart of the Eastern Church. It was a traditional habit of the newly ordained Patriarch to visit the shrine of St.Mari and to be ordained in Koukhi and then return to Baghdad.

THE MONGOLIAN INVASION

After the Crusades from the west that shook the stability of the Islamic world during the 11^th Century, a new threat came from the East during the 12^th century: the Mongol invasion. In 1257, the Mongol ruler Mongke Khan resolved to conquer the Abbasid Caliphate. He conscripted one out every ten fighting men in the empire for the invasion force. This force, by one estimate 150,000strong was probably the largest ever fielded by the Mongols. In November of 1257, under the command of Hulaguu and the Jalayir general Koke Ilge and the Chinese commander Guo Kan in vice command set out for Baghdad. The army laid siege to the city starting January 29.On February 10, Baghdad surrended.The Mongols swept into the city on February 13 and began a week of massacre, looting, rape and destruction. This destruction reached Koukhi and the surrounding areas. The Mongols created fear and havoc where ever they ruled. The patriarchal seat was transferred to Irbil (northern Iraq) and then it was relocating continuously to different places.Koukhi, alongside several bishoprics, was destroyed and as time went buy it became a treasure drove of memories. Most of the buildings collapsed bit by bit and were covered with sand and  Koukhi it went into a deep sleep waiting to be awakened.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES 
 Several Iraqi and foreign archaeological missions often tried to discover the ancient monuments of Mesopotamia. During the attempts to discover the city of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, both a German mission (1927-1932) and an Italian mission (1964) carried diggings in the area and were able to discover Koukhi.   The church is located on the right side of the road passing the Doura slaughterhouse (south east of Baghdad) through the farms and then to the area of Jubori Arabs. About 25 kilometres from the slaughter house there is a cross road leading to a hill. This hill which is about 12 meters high is known as the hill of "The daughter of the judge”. If a person stands on top of the hill he will be able to see the remnants of the church.

The present state of the church remains pitiful and devoid of life. The road leading to the church is a narrow rugged road difficult for cars to pass. People have to walk for 1.5 Kilometre to the location of the church. The remains are covered with wild bushes and trees with their leaves crackling listlessly.

When the long day wanes and the slow moon climb the ruins glare remonstrant over the Iraqi landscape, wallowing in the murk of its sole.

 
 



  

Dominican nuns in Iraq: A story of devotion and courage

By: Robert Ewan

Guillaume de Montferrat was the first Dominican father to visit Iraq. He was the disciple of Saint Dominic, founder of the Dominican Order. Guillaume visited Mosul, northern Iraq, and Baghdad in 1235. He was followed by Riccoldo de Mont Croce, who travelled extensively throughout the Middle East for over twelve years.Riccoldo lived briefly in Baghdad, witnessing the sale of Christian slaves after the fall of Acre in 1291.He recorded how he had come across a mound of Dominican vestments, blood stained habits, breviaries and books. He learned from the lone survivor, a Dominican nun, how the entire community had been put to the sword.

Father Duvall, the head of the Dominican mission in Iraq, facilitated the arrival of six French Dominican nuns. They reached Mosul on November 7, 1873. Their Journey took 53 days to complete. The newly arrived nuns set up the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation of Tours (Al Taqadouma, in Arabic) and later the Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena.Thier original house still stands in Mosul.From the outset, the order had a clear vision: to serve the Iraqi church and all the Iraqis in equal terms. It had two distinct objectives: religious education for girls and nursing the sick. The sisters engaged in Catechesis, education, pastoral work and hospital ministry. They set up many girls’ schools and clinics.The pious nuns served in the area around Mosul, travelling between these villages, despite the rugged and often harsh winter terrian.The nuns were of great faith and compassion, they taught local women how to read and write as well as sewing and other domestic skills. They opened an orphanage and a primary school in Mosul. In the surrounding country side they set up workshops for sewing and embroidery.

 

The Dominican nuns set up the first and the oldest congregation of Iraqi nuns in the history of modern Iraq. This was in Mosul in 1877.They recruited women of diverse Eastern Catholic and non-Catholic traditions (Chaldean, Syriac, Orthodox, Armenian and Nestorians).The nuns played a major role in establishing women monastic life in Iraq.Additionaly, they participated in developing education and other professions in northern Iraq before their eventual arrival in Baghdad.

During World War One, the Turks and their Kurdish allies persecuted all the Christians under their domain. The area went into turbulence. Several Christian villages and dioceses were burned and pillaged. Death was lurking in every corner. Seven of the nuns were killed, three of them were savagely tortured before they were killed, and the rest of the nuns were all scattered.

