Iraqis Crowd Churches for Christmas Mass

Associated Press ^ | 12-25-07 | ELENA BECATOROS

[george76]

Thousands of Iraqi Christians made their way to church through checkpoints and streets lined with blast walls, many drawing hope from a lull in violence to celebrate Christmas Mass in numbers unthinkable a year ago.

"We did not celebrate last year, but this year we have security and we feel better," said Rasha Ghaban, one of many women at the small Church of the Holy Family in Karradah...

Families streamed into the church's courtyard, wrapped in heavy winter jackets to protect them from the early morning chill. Young children with neatly combed hair held their parents' hands, and women stopped by the front door to pick through a basket of small lacy headscarves, placing them over their hair before walking in.

The pews were almost full—women toward the back and on the right side of the church, the men on the left—and still more people streamed in. Outside, police armed with automatic rifles manned a checkpoint at the corner of the narrow street, searching every passing car for possible bombs.

Christians have often been the target of attacks by Islamic extremists in Iraq, forcing tens of thousands to flee... Less than 3 percent of Iraq's 26 million people are Christians—the majority Chaldean-Assyrians and Armenians, with small numbers of Roman Catholics.

Muslim clerics—both Sunni and Shiite—also attended the service in a sign of unity.

"May Iraq be safe every year, and may our Christian brothers be safe every year," Shiite cleric Hadi al-Jazail told AP Television News outside the church. "We came to celebrate with them and to reassure them."

William Jalal, a 39-year old father of three attending Mass at Mar Eliya, said this Christmas was clearly different...

[GRRRRR]

How wonderful.
Harry Reid is a pig.

[G8 Diplomat]

"May Iraq be safe every year, and may our Christian brothers be safe every year," Shiite cleric Hadi al-Jazail told AP Television News outside the church. "We came to celebrate with them and to reassure them."

The latest addition to my list of truly moderate Muslims. Maybe he'll convert. Our prayers are working; wouldn't it be great if Iraq became a Christian state? If Islam is conquering Europe, perhaps Christianity will conquer the Middle East.

[sionnsar]

Thanks to george76 for the ping.

Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.

FReepmail Huber or sionnsar if you want on or off this moderately high-volume ping list (sometimes 3-9 pings/day).
This list is pinged by Huber and sionnsar.

Resource for Traditional Anglicans: http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com
Humor: The Anglican Blue

Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15

[Doctor Don]

Just like always....Bush did it!

[fish hawk]

This is proof that : Murtha is an idiot, Reid is a LIAR, and Algore is a fat greedy opportunist.

[billmor]

What a beautiful Christmas Story...For a moment in time we see the Lions and Lambs side by side together and we hope and pray that that will last in Iraq. When the proud Lions learn the way of the Lamb, it will be a lasting peace.

Thank you for posting this George...awesome pictures too..

[george76]

Communist China Says Merry Christmas, But Capitalist Google Won't.

[txhurl]

bump!

[george76]

[george76]

Well said :

Murtha is an idiot, Reid is a LIAR, and Algore is a fat greedy opportunist.

[G8 Diplomat]

For a moment in time we see the Lions and Lambs side by side together and we hope and pray that that will last in Iraq.

"The Lion [Islam] will lay down with the Lamb [Christianity] and a little child [Jesus] will lead them..."

When the proud Lions learn the way of the Lamb, it will be a lasting peace

Amen!

[PugetSoundSoldier]

Wait a minute! Just a few weeks ago 60 Minutes told us that there weren't any public Christians left in Iraq. I mean, 60 Minutes wouldn't lie, would they?

[george76]

Every time that their lips move :

60 Minutes wouldn’t lie, would they?

[US_MilitaryRules]

Thanks. That is awesome!

[M. Espinola]

"Shiite tribal leaders attend Christmas mass at an Assyrian orthodox church in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007"

That's a totally amazing photograph indicating hope.

[poobear]

“God Bless and protect the Iraqi Christians. May their fellow Iraqis who are muslim also see the light.”

AMEN!!

[Does so]

I looked to see what a “blast wall” looked like, and found that the Iraqi government is paying for “neutral art” to be painted on the walls.

http://www.art-for-a-change.com/blog/images/aug07/blastwall.jpg

[Grampa Dave]

“This is proof that : Murtha is an idiot, Reid is a LIAR, and Algore is a fat greedy opportunist.”

Excellent summary by our Aloha Bro!

[NYer]

Some more 'cheerful' images. Thanks for the ping!

---

Iraqi Christians attend Christmas mass in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007. (AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed)

Members of the choir listen to the Christmas eve mass led by Iraqi Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly in a church in the al-Karrada neighbourood in central Baghdad. Because of the danger involved, midnight mass is nothing more than a memory for Baghdad's Christians. A mass is celebrated at dusk on Christmas eve, and another on the morning of Christmas day. (AFP/Ahmad al-Rubaye)

An Iraqi nun attends the Christmas mass at a church in Basra, 550 kms (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad. Christians around the world celebrated Christmas today as the Catholic leader in the Holy Land pleaded for peace in the Middle East and Pope Benedict XVI spoke against selfishness. (AFP/Essam Al-Sudani)

Iraqi Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly leads the Christmas eve mass in a church in the al-Karrada neighbourood in central Baghdad. Because of the danger involved, midnight mass is nothing more than a memory for Baghdad's Christians. A mass is celebrated at dusk on Christmas eve, and another on the morning of Christmas day. (AFP/Ahmad al-Rubay)

---

Eastern Catholic Ping List
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[TASMANIANRED]

Prayers for them.