Iraqi Christians celebrated Sunday mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in the town of Qaraqosh for the first time after recapturing it from Islamic State (Isis/Daesh). Church bells rang out for the first time in two years in the town, located on the outskirts of Mosul.
Iraqi priests hold the first Sunday mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Qaraqosh since it was recaptured from Islamic StateAhmed Jadallah/Reuters
Surrounded by charred walls and in front of a ruined altar, Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Mosul Butrus Moshe told worshippers: "Today Qaraqosh is free of Daesh. Our role today is to remove all the remnants of Daesh. This includes erasing sedition, separation and conflicts, which victimised us. Political and sectarian strife, separating between one man and another, between ruler and follower – these mentalities must be changed."
The jihadists have targeted followers and religious sites of minority communities in both Iraq and Syria. When Isis seized control of Mosul two years ago, Christians were given three choices: pay a tax, convert to Islam, or die by the sword. Most abandoned their homes and fled toward the autonomous Kurdish region, abandoning one of Christianity's earliest centres.
A Christian member of the Iraqi forces lights a candle at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in the town of QaraqoshSafin Hamed/AFPAn Iraqi Christian policeman takes pictures inside the Church of the Immaculate Conception after it was recaptured from IsisAhmed Jadallah/ReutersIraqi priests hold the first Sunday mass at the recaptured churchAhmed Jadallah/ReutersAn Iraqi Christian soldier attends the first Sunday mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Qaraqosh since it was recaptured from Islamic StateAhmed Jadallah/ReutersIraqi Christian soldiers attend the first Sunday mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in QaraqoshAhmed Jadallah/ReutersA crucifix is seen on the damaged altar of the Church of the Immaculate ConceptionAhmed Jadallah/ReutersA Christian member of the Iraqi forces stands guard in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in QaraqoshSafin Hamed/AFPA cross is seen as Iraqi Christians attend a mass at at a church in QaraqoshSafin Hamed/AFPArchbishop Butrus Moshe leads a mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in QaraqoshSafin Hamed/AFPArchbishop Butrus Moshe gives communion as he leads a mass at the Church of the Immaculate ConceptionSafin Hamed/AFPAn Iraqi Christian soldier guards the church of Saint Barbara in Qaraqosh after it was recaptured from Islamic StateAhmed Jadallah/ReutersArchbishop Yohanna Petros Mouche of Mosul inspects the damage at the Saint Barbara ChurchSafin Hamed/AFPMembers of Iraqi forces inspect burnt-out buildings in the vicinity of Saint Barbara Church in QaraqoshSafin Hamed/AFPA member of the Iraqi forces checks a damaged building in QaraqoshSafin Hamed/AFPA member of the Iraqi forces inspects a tunnel in the vicinity of Saint Barbara Church in QaraqoshSafin Hamed/AFP
Christianity in northern Iraq dates back to the first century AD. The number of Christians fell sharply during the violence that followed the 2003 overthrow of Saddam Hussein, and the Islamic State takeover of Mosul two years ago purged the city of Christians for the first time in two millennia.