 

Despite these tragic events, the nun's faith blossomed amid death, devastation of war.The superior nuns decided to approach the Holy Father in Rome to allow them to re-start their convent in Mosul. The permission was granted and they set ups a new convent by the name of “The convent of Saint Katrina Al Syriania”.On April 30, 1927 the convent doors opened, It was an unbelievable sight to see women aged between 50and 60 years old who, for the first time ,were living under one roof and would be called sisters.  

In 1928, the lay community obtained canonical recognition from Rome as a pontifical institute. The native Iraqi women were able to take their rightful place among Catholic women worldwide. The churches of the East and West came together, under one roof, in their communion. At that time, this was a unique phenomenon.

Iraqi Christian women, representing various Christian rights, joined to establish a Roman Catholic religious institute together with the global order of the Dominicans. The congregation continues to honour and celebrate the diverse rights, liturgical languages and traditions of its women, now mainly Syriac and Chaldean, as well as the Roman right.

 

In 1928 the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation opened a private school for girls and an orphanage in Bab Al-sharqi, a modern district of Baghdad. This was the first private school for girls and was unique in its high standards of education and discipline it offered. It continued to be popular until it was put under the government jurisdiction during the early part of the 1970’s.Throughout the 1930s, the Presentation Sisters worked in the government hospitals of Baghdad as nurses .They taught nursing and Midwifery to many Iraqi women. The first Iraqi nurse was a member of their order and trained by them. The Dominican sisters felt that they have achieved their mission in Iraq and left to France to join their convent. 
 
The Dominican Order needed somebody to enforce rules in the new convent. They got a nun from France to teach and uphold the rules for the nuns to follow. Sister Mary Amy was appointed to assistant the French nun and at the same time was appointed to assist the convent director who would take care of the business part.

The French nun finished her job and left to France to join her convent. The convent director was appointed to continue taking care of the convent on daily bases until they elect the Mother Superior. On July 3, 1933, the religious committee met and voted for Sister Mary Amy to be the first General Superior and the first Mother Superior of the Convent of Saint Katrina Al Syriania

During her life she was able to spread the Christianity, opened many kindergartens for girls and boys, helped many young women to live the Christian way and became the best of mothers. Mother Mary Amy before she became a nun, opened many centres for teaching Christianity, mathematics and the Arabic language, in the North of Iraq.  Because of her work and the many centres she opened, the Dominican superiors opened the new convent, “St. Katrina Al Syrian Convent.”

 

In 1937 they started building a private hospital which was inaugurated in 1950 by the name of St. Raphael, which they still run to date. A nursing school followed in 1962, were hundreds of nurses trained and graduated to serve in the government sector. Today over 120 native Iraqi sisters belong to the congregation and at some point before the invasion of Iraq the sisters ran 10 schools with over 2,500 students. 

After the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, most of the institutions run by the sisters remain closed or deserted, especially outside the autonomous region of Kurdistan. The hospital of St. Raphael is still running despite the killing and looting that goes on in Baghdad. It is still run by the tireless Sister Maryanne Pierre who kept the hospital open. The Sister, who studied nursing in the United States, remained steadfast and defiant to serve the Iraqi people. Sister Pierre kept treating patients even as bombs fell around her and looters ransacked nearby buildings. "This is my job to stay here to help people," she said in an interview with CBS News. "Even during the first Gulf War we stayed. It's our duty to stay here for all the people."

 

In an interview with the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, two Iraqi Dominican nuns recounted their efforts to serve the Church and the needy in the nation amidst war and violence.“When the bombs started falling in Baghdad and people started to flee, we opened our convents to families,” said one nun. “We gave people a place to stay … Years ago; the government nationalized our Catholic schools. After the regime fell, the government gave the buildings back to us. We let displaced families stay in the schools, too. We made sure people had the necessities to live. Our pantries were always empty, because we always gave everything away.” They added: “early in the crisis, especially in 2003 and 2004, most of Iraq’s hospitals closed down, we ran the Al-Hayat Hospital in Baghdad, and we stayed opened. We stayed open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We stayed open for the people.”

St Dominic founded the first monastery of nuns at Prouille, France in 1206. Today there are more than 200 monasteries of Dominican Nuns throughout the world. 

 

Islamic State burns rare Christian manuscripts

By: Robert Ewan

In a ceremony resembling the the Nazi burning of the books in 1933, the Islamic State (Isis) burned literary books and very rare Christian manuscripts. Eyewitness’s accounts from the city of Mosul indicate that on January 13, 2015 there was a massive burning of books in the suburb of Almajmoaa al Thaqafia, north east of Mosul. Along hundred of novels and poetry books hurled into the flames, were some rare Christian manuscripts looted from Mar Afram, Mar Paul and Our Lady of the Annunciation churches. 

