Celebrating Mass in Mosul

The Monastery of Saint Michael in Mosul.

For decades now, Mosul’s Christians haven’t been able to worship in their churches because their city was racked with insecurity and violence.

But on Sunday, April 2, 2023, Holy Mass was celebrated at the Monastery of Saint Michael for the first time in more than 20 years. It was officiated by Archbishop Najib Mikhael Moussa, who was overjoyed to be able to conduct the service there.

“We hope that we can continue our prayers in all the destroyed churches and monasteries that were destroyed and their believers displaced,” he said.

The residents of Mosul have lived in insecurity since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. In June 2014, the city was taken by the ISIS armed group, which held it until July 2017. But even after their city was liberated, the people of Mosul suffered scattered attacks that left them living with insecurity.

“After 2003, as Christians, we used to stay at home for long periods and deliberately not go to churches and monasteries because of the bad security conditions and threats to Christians,” said resident Hamid Tuzi, 31. “Christians were frequently targeted, many people were threatened and emigrated, and many priests were killed.”

– Abouna