The first restored church in Mosul has at last opened its doors to resume services. The Christian presence in Mosul, however, remains small.
Most refuse to return, citing security concerns and broken community trust as the main reasons why they would rather rebuild their lives elsewhere. ISIS continues to have a presence in Mosul, and bodies are regularly pulled from the rubble.
Years after the Saint Korkis Church in Nineveh was destroyed following the Islamic State group’s [IS] takeover of Mosul, the church has resumed services and is ringing its bells once again.
“Donations from individual Christians and civil organisations have contributed to this attempt to restore life to the church,” former parliamentarian Emad John told The New Arab.
The return of the sound of bells has been described as a signal of the return to life in Mosul and unity in Iraq.