 The militants invited many local residents to toss books into the bonfire. They declared that these books are against the orientation of the Islamic State and aims to stir promiscuity, pornography and overtaking on the divine self.

Nun bids farwell to Iraq

By Robert Ewan

After 38 years service in Iraq Sister Martine of the little sisters of Jesus decided to return to France

The Iraqi Catholic Patriarch celebrated a farewell mass to Sister Martin of the little sisters of Jesus on Sunday May 18, 2014 at the Mar Elea church in Baghdad. Many parishioners and nuns from all over Iraq attended the mass. In his homily, Patriarch Sako thanked Sister Martin for all her contribution to the Iraqi church, he praised her spirit of generosity and her devoted ascetic life. He added: “She has a permanent smile that never departs her face.”

 In her farewell speech, Sister Martin said: “I thought very hard and prayed and after some deliberation with my fellow sisters I decided to leave Iraq and return to my country France. I love Iraq, I love its people and its church and I thank the Lord for sending me here. I thank everyone who helped me to discover the quality of culture and hospitality that exists in this country. My mission in the church has not finished and I want you to know that you have a sister that prays for you in France.”

Sister Afnan Yassou, head of the little sister of Jesus in Iraq, thanked Sister Martin and said: for us Sister Martin was always present but in silence, she was a listening ear. She added: “Sister Martine was our inspiration and support, to us her friendship was like a compass that led us to the true path.”

Sister Martin of the Little Sisters of Jesus came from France to Iraq in 1976 where she faced two trials. The first is the challenge of the loss of identity at the expense of the discovery of the new values of the country she came to serve. The second is to be shut out to one’s traditions and customs in fear of the loss of identity without learning something new. She said that she was usually asked: “Why have you stayed in Iraq?” She often said nothing but to live in love and solidarity with the Iraqi people for whom she gave a large part of her life.

Madeleine Hutin, taking the name Little Sister Magdeleine of Jesus, founded the Little Sisters of Jesus on September 8, 1939, in Touggourt, Algeria, following the path marked out by Charles de Foucauld (also known as Father de Foucauld or Brother Charles of Jesus).

She was warmly welcomed in Iraq and was encouraged to set up her mission by Patriarch Paulus II Sheikho.The first mission was set up within his diocese of Aqra, northern Iraq, in 1954 and later on in Baghdad.

MAR SHIMOON BARSABBAI

He was born in Susa (south west of Iran); the exact date of his birth is unknown. But it is thought that he lived over 117 years. His family was in the profession of dyeing the cloths of kings and princes of the Parthian royal family. He was called Barsabbai meaning the son of the dyers. This nickname stuck on him as he dyed his body with the blood of his martyrdom.

During sometime in the fourth century he was a disciple and later deacon for Patriarch Fafa (the head of Eastern Church).He was sent by Fafa as his representative at the council of Nicaea in 325 (A council called by Emperor Constantine I to form a consensus in the church through an assembly that represented all Christendom).In 329 he was elected patriarch of the church of the east.

In spring 341, the Parthian king, Shahpour, issued a decree, ordering all Christians to pay double taxes, to fund his wars with the Romans. As Christians, majority of them on low income, were unable to pay these new taxes, he ordered all heads of churches to be imprisoned. Patriarch Shimoon was amongst 103 prisoners. After torture and false allegation, they were all falsely accused of spying for the Romans. He was taken to Ahwaz where the king was residing.

The kings ordered them to denounce their religion and worship fire. The vehemence of their refusal infuriated the king, incandescent with rage; he gave the order to execute them all. In prison, Mar Shimoon nourished his exhausted companions and revived their languidness. On Good Friday 14^th April 341, in the greyness and drizzle of one despondent dawn, they were all lead to a courtyard and were beheaded. This marked the beginning of what is known as the forty years prosecution of Christians (339-379). It is estimated that over 30,000 Christians perished in this carefully calibrated prosecution.

Two of his prayers, a prayer before martyrdom and the crown of martyrdom were written shortly before his execution.  

 

 

A prayer before martyrdom

 

Lord Jesus, You prayed for those who crucified You,

You teach us to pray for our foes.

You accepted the spirit of Estepanous who prayed for those who stoned him.

Accept my spirit and the souls of my brethrens.

Forgive the sin of the persecutors of your people.

Lord, grant them the grace of conversion.

Lord, bless the towns and cities You entrusted into my care.

Protect all our faithful consider them like the apple of your eye.

May they find shelter under the shadows of Your wings,

Till these troubles pass away.

As you promised stay with them till the end

 

 

The crown of Martyrdom

 

My Lord Jesus, adorn me with the crown of martyrdom,

You know, how much my heart longs for it.

