Christians in Iraq raise a significant crucifix in a region previously held by ISIS
The village of Telekuf-Tesqopa, located 17 miles from Mosul, Iraq, is making strides towards rebuilding after being liberated from ISIS. This was evident on February 18, 2017, when the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Baghdad, Louis Sako, visited the village and blessed a giant cross that had been erected on a hill.
The first Mass was celebrated in Saint George Church in Telekuf-Tesqopa after two and a half years. The church, which had been dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was cleaned by volunteers from the French aid organization SOS Chrétiens d'Orient.
The placement of this cross is part of a campaign that seeks to remember the religious coexistence before the jihadists occupied the city in 2014. It is a symbolic act aimed at announcing the presence and determination of the Christian community to reclaim their land.
In every village liberated on the Plain of Nineveh, crosses are being placed as a visible sign of rebuilding. Muslims have also participated in these events, cleaning a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in east Mosul. This action is a testament to the unity and resilience of the community in the face of adversity.
After the Mass, everyone went out to the hill where Patriarch Sako blessed the cross. Authorities and officials of the region were present at the celebration. In his homily, Patriarch Sako said that the event is the first spark of light in the cities of the Nineveh Plain since the darkness of ISIS.
The offensive to recover the city of Mosul, the ISIS stronghold in Iraq, has been ongoing. Patriarch Sako told the faithful that now is the time to regain hope and for the people to return to their towns to begin a new stage of life. He said that the cross will announce to the world that this is their land, they were born there and will die there.
The name of the delegation member who came to Telekuf-Tesqopa on February 18, 2017, to assess the damage condition and request support from international organizations for reconstruction is not publicly available. However, the placement of these crosses serves as a powerful reminder of the community's unwavering spirit and their commitment to rebuilding their homes and lives.
In addition to the giant cross in Telekuf-Tesqopa, Christians have made wooden crosses and placed them on the roofs of churches and homes. This gesture has become a recurring one in villages liberated on the Plain of Nineveh, serving as a visible sign of hope and resilience.
Patriarch Sako concluded by saying that Christians will demonstrate to the world that the forces of darkness, which wreaked havoc and ravaged their land, are ephemeral. As the community continues to rebuild, these crosses stand as a testament to their unwavering faith and determination.
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