Mosul: The Knights of the Brush Youth Festival for Christian youth in Mosul concluded its three-day activities with a message affirming the imminent return of life and stability to the city and the return of its Christian residents to their historical neighborhoods. The closing day featured tours and youth activities in the Old City and a gathering at St. Ephrem Church, with the participation of approximately 100 young people from Hamdaniya and more than 700 young men and women from Baghdad, in an atmosphere that reflected the youth’s attachment to their city and its history.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Archbishop Mar Benedictus Younan, head of the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Mosul and its dependencies, stated that the participation aimed to emphasize the spirit of love and peace in this land, which Christians have inhabited for thousands of years. Participants affirmed that Mosul is not just a place to live, but a city that brings together diverse communities and a shared history, noting that the return of Christian families represents part of restoring normalcy to the Old City.

The festival’s conclusion coincided with ongoing extensive reconstruction campaigns in Mosul, encompassing historical areas, churches, and monasteries, which strengthens the hope for a gradual return of Christian families and the opening of a new chapter characterized by security, coexistence, and peace. The festival’s final day carries a message that transcends youth activities, affirming that Mosul is capable of regaining its image as a city for all its people, and that rebuilding its physical structures paves the way for the return of humanity, memory, and life.