You know, how much my soul loves You.

Grant me to look with joy at the sword of my executioner.

Grant me peace in Your kingdom, and let your glory be my strength.

Permit me not to live in this world and witness my people’s hardship.

Permit me not to live and see,

Your churches demolished,

Your altars torn down,

Your Holy books ripped,

Your holiness defiled,

Your anguished monks tortured.

Permit me not to live,

To see the wolves ravaging your glorious eparchies,

Permit me not to live,

And see my deceiving friends turning upon me as my executioners.

Arise me gallantly as the head of the church of the east.

 

 

 

 

Food festival raises funds for the displaced Assyrians of Iraq

 By: Robert Ewan 

Hundreds of people attended the second Assyrian Food Festival, held on Saturday at the Assyrian House, south Ealing. The event raised £6,200 and a generous collection of clothing for the displaced Assyrians of Iraq.

Crowds gathered to enjoy the Assyrian heart-warming hospitality and the array of delicious Assyrian cuisine, which dates back to 700 BC. A scrumptious aroma settled over Assyrian house and it was as if several restaurants had opened under the same roof.

The local community was given the opportunity to experience Assyrian food such as “Harissa” (Chicken & Barley Soup) and "Dolma" (rice and tomato sauce stuffed in grape leaves, cabbage, various peppers, and zucchini). A wide array of deserts was also served. There were several stalls selling, CDs, books, beauty and household products

 Wilson Jaso, president of the Assyrian society of the United Kingdom, said:” The festival is an opportunity to showcase Assyrian food but this year we want to show solidarity with our suffering brothers and sisters in Iraq who were expelled from their homes. He added: “The Assyrian society has donated $50,000 to the needy Assyrians of Iraq and a further $50,000 will be sent to them shortly”. He thanked the organising committee for planning of this event and for their dedication and hard work that made the festival a success.
 

The Legend of Mar Qardagh

 

Qardagh was born in the village of Barhaptoon in northern Iraq around AD 325 to a noble and wealthy family. His father, Kooshnawi (a descendant of Assyrian kings) was dedicated to the Zoroastrian religion. He was a philanthropist who built many temples and donated generously to its priests.

Since his youth, Qardagh was a prodigious marksman, polo-player and a hunter. He was heavily built, a tall and handsome figure with a deep majestic voice. When King Shapur II visited his parent’s he was impressed with his archery skills and athleticism. His precocious talents captured the imagination of the king. Next morning he joined the king’s hunting entourage of three hundred noblemen and one hundred bodyguards. As they entered into a dense forest they spotted two stags, the king called for Qardagh to show his archery skills. He loosed his arrow with such speed and ferocity that it went through both stags and killed them. It was as if the hunted stags knew the arrows of their hunter before they felt them in their breasts.

 

The king was lost in amazement. He bequeathed him with many gifts and appointed him as a Marzipan, government official, for the frontier region of Atour, an area stretching from present-day Irbil in northern Iraq to Nissibes in south Turkey. This area bordered the Byzantine Empire where Christianity was spread in the region. The Christians were perturbed when they heard about his appointment. They were aware how zealous his family was to the Zoroastrian religion.

 

Upon taking his post, Qardagh built many temples and commenced work on his castle on a hill called Malgee.He completed the project within two years. Opposite to his castle, a huge fire temple was built and many priests were appointed to serve in it. As he was supervising the final touches to his castle, one night, he saw a vision of a heavily armored knight poked his spear at him and told him that he would die as a martyr for Jesus in front of his castle. This was St. George. He told his mother about his vision, she warned him not to persecute the Christians, as their God is just.

 

In a cave nestled in mount Safeen, overlooking Shaqlawa (51 km to the northeast of Erbil) lived a monk by the name of Abdishu (to this day the cave still exists). As he was praying he heard a voice that ordered him to leave his cave and to seek Qardagh, as he wished to be converted to Christianity. As the monk was headed to the castle, he came across a party of joyous men who were chatting excitedly; it was Qardagh and his friends heading to a field to play polo. Abdishu nonchalantly walked towards them and blocked their way. They were surprised at the hermit’s bold impiety and cussedness.The incandescently angry men jostled and battered the monk. He was dragged to the castle to be questioned after they finish their game.

 

 As they commenced their warm up before the game, one of the players wiped the ball hard but it did not move and remained at rest. Everyone took turns and hit the ball with their mallets, they were amazed at how much harder they hit the ball, yet it did not move. It seemed nailed to the ground.Qardagh ordered one of his men to dismount and to lift the ball and throw it away. His friend lifted the ball and threw it as hard as he could only to fall at his feet. They were dumbfounded. One of his companions pointed out that the monk they beat up drew the sign of a cross and muttered something with his lips, perhaps he cast a spell on them.Qardagh returned to his castle and sank into an eternal slumber. He was gripped by a growing self-righteous rage, he ordered Abdishu to be brought to him for interrogation.

