Qaraqosh, Iraq: A new shrine dedicated to “Mary, Mother of the Persecuted Christians” will be inaugurated in October in Qaraqosh, northern Iraq, marking a significant step in honoring the memory of Christians who suffered under ISIS rule. The shrine, located inside the newly built St. Ephrem Church, will be the seventh of its kind worldwide and the first in the Middle East.
The icon of the shrine, painted by Syriac Catholic Deacon Ibraheem Yaldo, a native of Bartella displaced during the 2014 ISIS invasion, bears the Aramaic inscription “Mary, Mother of the Persecuted.” It was formally presented on August 6 to Archbishop Benedict Younan Hano of the Syriac Catholic Archeparchy of Mosul by Father Benedict Kiely, founder of Nasarean.org, a U.S.-based charity that supports persecuted Christians.
Archbishop Hano emphasized that establishing the shrine in Qaraqosh, a city once devastated by ISIS, symbolizes resilience and the enduring presence of Christianity in the region. He noted that the shrine will serve as a sign of hope for the local community and a reminder to Christians worldwide of the Church’s deep roots in the Middle East.
Currently, shrines dedicated to persecuted Christians exist in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, and Kazakhstan. Nasarean.org plans to establish three additional shrines by 2026 as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations.
Before the 2003 Iraq War, the country was home to nearly 1.5 million Christians. Today, the population has dwindled to around 150,000 due to ongoing violence and displacement. Qaraqosh, once emptied of its Christian residents during ISIS occupation, has seen partial resettlement since its liberation in 2016.
Father Kiely stressed that the shrine is not only a memorial but also a place for prayer, encouraging Western Christians to unite in spiritual solidarity with those in Iraq. Nasarean.org has undertaken more than 60 projects in Iraq and extended support to Christian communities in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Armenia, and Jordan.
The October inauguration of the shrine in Qaraqosh is expected to draw both local faithful and international attention, standing as a testament to the resilience of Iraq’s Christian community and their determination to preserve their faith and heritage.