Al Tahira church being cleaned ahead of the Pope's visit. Courtesy Sangar Khaleel
Iraqi Christians place a cross on a church in Qaraqosh, Iraq. AP Photo
Iraqi Christians attend a mass in a church in Qaraqosh, Iraq, Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. Iraq's Christians are hoping that a historic visit by Pope Francis in March will help boost their community's struggle to survive. AP Photo
People fix a street destroyed during clashes against the Islamic State militants in Qaraqosh, Iraq. AP Photo
The burnt and destroyed interior of the St Mary al-Tahira church is seen on November 8, 2016 in Qaraqosh, Iraq. The NPU is a military organization made up of Assyrian Christians and was formed in late 2014 to defend against ISIL. Qaraqosh, a largely Assyrian City just 32km southeast of Mosul was taken by ISIL in August, 2014 forcing all residents to flee, the town was largely destroyed with all of the churches burned or heavily damaged. The town stayed under ISIL control last week when it was liberated during the Mosul Offensive. Getty Images
Two men are seen surveying the burnt and destroyed interior of the St Mary al-Tahira church on November 8, 2016 in Qaraqosh, Iraq. The NPU is a military organization made up of Assyrian Christians and was formed in late 2014 to defend against ISIL. Qaraqosh, a largely Assyrian City just 32km southeast of Mosul was taken by ISIL in August, 2014 forcing all residents to flee, the town was largely destroyed with all of the churches burned or heavily damaged. The town stayed under ISIL control last week when it was liberated during the Mosul Offensive. Getty Images
Iraqi Christians attend a mass during a Christmas Eve celebrations at the al-Tahira al-Kubra church at the Assyrian town of Qaraqosh, some 13 km east of Mosul, northern Iraq, 24 December 2018. Hundreds of Iraqi Christians held their prayers in Mosul under tight security. EPA
Qaraqosh, December 27 2016 Burned and devastated Church of St Mary al-Tahira.The offensive to retake Iraqs second city from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) began in mid-October.Shortly afterwards, Iraqi forces and local militias succeeded in driving Isil out of the historic Christian town of Qaraqosh on Iraqs Nineveh plain, 10 miles east of Mosul, which was captured by the jihadist group in the summer of 2014. Destruction is bad enough, though it is not total. Isis fighters set fire to many ordinary houses in addition to the churches in the days before they left, but possibly because there was no furniture left to burn since it all had been looted most of these houses look as if they could be made habitable after extensive repairs. Getty Images
Bullet casings are seen next to a sheet of Christian writings on the ground of the burnt and destroyed St Mary al-Tahira church on November 8, 2016 in Qaraqosh, Iraq. The NPU is a military organization made up of Assyrian Christians and was formed in late 2014 to defend against ISIL. Qaraqosh, a largely Assyrian City just 32km southeast of Mosul was taken by ISIL in August, 2014 forcing all residents to flee, the town was largely destroyed with all of the churches burned or heavily damaged. The town stayed under ISIL control last week when it was liberated during the Mosul Offensive. Getty Images
Qaraqosh, December 27 2016 Burned and devastated Church of St Mary al-Tahira. Makeshift shooting range of jihadists.The offensive to retake Iraqs second city from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) began in mid-October.Shortly afterwards, Iraqi forces and local militias succeeded in driving Isil out of the historic Christian town of Qaraqosh on Iraqs Nineveh plain, 10 miles east of Mosul, which was captured by the jihadist group in the summer of 2014. Destruction is bad enough, though it is not total. Isis fighters set fire to many ordinary houses in addition to the churches in the days before they left, but possibly because there was no furniture left to burn since it all had been looted most of these houses look as if they could be made habitable after extensive repairs. Getty Images
Damaged prints of Jesus Christ are seen inside the burnt and destroyed interior of the St Mary al-Tahira church on November 8, 2016 in Qaraqosh, Iraq. The NPU is a military organization made up of Assyrian Christians and was formed in late 2014 to defend against ISIL. Qaraqosh, a largely Assyrian City just 32km southeast of Mosul was taken by ISIL in August, 2014 forcing all residents to flee, the town was largely destroyed with all of the churches burned or heavily damaged. The town stayed under ISIL control last week when it was liberated during the Mosul Offensive. Getty Images
June 29, 2018 First communions of more than three hundred Qaraqosh children, celebrated in the open air, as Al Tahira Cathedral has not yet been restored following the fire it suffered during the occupation of the Islamic state. This ceremony represents a sign of hope for Christians. Qaraqosh (Baghdeda), Iraq. Reuters
An aerial picture shows Iraqi priests leading the Christmas eve mass at the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception (Al Tahira-l-Kubra), in the predominantly Christian town of Qaraqosh, in Nineveh province, some 30 kilometres from Mosul, on December 24, 2020. AFP
Al Tahira church being cleaned ahead of the Pope's visit. Courtesy Sangar Khaleel
