Iraq: After 7 years of silence following IS takeover Mosul church gets new bell

У вашего броузера проблема в совместимости с HTML5

A bell rang out from a Syriac Christian church in Mosul for the first time in seven years since the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL), took, and later lost, the northern Iraqi city.

Priest Pius Afas could be seen ringing the Mar Thoma Church’s newly installed bell, as dozens of attendees from around the world headed to the church.

“It is a great rapture for Mosul, to all the sons and daughters of Mar Thoma Church in diaspora waiting for this day to come, the day when the bell returns to their church,” said Afas.

A Mass was held in the church to mark the return of the bell, at the same time Christians celebrated the Holy Cross Day in the church, where restoration work is still underway.

“Definitely, the feeling is indescribable. This is our church that we were forced to abandon in 2014, now we return to mark the festivals,’’ an Iraqi Christian resident said.

“I am an American-born citizen but originally I am from this old Mosul. My family used to visit this church. Today I am thrilled, appreciating the festive atmosphere marking the Holy Cross day and the setting up of the new bell at Mar Thoma Church,” an Iraqi expatriate said.

The 285-kilogramme (628-pound) bell was made in Lebanon funded by donations from the French NGO Fraternity in Iraq, which supports religious minorities in the country.

The bell of Mar Thoma church is the first to be re-assembled in the churches of major cities of northern Iraq.

SOUNDBITES:

SOT, Yousef Makram Qalian, American with Iraqi heritage (Arabic): “I am an American-born citizen but originally I am from this old Mosul. My family used to visit this church. Today I am thrilled, appreciating the festive atmosphere marking the Holy Cross day and the setting up of the new bell at Mar Thoma Church.”

SOT, Bassam Jamil, Iraqi Christian resident (Arabic): “Prior to the mass by a quarter of an hour, the bell was being rung, jogging our memory of how our parents at that time, and all women, children and men, prepared themselves within ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, putting on their clothes; women wore abayas and men wore the ghutra and did other traditional customs then heading to the church.”

SOT, Bassam Jamil, Iraqi Christian resident (Arabic): “Definitely, the feeling is indescribable. This is our church that we were forced to abandon in 2014, now we return to mark the festivals. It is worth saying that we are a deep-rooted family in Mosul; the family of the late Jamil Toshi, our house is about 100 metres away from the church. We maintained and rebuilt our house after being targeted by seven missiles. It still exists so far, with many Christian houses nearby the church (are being rebuilt).”

SOT, Pius Afas, Priest of Mar Thoma Church (Arabic): “It is a great rapture for Mosul, to all the sons and daughters of Mar Thoma Church in diaspora waiting for this day to come, the day where the bell returns to their church. We pray for the bells to be reassembled in all churches so that all ring simultaneously to call for prayers.”

SOT, Pius Afas, Priest of Mar Thoma Church (Arabic): “Since July 3, 2018, this church was the first to be reopened after the eradication of ISIS, meaning that upon the liberation announcement, we held our mass in this church among the debris. Afterwards, we began thinking of the reconstruction process. We managed gradually year after year to fulfil this last phase. We started with the church floor then completed the repair work by the arrival of the bell. God willing, we will organize an official opening ceremony after finishing the floor maintenance.”

SOT, Basima Jalil, Iraqi Christian resident (Arabic): “Today we celebrate the church bell re-installed alongside the Holy Cross torch on 14th of September. All the Mosuli who lived here before know what the Holy Cross Day means, and what celebrations were held on this occasion. “

#MarThomaChurch #Mosul #Iraq #ISIS

Video ID: 20210919-010

Video on Demand: https://ruptly.tv/videos/20210919-010
Contact: [email protected]

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Ruptly
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ruptly