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Iraqi Christians celebrate Christmas in Irbil | Iraqi Christians celebrate Christmas in Irbil |
(21 days later) | |
"When you treat a cancer, you have to use unfortunate measures," said Bashar Warda, Chaldean Catholic archbishop of Irbil, when I asked him if it was right to kill members of the so-called Islamic State (IS). | "When you treat a cancer, you have to use unfortunate measures," said Bashar Warda, Chaldean Catholic archbishop of Irbil, when I asked him if it was right to kill members of the so-called Islamic State (IS). |
"They consider us blasphemers and infidels," he went on, "when they refuse to negotiate, refuse dialogue, refuse your right to exist - when they don't consider you as a human being, and try to terminate you. What other option do you have to eliminate their violence?" | "They consider us blasphemers and infidels," he went on, "when they refuse to negotiate, refuse dialogue, refuse your right to exist - when they don't consider you as a human being, and try to terminate you. What other option do you have to eliminate their violence?" |
There was applause and ululating in the cathedral church of St Joseph in Irbil when Archbishop Bashar made the same argument at a mass of consecration at the cathedral after extensive renovation and modernisation. | There was applause and ululating in the cathedral church of St Joseph in Irbil when Archbishop Bashar made the same argument at a mass of consecration at the cathedral after extensive renovation and modernisation. |
More than 1,000 Iraqi Christians attended the mass, which was a superbly rehearsed and performed piece of Catholic theatre. | More than 1,000 Iraqi Christians attended the mass, which was a superbly rehearsed and performed piece of Catholic theatre. |
There was sublime chanting from a choir of men and women in smart cream uniforms. | There was sublime chanting from a choir of men and women in smart cream uniforms. |
Altar boys and girls in red and white vestments attended the archbishop as he conducted the mass. | Altar boys and girls in red and white vestments attended the archbishop as he conducted the mass. |
The air soon grew thick with smoke from incense burning in a censer swung by a priest at the head of a procession of priests in white, led by one holding a staff with a silver crucifix at its top. | The air soon grew thick with smoke from incense burning in a censer swung by a priest at the head of a procession of priests in white, led by one holding a staff with a silver crucifix at its top. |
The language of the mass is Chaldean, which is related to Aramaic - the language spoken in the Middle East at the time of Christ. | The language of the mass is Chaldean, which is related to Aramaic - the language spoken in the Middle East at the time of Christ. |
The congregation spoke the Lord's Prayer in Chaldean. | The congregation spoke the Lord's Prayer in Chaldean. |
The church has new murals decorated in red and gold, depicting the baby Jesus with Joseph and Mary. | The church has new murals decorated in red and gold, depicting the baby Jesus with Joseph and Mary. |
Mary - Mariam in Arabic - is a particular figure venerated here. Jesus is also revered in Islam, and she as his mother. | |
Indeed, there were several Muslims in the congregation. | Indeed, there were several Muslims in the congregation. |
I first met Bashar Warda 11 years ago, when he was a parish priest in Baghdad, at the Church of St Ilya, right next to a Shia mosque. | I first met Bashar Warda 11 years ago, when he was a parish priest in Baghdad, at the Church of St Ilya, right next to a Shia mosque. |
Muslim women were praying at a statue of the Virgin Mary in the church courtyard. | Muslim women were praying at a statue of the Virgin Mary in the church courtyard. |
Father Bashar showed me his primary school, for more than 400 Christian - and Muslim - children (60% and 40% respectively). | Father Bashar showed me his primary school, for more than 400 Christian - and Muslim - children (60% and 40% respectively). |
There was no religious instruction, he told me, "just to learn to live together, study together, accepting each other." | There was no religious instruction, he told me, "just to learn to live together, study together, accepting each other." |
Father Bashar concluded his remarks with "it's the Iraqi way of living together." That was in 2005. | Father Bashar concluded his remarks with "it's the Iraqi way of living together." That was in 2005. |
The violent years that followed profoundly undermined that Iraqi way. | The violent years that followed profoundly undermined that Iraqi way. |
How big is the Christian community in Iraq? | How big is the Christian community in Iraq? |
Several priests have been killed - one beheaded and dismembered. A previous archbishop of Mosul died after being kidnapped, and a priest in Baghdad was kidnapped and released only when a ransom was paid. | Several priests have been killed - one beheaded and dismembered. A previous archbishop of Mosul died after being kidnapped, and a priest in Baghdad was kidnapped and released only when a ransom was paid. |
Dozens of Christians have died in bomb attacks on their churches during Mass. | Dozens of Christians have died in bomb attacks on their churches during Mass. |
Al-Qaeda in Iraq and its successor, IS, have killed hundreds of Christians, and menaced many more out of their homes. | Al-Qaeda in Iraq and its successor, IS, have killed hundreds of Christians, and menaced many more out of their homes. |
But this Christmas coincides with some relief, at last, for thousands of Iraqi Christians. | But this Christmas coincides with some relief, at last, for thousands of Iraqi Christians. |
Several of their towns and villages around Mosul have been liberated from occupation by the violent and uncompromising religious zealots of IS. | Several of their towns and villages around Mosul have been liberated from occupation by the violent and uncompromising religious zealots of IS. |
The new altar in St Joseph's contains pieces of broken stone which Archbishop Bashar recovered from the altars of two churches that IS destroyed in two Christian villages near Mosul. | The new altar in St Joseph's contains pieces of broken stone which Archbishop Bashar recovered from the altars of two churches that IS destroyed in two Christian villages near Mosul. |
The mass of consecration in Irbil was followed by fireworks, a cake baked in the shape of the church with its new red cross on top - and the choir singing a wistful, nostalgic song - Auld Lang Syne - In Arabic. | The mass of consecration in Irbil was followed by fireworks, a cake baked in the shape of the church with its new red cross on top - and the choir singing a wistful, nostalgic song - Auld Lang Syne - In Arabic. |
But the same tune, and the same words and meaning, "times gone by". | But the same tune, and the same words and meaning, "times gone by". |
One of its lines is: "Our voices all combine in sweet accord to thank our Lord." | One of its lines is: "Our voices all combine in sweet accord to thank our Lord." |
Listen to Hugh's report from Irbil | Listen to Hugh's report from Irbil |
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