Iraq (MNN) — Two days before Christmas, two churches were
bombed in Mosul, Iraq, on December 23, Voice of the Martyrs reports.
At 11:00 a.m., a bomb was detonated near the Syrian Orthodox church of
St. Thomas. On the same day, a bomb
exploded in a cart of vegetables near the Chaldean church of St. George. The latter bomb killed three people,
including one Christian and two Muslims.
Many
Christians have fled Mosul, which is the primary target for a series of attacks
against believers in recent months. Earlier
this month, a baby girl died and many others were injured when attackers threw
hand grenades at a Christian school. However,
some Christians are determined to stay and proclaim the Gospel despite
persecution.
"The message of peace and
hope announced by angels remains our best wishes for Christmas for the entire country,"
said Louis Sako, the archbishop of Kirkuk. "We want to work together to
build peace and hope in the hearts of all men and women of Iraq."
While the Iraqi constitution
adopted in October 2005 states that religious freedom should be respected, it also
says that no proposed legislation can in any way violate the "universally-agreed-upon tenets of Islam." Only 3.3 percent
of the population is Christian. Pray for
protection for Iraqi believers, comfort for the bereaved, and wisdom to respond
biblically to persecution.
