It was occupied by Daesh for more than two years. But last night Christmas was celebrated in the Iraqi village of Bartella for the first time since 2013.
The Assyrian Christian town, fled by its residents in August 2014, was one of the first to be liberated after the start of the concerted Mosul offensive by Iraqi forces in October. Those who returned found a shell of a town, and its churches badly vandalized.
However, that did not stop hundreds gathering there for Christmas Eve services last night. Iraqi Christian journalist Steven Nabil shared the following video of prayers at St George's Church in Bartella on his Facebook page:
Historical moments. First Christmas mass since Christmas 2013 in the old Church of St George in Bartella after its liberation by the Iraqi special forces. You can see the effects of the burning of the church by Daesh. Every Iraqi who loves his country should be proud of the sacrifices of its heroes, which are manifested today in these warmest pictures of the celebration of Christmas. O God, we ask you that this is a rebirth for Iraq as a whole, the birth of a new era of hope. We are made strong in you, you Most Merciful.
He also shared a picture of members of the Iraqi special forces, who retook the area at the end of October, taking part in the service.
The Facebook page “Bartella Now” also shared images of a mass held at nearby Mar Shamoni Church:
Very Happy Christmas to everyone across the world. Today is the birth of Jesus Christ, the master of the universe #HappyChristmas The commandment of Christ to the world is: "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12). We need to actually apply that commandment in Iraq. Christmas Mass at Mar Shamoni Church, Bartella
Bishop Mussa Shemali said of the occasion that: "It is a mix of sadness and happiness, we are sad to see what has been done to our holiest places by our own countrymen, but at the same time we are happy to celebrate the first mass in two years."
Under Daesh, the historic Christian population of the Nineva governorate, of which Mosul is the capital, were told to pay a tax, convert to Islam or be killed. The majority sought refuge in nearby Kurdistan.
Despite the devastation left behind by the extreme Islamist group, these pictures provide hope this Christmas that the future is brighter for Iraq’s Christians.
RA
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