By Baghdadhope*
The difficulties that afflict Iraq since a long time ago. The uncertainty in a future that not everyone is convinced the Republic of Iraq can handle after the withdrawal from the streets of the U.S. troops into the giant bases around the country. The political stalemate that still, five months after the elections, is preventing the country from having a proper government. The violence that still rages from north to south. These and many others could be reasons of the loss of hope. Despite everything, however, it does not die. Certainly it proceeds step by step, but on a path that has only one goal: the rebirth of the country.
The Iraqi Christian community is part of this hope of rebirth despite the limits imposed by its being a tiny minority in a country that seems increasingly turning to the more rigid application of the rules of an intolerant Islam towards who is “other than itself” and that even if embraced by a minority found in the violence the mean of imposing itself on the majority that tolerate who is different.
Writing of Iraqi Christians Baghdad, Mosul, Erbil and Kirkuk are usually cited as they are the centers where most Christians live. But there are places that have rarely been mentioned in relation to their Christian presence. One of them is the city of Sulaymaniyah
With about 800,000 inhabitants it is not a small town but certainly small is its Christian community as confirmed to Baghdadhope by Msgr. Louis Sako, Chaldean Archbishop of Kirkuk, who speaks of about 100 families originating from the city and another 120 moved there from Baghdad and Mosul who are living hard times and that the Archdiocese of Kirkuk is trying to help. The Chaldean Christian community of Sulaymaniyah
Now this long period of change and relative isolation of the community seems destined to end.
Father Ayman Aziz Hirmiz, ordained in Kirkuk on July 16, has finally replaced his predecessor as the Chaldean priest of Sulaymaniyah. That same month the families met with Msgr. Sako during his pastoral visit, the adults attended courses on Christian doctrine and the sacraments and the parish house was transformed into a reception center for youth and spiritual retreats which has already hosted groups coming from Erbil, Mosul and Kirkuk. Even in Sulaymaniyah, then, the historical presence of the Christian community is gaining strength thanks to the efforts of the church to be always present where there is a need, material and spiritual, and thanks also, as pointed out by Msgr. Sako, to an "open minded” Muslim community.
Another sign of hope.
The Iraqi Christian community is part of this hope of rebirth despite the limits imposed by its being a tiny minority in a country that seems increasingly turning to the more rigid application of the rules of an intolerant Islam towards who is “other than itself” and that even if embraced by a minority found in the violence the mean of imposing itself on the majority that tolerate who is different.
Writing of Iraqi Christians Baghdad, Mosul, Erbil and Kirkuk are usually cited as they are the centers where most Christians live. But there are places that have rarely been mentioned in relation to their Christian presence. One of them is the city of Sulaymaniyah
With about 800,000 inhabitants it is not a small town but certainly small is its Christian community as confirmed to Baghdadhope by Msgr. Louis Sako, Chaldean Archbishop of Kirkuk, who speaks of about 100 families originating from the city and another 120 moved there from Baghdad and Mosul who are living hard times and that the Archdiocese of Kirkuk is trying to help. The Chaldean Christian community of Sulaymaniyah
Now this long period of change and relative isolation of the community seems destined to end.
Father Ayman Aziz Hirmiz, ordained in Kirkuk on July 16, has finally replaced his predecessor as the Chaldean priest of Sulaymaniyah. That same month the families met with Msgr. Sako during his pastoral visit, the adults attended courses on Christian doctrine and the sacraments and the parish house was transformed into a reception center for youth and spiritual retreats which has already hosted groups coming from Erbil, Mosul and Kirkuk. Even in Sulaymaniyah, then, the historical presence of the Christian community is gaining strength thanks to the efforts of the church to be always present where there is a need, material and spiritual, and thanks also, as pointed out by Msgr. Sako, to an "open minded” Muslim community.
Another sign of hope.