 

Qardagh questioned Abdishu about his identity and how did he possess such supernatural powers. He yelped insults at the monk. The hermit endured his abuse with humility and talked with gusto about Christianity and Jesus.Qardagh realised that behind the hermit’s servile, weak exterior lies concealed a strong will and precise goals that he will fight courageously and obstinately to achieve. Yet he felt that there was something about him that garnered respect. As he was being dragged to prison, Abdishu told him that tomorrow he will witness another miracle. 

 

The next day Qardagh and his companions were out hunting. Every time one of them loosed his arrows, they would fly no further than his feet.Spontanously; all of them drew their bows fully and discharged their arrows as hard as they could only to see them fall on the ground. Their faces were etched with incredulity and anxiety.

 

Qardagh realised that a miracle was unfurling before his eyes, and he remembered the words of Abdishu.He hurriedly returned to his castle overtaken by anxiety and fear, he decided to free the monk. Unaware that during the night the angel of the Lord appeared to Abdishu and released him from his captivity. The guards went to get him and to their astonishment, they saw the jail door open and his shackles on the floor. The panic stricken guards were slathered with sweat; a frission of fear enfolded them. They rushed back and informed Qardagh.

 

Qardagh withdrew into his private quarters. Alone in his room and wallowing in the murk of his soul, he realised that the God of Christians is truly great. He subconsciously drew the sign of the cross on his wall. From this moment, a great change occurred to his life, he felt pure and as if his soul is cleansed by the new faith.Qardagh started praying ruefully and he implored the god of Christians to let him see Abdishu and to ask for his forgiveness and to be taught about the Christian faith. During the night, he saw a vision of the monk telling him how to get to his mountain cave.

In the morning, Qardagh disguised himself, took two of his loyal men, and headed to the mountain cave of Abdishu. After several days riding, they reached the cave and were greeted by the monk.Qardagh dismounted swiftly and knelt on the ground before Abdishu and asked for his forgiveness. The pious monk helped him to stand on his feet, embraced him warmly, and took him inside his cave. His companions took his horse to the nearby monastery of Sapperyasho were they lodged. Abdishu started teaching Qardagh how to pray and meditate.

In a cave, nine miles north of f Abdishu’s mountain, a monk by the name of Booya dwelled. He lived a strict ascetic life and never ventured outside his cave for almost sixty eight years. This cave still exists in northern Iraq and the Christian locals of Shaqlawa still celebrate the monks feast day on the 3rd Monday after Easter.Booya had a vision to call upon the cave of Abdishu and to help him guide the newly converted Qardagh.

 

Abdishu was astonished when he saw the old monk at his cave. The two of them embraced each other warmly; they were filled with joy at Qardagh being converted to a Christian.Booya embraced Qardagh and he spoke to him about Jesus and their religion. The three of them spent some time in prayers and meditation. The old monk embraced the two and returned to his cave.Qardagh spent a further five days with Abdishu and he asked him to baptise him.Abdishu took him to the monastery of Saparyashu, along with his two loyal companions, they were baptised in a joyful ceremony. After spending another week with Abdishu,he returned to his castle immersed in joy and happiness.  

 

When Qardagh reached his castle, he immediately asked for a monk by the name of Isaac. He was a renowned friar who roomed the area. Isaac taught Qardagh the psalms and explained the bible to him.Qardagh abandoned all frivolous things, and stopped eating meat. He withdrew from society and devoted himself to the purpose of spiritual renewal and return to God.  He started giving alms and donations to the poor and orphans of monasteries in his area. These acts disturbed his family and relatives, especially his father. He was a wealthy landlord and was perturbed at his son’s squandering of his land and possessions. It was bad enough for Qardagh to convert to Christianity and even worse, he was giving away all the wealth they have accumulated.  His wife Shushan wrote to her father and complained about his action. 

 

After two years have passed, Qardagh decided to visit his mentor Abdishu.The monk was delighted to see him, they went to meet monk Booya, and he stayed with them for over a month. He enjoyed the rustic beauty and peacefulness of the area.

News of Qardagh’s conversion to Christianity and his lack of interest in wars reached his enemies. During his stay with the monks, a raiding party of Romans and Arabs attacked his castle. Many of his knights were killed and they took captive his parents, his wife and his relatives together with a large booty.

