Mosul: The bells of Al-Tahira Church ring again in the heart of Old Mosul. In a historic moment long awaited by the city’s residents, the bells of the Al-Tahera Syriac Catholic Church rang again, announcing the return of life to one of the oldest and most important churches in the Old City of Mosul, after years of silence and destruction caused by the conflict.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the church, located in the Sarjkhana area, hosted a special event to mark its reopening, as part of the “Mosul Mosaics” program implemented by the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH), in cooperation with the General Authority for Antiquities and Heritage, and a number of local and international partners, in the presence of religious and social figures and representatives of the local community. ‘The bells of Al-Tahera Church have rung again, not only to announce its reopening, but to revive hope in the hearts of Mosul’s Christians,’ Father Ablahad Yaqoub, one of the church’s priests, told the National Iraqi News Agency (NINA) today. ‘This church is not just a building, but a living witness to the city’s history and its cultural and religious diversity.’ He added, ‘Despite all the pain and destruction, Al-Tahera Church is once again a place of prayer and unity, and for all who believe that Mosul deserves to rise again.’

The Al-Tahera Church dates back to the 17th century and is one of the most prominent Christian landmarks in Iraq. It suffered extensive damage during the ISIS occupation of the city.

The restoration and reopening of the church represents a major symbolic step in the process of rebuilding the social and cultural fabric of Mosul, and affirms the commitment of the international and local community to protecting heritage and promoting peaceful coexistence.