Iraqi Christians place a cross on a church in Qaraqosh, Iraq. AP Photo
Iraqi Christians attend a mass in a church in Qaraqosh, Iraq, Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. Iraq's Christians are hoping that a historic visit by Pope Francis in March will help boost their community's struggle to survive. AP Photo
People fix a street destroyed during clashes against the Islamic State militants in Qaraqosh, Iraq. AP Photo
The burnt and destroyed interior of the St Mary al-Tahira church is seen on November 8, 2016 in Qaraqosh, Iraq. The NPU is a military organization made up of Assyrian Christians and was formed in late 2014 to defend against ISIL. Qaraqosh, a largely Assyrian City just 32km southeast of Mosul was taken by ISIL in August, 2014 forcing all residents to flee, the town was largely destroyed with all of the churches burned or heavily damaged. The town stayed under ISIL control last week when it was liberated during the Mosul Offensive. Getty Images
Two men are seen surveying the burnt and destroyed interior of the St Mary al-Tahira church on November 8, 2016 in Qaraqosh, Iraq. The NPU is a military organization made up of Assyrian Christians and was formed in late 2014 to defend against ISIL. Qaraqosh, a largely Assyrian City just 32km southeast of Mosul was taken by ISIL in August, 2014 forcing all residents to flee, the town was largely destroyed with all of the churches burned or heavily damaged. The town stayed under ISIL control last week when it was liberated during the Mosul Offensive. Getty Images
Iraqi Christians attend a mass during a Christmas Eve celebrations at the al-Tahira al-Kubra church at the Assyrian town of Qaraqosh, some 13 km east of Mosul, northern Iraq, 24 December 2018. Hundreds of Iraqi Christians held their prayers in Mosul under tight security. EPA
Qaraqosh, December 27 2016 Burned and devastated Church of St Mary al-Tahira.The offensive to retake Iraqs second city from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) began in mid-October.Shortly afterwards, Iraqi forces and local militias succeeded in driving Isil out of the historic Christian town of Qaraqosh on Iraqs Nineveh plain, 10 miles east of Mosul, which was captured by the jihadist group in the summer of 2014. Destruction is bad enough, though it is not total. Isis fighters set fire to many ordinary houses in addition to the churches in the days before they left, but possibly because there was no furniture left to burn since it all had been looted most of these houses look as if they could be made habitable after extensive repairs. Getty Images
Bullet casings are seen next to a sheet of Christian writings on the ground of the burnt and destroyed St Mary al-Tahira church on November 8, 2016 in Qaraqosh, Iraq. The NPU is a military organization made up of Assyrian Christians and was formed in late 2014 to defend against ISIL. Qaraqosh, a largely Assyrian City just 32km southeast of Mosul was taken by ISIL in August, 2014 forcing all residents to flee, the town was largely destroyed with all of the churches burned or heavily damaged. The town stayed under ISIL control last week when it was liberated during the Mosul Offensive. Getty Images
Qaraqosh, December 27 2016 Burned and devastated Church of St Mary al-Tahira. Makeshift shooting range of jihadists.The offensive to retake Iraqs second city from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) began in mid-October.Shortly afterwards, Iraqi forces and local militias succeeded in driving Isil out of the historic Christian town of Qaraqosh on Iraqs Nineveh plain, 10 miles east of Mosul, which was captured by the jihadist group in the summer of 2014. Destruction is bad enough, though it is not total. Isis fighters set fire to many ordinary houses in addition to the churches in the days before they left, but possibly because there was no furniture left to burn since it all had been looted most of these houses look as if they could be made habitable after extensive repairs. Getty Images
Damaged prints of Jesus Christ are seen inside the burnt and destroyed interior of the St Mary al-Tahira church on November 8, 2016 in Qaraqosh, Iraq. The NPU is a military organization made up of Assyrian Christians and was formed in late 2014 to defend against ISIL. Qaraqosh, a largely Assyrian City just 32km southeast of Mosul was taken by ISIL in August, 2014 forcing all residents to flee, the town was largely destroyed with all of the churches burned or heavily damaged. The town stayed under ISIL control last week when it was liberated during the Mosul Offensive. Getty Images
June 29, 2018 First communions of more than three hundred Qaraqosh children, celebrated in the open air, as Al Tahira Cathedral has not yet been restored following the fire it suffered during the occupation of the Islamic state. This ceremony represents a sign of hope for Christians. Qaraqosh (Baghdeda), Iraq. Reuters
An aerial picture shows Iraqi priests leading the Christmas eve mass at the Syriac Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception (Al Tahira-l-Kubra), in the predominantly Christian town of Qaraqosh, in Nineveh province, some 30 kilometres from Mosul, on December 24, 2020. AFP
Al Tahira church being cleaned ahead of the Pope's visit. Courtesy Sangar Khaleel