Two hundred and thirty five of his bravest knights survived the battle and they headed for the cave of Abdishu.Qardagh was surprised to see their gruff faces .He laughed at them and asked why the look so petrified as if they have just escaped their death. Churned up with anger, one of his knights said:” what do expect when our commander and governor dwells in the cave with thieves and saucerers”.Immediately after he finished his sentence the knight fell on the ground and breathed no more.His companions were astonished when they saw their brave friend dead by uttering a few words and they all asked to be baptised and converted to Christianity.

Qardagh decided to save his family and recover his possession. After the blessing of Booya and Abdishu he gathered his remaining knights and returned to his castle. He was saddened to see the devastation inflicted on his land, yet with Christianity etched on his heart, he decided to forgive his enemies and not to seek revenge. He dispatched his brother with a message to the raiders to return what belonged to him. His wife was very clever; she left some traces of her clothes as clues that would lead to their whereabouts.

The raiders decapitated his brother’s head and returned to Qardagh.Incandescent with rage he gathered his knights and prepared for battle. He and his men spent some time praying in the church, with his hand on his head he muttered an incantation and started praying. He vowed that if he was to be victorious in his battle all temples of fire would be demolished in his region. They headed for battle; Qardagh was wearing a large illuminos cross on his chest.

He met his enemies by the mountain of Qardoo; they were drinking and sending their laughter resounding through the mountains. As the darkness of night was receding heralding a new morning, Qardagh and his men attacked their camp. Their attack was so furious and swift that within one hour the battle was over and almost all his enemies were killed or drowned in Khabour River. This battle took place in AD 356 near the village of Beedar west of Zakho (300 miles North West of Baghdad). 

 

Qardagh returned triumphantantly; he regained his wife, his parents and all his possessions. He was in an ebullient mood. He replaced all temples of fire with churches, fulfilling his vow. He even converted the temple built by his father, in honor of his birth, at the village of Barhaptoon to a monastery. The Zoroastrian priests and their chief by the name of Mudban Moobedheard were outraged by his action and lodged a complained to the king.

 

The king loved Qardagh and admired his bravery in battle; he was fascinated with his daring attack that left thousands of his enemies dead. He dismissed the priest’s complaint. The head priests produced more witnesses and again lodged an appeal to the king to investigate the matter. The king succumbed to their pressure and summoned Qardagh for questioning.

 

At their meeting Qardagh confessed to the king about his conversion to Christianity. The king asked him to denounce his new faith and to return back to his Zoroastrian beliefs. By doing so he would be rewarded handsomely.Qardagh clung obstinately to his new faith. He hoped that during this period Qardagh’s friends and family would be able to exert some pressure on him to renounce his new faith. However; he remained stubborn and refused to repent. His case was put to the notorious chief inquisitor Shaherkhwast.He was Ruthless and delusional judge and was responsible for trying all those who converted to Christianity.

 

Shaherkhwast ordered Qardagh to denounce his new faith and he would be sparred all the torture. But instead he started praying loudly. Shaherkhwast grew increasingly vituperative the more he prayed. His eyes were glinting with rage. If it were not for the kings orders, he would have killed him at once.Qardagh was shackled and escorted to his castle. As he approached his castle, Qardagh broke down and wept in tears, he sank to his knees prayed to Jesus to unshackle him. All of a sudden his shackles turned and unfastened. His captors were startled and ran in fright.

 

Qardagh entered his castle and shut its gates; he prepared to fight with his loyal knights. They started shooting arrows at his captors, killing most of them. A larger force was sent to retake his castle but Qardagh defeated them. The king summoned Qardagh’s elder tribesmen and asked them to intervene and negotiate a peaceful settlement of the affair, but they failed.

During his sleep, Qardagh saw a dream of a man being stoned with pearls. When he woke up in the morning he asked monk Isaac to interpret his dream. The monk told him that this was St. Stephen, the first martyr of Christianity. He red his storey to him from the Acts of the Apostles. Qardagh realised that his hour has arrived. He drew the sign of the cross and ordered the gates to be opened. His companions clutched on him, beseeched him but to no avail. He walked slowly towards his enemies.

 

 

Everyone gathered around him, vulgar jests and insulting sneer were passed from lip to lip, like the bellowing of wild beasts. He felt their glare on him like a heat of a blistering sun. The crowd could contain their anger no longer. Then, a torrent of stones.

As he was being pelted by the mob, Qardagh seemed oblivious to them and continued with his prayers and drew the sign of the cross on his forehead. He prayed that the Lord would receive his spirit and his killers be forgiven. He was pelted with larger stones and despite the agony that racked his frame he continued with his prayers. He felt his pulse race and the moisture evaporate from his mouth.

