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Christians of Mosul,
the light of the Resurrection in the Calvary of war
Mosul Archbishop's Easter message: "Let
us learn from Jesus; let us work so that the last word is not
left to terrorism and death." Local priest tells of Easter
preparations: packed churches, youth attending Mass despite parents'
orders. Liturgy shortened during Holy Week to limit the risk
of attacks.
Mosul (AsiaNews) In Mosul, theatre
of kidnappings, slaughters and violence perpetuated by Sunni
rebels and criminal gangs, Christians live under constant threat.
But if the passage from life to death is the meaning of Easter
around the world, the certainty of Resurrection is what distinguishes
the life of Iraqi Christians in what amounts in a way to retracing
Jesus' footsteps. "We have gone through 2004, our Calvary,
with its pain and destruction, but we have not lost our vitality,
we have not fled, we are still here, because we are certain of
Resurrection." Father Ragheed Ganni, secretary to the Bishop
of Mosul, in northern Iraq, tells AsiaNews of the meaning of
Christ's sacrifice in a city martyred by war, where the Cross
of daily violence does not prevent Christians from continuing
the heroic witness of their faith.
Father Ragheed explains that, today
more than ever, following Jesus' example is a necessity not only
for Christians but for all Iraqis. The same holds for Mosul's
Chaldean Archbishop, Monsignor Paulos Faraj Rahho who, in his
current Easter message, encourages Iraqis to draw from the hatred,
the fear and the bombs around them the real meaning of the Resurrection:
"Assassinations, terrorism and fear must not have the last
word in Iraq. Just as Christ overcame the tomb and death, what
must triumph at the end is Life and Love."
For the 33-year-old priest, the people
of Iraq at this moment are like those of Israel who "crossed
the Red Sea of war, leaving slavery behind them, and are setting
out towards a new life, full of hope." This thought has
been confirmed by strong church attendance during Lent. Fr Ragheed
says that, each Friday, the Church of Saint Paul, located near
the bishop's residence which was destroyed by 2 bombs on December
7, 2004, has been "full of people taking part in the Via
Crucis." "The fact that attendance is the same as last
year is already a positive sign." The priest does not deny,
however, that fear exists among people. "We ourselves are
trying to keep Mass short to limit the risk of attacks and liturgies
will be shortened also during the Holy Week."
Fr. Ragheed explains that Palm Sunday
had been an exception: "In my parish, the Church of the
Holy Spirit, we celebrated a Mass that went on for hours. Encouraged
by the large number of people in attendance, everyone gave in
to their great need for prayer."
However, Holy Week is being lived under
the banner of caution and care. "We make our plans day by
day on the basis of daily events. In the case of evening functions,
we try to finish them before dusk while morning functions always
begin after 8:30 a.m." Fr Ragheed added also that, in various
parishes of the city, some baptisms will be celebrated prior
to the Saturday Vigil.
Kidnappings, death threats, ransom payments
have become a veritable industry in Mosul. "As Christians
are one of the richer categories," Fr Ragheed explains,
"they are the target of groups intent on kidnapping them
for copious ransoms."
It seems however that all these problems
are not frightening the community of the faithful. The strongest
sign of hope comes for the "courage of youth." "Young
people continue to come to Church despite orders of their parents,
who worry for their safety." "The braver ones,"
he says, "try to encourage the others. They have organized
themselves to meet twice a week at the Church of Saint Paul,
where they pray together and ponder topics that they choose themselves,
such as fasting and prayer.
Volunteer work is also a heroic effort
in Mosul. "Young men," Fr Ragheed said, "spontaneously
offer their services to keep watch outside the church during
Mass which, following the bombings, we are still celebrating
in the hall under the bishop's residence." He explains that,
by taking part in parish life, young people "feel integrated
into the world" and not isolated in their own suffering.
"Many of them," he adds, "would like to go World
Youth Day in Cologne."
Young couples are another sign of hope
among Christians for a better future. "Lately, I have been
celebrating 2 or 3 marriages a month and these couples are proof
that life goes on, that there is hope of building something good."
After studying for 7 years in Italy,
Fr Ragheed returned voluntarily to Iraq last year, to be close
to his congregation during the war. On December 7, 2004, he experienced
the bomb attacks against the bishop's residence in Mosul, yet
he continues to bear witness to a fearless faith. "The strength
that comes from God," he said, "cannot be explained"
and so he entrusts himself to the words of Saint Paul: "Therefore,
I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions,
and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak,
then I am strong." (2 Cor. 12, 10).
The Catholic Chaldean diocese of Mosul,
lead by Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho, is made up of 12 parishes
serving a community of 35,000 people. There are 22 diocesan priests,
8 monks and 20 nuns. Saint Paul Parish has 750 families, Holy
Spirit Parish about 900.
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