Baghdida, located in the district of Hamdaniya in northern Iraq, is also known as Qaraqosh. Its population once surpassed 55,000, but during the ISIS crisis, it plummeted to only a couple thousand. The militant group destroyed 80% of the city and turned its churches into military bunkers for practice. An estimated 20,000 have returned. With the largest Christian population in Iraq, Bahgdida leads the way for residents of a new generation.

The Holy Family Church was destroyed by ISIS.

The Holy Family Church, destroyed by ISIS, is being cleaned so it can hold a Mass on Easter Sunday. The parishioners are holding mass under this destructive condition to send a message to the world that they are staying.

A three-wheeled motorcycle is used as a pickup truck or a taxi. Although the streets are crowded, these motorcycles can maneuver quickly and save on gas. Most of the population of Baghdida are Christians; this gives drivers the confidence to post Christian pictures and verses from the Bible on their vehicles.

The local Arabis come to Baghdida to shop for fresh, locally grown produce. This customer is letting the shopkeeper know she does not welcome the recent increase in prices, some up to 25%.

Backgammon is the most popular pub and coffee shop game in Iraq. As young people have a hard time finding jobs, they resort to the local coffee shops for some entertainment.

The local restaurants are diversifying their menu, serving walnut tea alongside regular tea, and Terebinth coffee beside Turkish coffee.

The dairy farm pictured above lies on the outskirts of Baghdida and belongs to the Al Gazal dairy factory. It is capable of providing milk to triple the capacity of the factory. Al Gazal is a state-of-the-art, family-owned, local dairy factory that produces yogurt, cheese, and heavy cream. They use local all-natural cow milk, free of preservatives, flavoring, or added vitamins for their products. Their products are sold locally on a daily basis. Due to a lack of funding, this factory is only using half of its capacity because it is unable to distribute to other cities.

Students stand and recite in a renovated classroom in the Nineveh Province.

Villagers, mostly women, organize to clean up the town cemetery in Hamdaniya, along with a local priest. The efforts are in honor of their ancestors buried there.

Families with children attend Easter Mass in one of the district’s churches. The right to worship has not always been guaranteed; Christians in Iraq do not take it for granted.