 

As the last gleam of light was fading from his eyes, Qardagh cried lugubriously:” I will only die if my father stoned me”. His father heard his cry; He took a large stone and with his eyes closed dropped it on his son’s head. He died instantly. This was on a Friday in AD 358. His feast day is still celebrated by Christians of Iraq on August 23.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Iraqi Patriarch condemns the terrorist acts that took place in France

By: Robert Ewan

In a letter to the Archbishop of Paris André Armand Vingt-Trois, the Iraqi Chaldean Patriarchate Louis Sako strongly condemned the heinous crimes that took place in France and expresses its solidarity and its proximity to the French people.

Offering his condolences to the victims' families and the wounded, Sako said: “I would like to express my deep sorrow and the sorrow of all Iraqi Christians to all the families of the victims and the wounded. We are close to you by our prayers, hope and solidarity. We ask the Lord to soften those stony hearts and open the road of peace and reconciliation between all the nations.” He added: “We call on our Muslim brothers to take the initiative from the inside to dismantle this terrorist extremist ideology, and building an open and enlightened Islamic opinion that doesn't accept the political exploitation of religion. There is a future for us as human beings only by living together in peace, harmony and cooperation”. 

Islamic State burns rare Christian manuscripts

By: Robert Ewan

In a ceremony resembling the Nazi burning of the books in 1933, the Islamic State (ISIS burned literary books and very rare Christian manuscripts. Eyewitness accounts from the city of Mosul indicate that on January 13, 2015 there was a massive burning of books in the suburb of Almajmoaa al Thaqafia, north east of Mosul. Along hundreds of novels and poetry books hurled into the flames, were some rare Christian manuscripts looted from Mar Afram, Mar Paul and Our Lady of the Annunciation churches.

 The militants invited many local residents to toss books into the bonfire. They declared that these books are against the orientation of the Islamic State and aim to stir promiscuity, pornography and overtaking on the divine self.

Babel Pontifical College: Resilance redefined

Robert Ewan

 

The pontifical Babel college of philosophy and theology was founded in 1991.It is the only Christian theological faculty in Iraq and it belongs to the Chaldean Catholic Church of Iraq. Throughout its inception the college became an instrumental educational institute providing a higher scientific education for priests, monks, nuns and lay people. In 1997 the college was recognised and affiliated with the pontifical Urban university of Rome. The college was the brain child of the late Chaldean Patriarch, Raphael I Bidawid (1922-2003) and is regarded as one of his greatest legacies.

The college is located in Al-Doura district (10 Kilometres south west of Baghdad). A district that was regarded before 2003 invasion of Iraq as a Christian stronghold with home to more than 5000 Christian households. With the high number of churches and Christian institutions it was often referred to as” The Vatican of Baghdad”.

The first rector of the college was the late Father Yousif Habie .After his tragic death in a car accident in 2002 he was succeeded by Bishop Jack Isaaq. The courses last six years. Two years of philosophy and four years of theology. The study programmes reflect the verity and ecumenism that has forever characterised the spirit of the college. Father Bashar Warda, Curator of the college in Ankawa, said: "The uniqueness of the college lies in the fact that it enrols Christian students belonging to different Christian denominations such as Assyrians, Armenians, Syriac and Chaldeans all studying in perfect harmony” He added: “We even have over three Moslem lecturers in philosophy”.

1991 was a year when Iraq emerged from the violent and destructive Gulf war and as a result of its invasion of Kuwait the United Nations imposed economic and financial sanctions lasting 13 years. These sanctions were regarded as the toughest, most comprehensive sanctions in history.

Against this uncertain and turbulent background the college commenced its first term in October 1991. The college continued its progress and growth under the shadow of Saddam Hussein’s almost secular state. It is a sad fact that even under his philanthropy of terror and his despicable rule, Christians felt safe.

The adherents of all faiths were kept in check and were able to coexist in relative peace creating a tranquil interfaith relationship.

Father Bashar Warda said: "During Saddam Hussein’s regime the college was very much left (within limitation) to carry on its education. He added: "religious books and publications were subject to the usual censorship, dissemination of foreign books was strictly controlled”.

The library on its inception inherited over 8000 English books in theology and philosophy from the Jesuit library of Baghdad College. A further 6000 books and magazines were inherited from the Dominican Father’s Monastery in Mosul. Books were also donated by individuals and some were purchased. Some foreign organisations such as the French L’Oeuvre de L’orient and the German Misso also contributed the library’s inventory. Additionally, Catholic priests working with the American army contributed to the library.

Father Habib Jajuo, the parish priest in London, was the Library’s administrator between 1991-2003 he recalled: "One morning a large truck arrived at the building containing thousands of Catholic books donated to the library from the United States”.

