In Iraq, the inauguration of a convent is a sign that "Christianity can flourish in the plains of Nineveh"

“We Christians in Iraq have a deep wound, this wound must be healed by faith. We must have faith to rebuild the village, and you are a sign of that faith. »

In Batnaya, an Iraqi village in the plain of Nineveh devastated under Islamic occupation, the convent of the Dominican Sisters was inaugurated. For Paul Thabet d'Alqosh, the Chaldean archbishop, "the presence of the nuns in this village is a sign of encouragement for all the people of the village to come back too..."

“We Christians in Iraq have a deep wound, this wound must be healed by faith. We must have faith to rebuild the village, and you are a sign of that faith. »

🏗️ Nuevo convento of San José in Batnaya.
🇮🇶 Así es como #Iraq resurge after 9 years after the invasion of Daesh.#Good news ???? https://t.co/IG5PvnUXgO

— Ayuda a la Iglesia Necesitada (@AyudaIglesNeces) -

The organization Aid to the Church in Need participated in the financing of this reconstruction. Its UK Country Director, Dr Caroline Hull, says “the sisters' new convent is a sign that Christianity can flourish and have a future on the plains of Nineveh”.

“Visiting Iraq, I have seen the suffering of those who have been driven from their villages by armed extremists – which is why it is vital that we continue to help those who want to return to their villages to do so. Batnaya has become a ghost town after Daesh left and some have wondered if it will ever live again - but the sisters' new convent is a sign that Christianity can flourish and have a future on the plains of Nineveh. »

The village of Batnaya had been completely devastated by the coalition forces to dislodge the jihadists. In May 2018, a Christian, Deacon Marcus, witnessed this desolation.

“Visit the Christian village of Batnaya, a village in northern Iraq not too far from Mosul. The village was taken over by ISIS a few years ago and was virtually destroyed by airstrikes. As a result, many residents cannot return and remain displaced. »

Visited the Christian village of Batnaya, a village in northern Iraq not too far from Mosul. The village was taken by ISIS a few years ago and was virtually destroyed by airstrikes. As a result, many of the residents are not able to return and remain displaced. pic.twitter.com/3efEQh0xyX

— Father Marcus (@father_marcus) May 27, 2018

In 2019, following a fundraiser from the Hungarian Catholic Episcopal Conference, the renovation of the village of Batnaya began.

MC