Interview about Christianity in Zaxo, southern Kurdistan

We have interviewed Lawin Zaxoyan for this blog, fermo!

Q: Please tell us about the Christian community in Zaxo(Zakho)!

Zaxo a city in bahdinan region Southern Kurdistan. A ancient city with a history of Jewish and Christian background. Today for instance the city still has a small Christian community. A community who does play a big role in the society. The larges Christian minority in Zaxo today are Armenians and Chaldeans. Before the 1915 genocide and the deportation of Armenians during the Ottoman empire the city did have a very small Armenian community living. The small Armenian community in Zaxo was growing with other Armenian survivors from the Ottoman empire that settled also in Zaxo. The others continued to move on to Christian villages near Zaxo and other cities out of Kurdistan to cities like Bagdad and Basra.

Assyrian and Chaldean are also part of the christian comminutiy in Zaxo but after many Armenians from the Ottoman empire who settled in Zaxo Armenians became the largest Christian community.

Q: How is the relations between the Assyrians, Armenians and Kurds in Zaxo(Zakho)?

Today Kurdish Muslims are the largest community in Zaxo. The relationship with the Christians has always been good. Muslim and Christian have been living peacefully side by side in the city.

Q: Can Christians in Zaxo(Zakho) practise their religion openly?

Of course a Christian in Zaxo can openly practice their religion. You have plenty of churches where they could go and pray peacefully.

Q: How many churches are there in Zaxo(Zakho) approximately?

We have four churches in Zaxo. The biggest church in Zaxo is a Armenian Apostolic Orthodox church its located in the middle of the city, two Catholic Chaldean Churches the last one a Assyrian church.

Îsa li ser Avê Rêve Diçe

Îsa li ser Avê Rêve Diçe

²² Gava ku Îsa elalet verêdikir, wî zû pêstûrî li şagirtên xwe kir ku ew li qeyikê siwar bibin û ji beriya wî derbasî aliyê din ê golê, Beytsaydayê bibin. ²³ Piştî ku wî elalet verêkir, hingê bi serê xwe hilkişiya çiyê, da ku dua bike. Dema ku bû êvar, ew li wir bi tenê bû. ²⁴ Di wê navê de qeyik ji bejê gelek dûr ketibû û ber pêlan diket, çimkî ba ji hember wan ve dihat.

²⁵ Nêzîkî berbanga sibehê, Îsa li ser golê rêve çû û nêzîkî şagirtan bû. ²⁶ Gava wan dît ku ew li ser golê rêve diçe, bizdiyan û ji tirsan kirin qîrîn û gotin: «Ev xeyalet e!» ²⁷ Lê Îsa di cih de bi wan re peyivî û got: «Bi zirav bin! Ez im. Netirsin!» ²⁸ Petrûs lê vegerand û got: «Ya Xudan, eger tu bî, emir bide ku ez li ser avê bêm ba te.» ²⁹ Wî got: «Were!» Hingê Petrûs jî ji qeyikê peya bû, li ser avê rêve çû û ber bi Îsa ve hat. ³⁰ Lê çaxê dît ku bager xurt e, tirsiya û xewirî* nav avê, qîriya û got: «Ya Xudan, min xilas bike!» ³¹ Îsa di cih de destê xwe dirêj kir, ew girt û jê re got: «Ey kêmîmano! Tu çima dudilî bûyî?» ³² Dema ku ew hilkişiyan qeyikê, ba rawesta. ³³ Hingê yên ku di qeyikê de bûn, perizîn* wî û gotin: «Bi rastî tu Kurê* Xwedê yî.»

Jesus and Mother Mary in Kurdistan

Jesus and Mother Mary in Kurdistan

Kurds in Nashville

Kurds demonstrating against the Turkish aggression against southern Kurdistan in Nashville outside a Church.

Arcange Comprend Moi Au Nom Du Pre

KRG condemns killing of Archbishop of Mosul, Faraj Raho

KRG.org, 14:49:46 15 Mar. 2008
Source - KRG.org

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) strongly condemns the killing of Archbishop Faraj Raho, the head of the Chaldean Church in Mosul.

On the evening of 29 February 2008, Monsignor Raho and three of his assistants were kidnapped at gunpoint after celebrating mass at Mosul's Church of the Holy Spirit. At that time, the three men accompanying the Archbishop were shot and killed. Yesterday, after a period of two weeks, the body of Monsignor Raho was found.

The KRG strongly condemns this inhumane and cowardly act and reiterates that terrorists cannot impede the peaceful coexistence of different ethnic and religious groups in Iraq. Through their violent acts, the terrorists achieve only shame and condemnation.

The KRG urges the people and administration of Mosul to work together in order to achieve security and stability. It is willing and ready to assist the city administration in defeating the terrorists and restore stability.

The KRG expresses its sincere condolences to the Chaldean community and the family and friends of Archbishop Raho and his three assistants.

-REST IN PEACE-