The book inventory reached to 20000 and at it’s zenith it reached approximately 420000 books in English, French, Arabic and Italian. The library also housed some priceless manuscripts and books in Aramaic. Father Habib said: "There were some 44 manuscripts the oldest dating to 1560, this was the interpretation of the gospel by Bishop Odisho of Armenia dating back to 1300,he added: "There were over 10 books in Latin dated to the sixteen and seventeen centuries”.The library became one of the most ancient religious libraries in the region.

In 1993 the Bishop’s synod agreed to establish catechetical Christian institute attached to the college whereby catechist were trained for a three year course.

In 1994 the cultural centre was established within the college. It held lectures, exhibitions and forums and other educational and musical events.

In 2003 and, yet again, the spectre of war lingered over Iraq and the country was rapidly heading towards a whirlpool of war and destruction.

Prior to the U.S led invasion, The Iraqi army positioned anti aircraft missiles, radar and other military equipment alongside the external walls of the college this made the college a military target. As a result the college sustained damages to its structure.

Since the invasion of Iraq a wave of unprecedented cross-sect terror was ignited with the main groups of Sunni and Shia in a frantic race to exterminate each other. These groups also viewed the American led invasion as a Christian crusade and Iraqi Christians as its supporters and collaborators. The persecution of the Christians took the form of bombing, Kidnaping, Killing Women, men, the elderly and children were not sparred. Babel College also took its share of this violence. In August 2006 Father Saad Hanna Sirop was kidnapped by a gang of criminals. Father Hanna, ordained in Rome, was in charge of the theological department of Babel College. This caused uproar and a worldwide condemnation, Pope Benedict XVI appealed for his release. He was later freed in September.

As Iraq continued to loos all semblance of peace and order, abductions, assaults and threats continued in their ferocity against the Christian community this convinced the patriarchate to shut the college and then to move it to a safer place. This decision was made official on January 4^th and on 7^th of January the building was evacuated and relocated to Ankawa in Irbil northern Iraq.

Patriarch Emmanuel III Dely of the Chaldean Catholics told Vatican radio: "We have thought of the move for a long time to go to a tranquil place to be able to study better. When the situation is calmer we will return for the site”.

The leafy district of Al –Doura, were church bells’ resonate its streets, steadily fell under the sway of the insurgents and became the hornet’s nest of sectarian violence forcing the reaming Christians to abandon their homes en mass. It was a time when Christianity went back to its routes as the religion of the persecuted. In order to command better control of the area the American Army occupied Babel College and used it as “command post”. It was nicknamed by the American army COP Amanche. The college was occupied first by the 4^th cavalry squadron of the first mechanised infantry division and then by the 2^nd squadron of the second Stryker cavalry regiment. This controversial move further increased resentments towards Iraqi Christians as they were seen as American’s fifth column. Although, Iraqi Christians were innocent in the taking of the building. The Chaldean Patriarch never granted the use of the building to the American Military.Their request to regain the building were not accepted by the army. In November 2007 the American army decided to leave the building and signed an agreement with the church to restore any damaged parts and to replace what was destroyed. The valuable library suffered no damages as it was sealed by the army when they took over the building.

 

The college settled in the new Christian neighbourhood of Ankawa. The honey combed houses are the dwellings of what is currently regarded as the largest concentration of Christians in Iraq.

The opening of the college was marked by a mass in the Mar Eliya Chaldean church celebrated by Bishop Jack Isaaq alongside many local dignitaries. About 25 seminarians were registered with the college alongside other students who are studying theology and philosophy.

Bishop Isaaq commenting to Baghdad hope, a Chaldean Catholic news bulletin, said: " We need optimism and courage, and I am optimistic about the role of Babel College has and will have on the education of the Iraqi clergy,he added: " Our duty as an ecclesiastic institution is to educate but above all prepare the future witnesses of Chris".

The new imposing three story building hosts the Aula Magna and has four lecture rooms, library, computer and internet centre and a cafeteria. The new library contains some 6000 volumes .

The situation in Al- Doura is improving rapidly many of it’s churches have reopened and is now protected by the local pro-US Sunni paramilitary forces known as Sahwat Al -Doura ( Doura Awakening).Gradually normality is returning and whilst Al-Doura is regaining its glitter, the college intends to return to the building without closing the new one in Ankawa

 Father Bashar Warda says: "Despite all the difficulties the college continues to walk with faith, believe and courage. He added:" we see the college expanding into two separate institutions one specialising in Theology and the other in Philosophy,the college will continue to radiate hope and reanimate Iraq’s renowned Christian institutions preserving the Christian history. Through the words of our Saviour that it becomes the sustenance and energy of the college".