Mosul marked a historic moment with the official reopening of the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (Al-Tahera Church) for Syriac Catholics and the Church of Our Lady of the Hour within the Dominican Monastery
Newsroom (03/09/2025, Gaudium Press )On Monday, September 1, 2025, the city of Mosul marked a historic moment with the official reopening of two cherished Christian landmarks: the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (Al-Tahera Church) for Syriac Catholics and the Church of Our Lady of the Hour within the Dominican Monastery. The event, attended by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, government officials, and representatives of international organizations, symbolized a step toward healing and unity in a city scarred by years of conflict.
Speaking inside the restored Al-Tahera Church, al-Sudani reflected on the significance of the moment. “This church rises from the rubble to represent the house where the Lord gathers people’s hearts without division or hostility, in a coexistence as old as Iraq itself,” he said. He underscored the reopening as a testament to “the spirit of Mosul and the brotherhood that unites its people.”
The ceremony carried deep emotional weight for Mosul’s Christian community. Archbishop Benedictus Younan Hanno, bishop of Mosul and its surroundings for the Syriac Catholics, delivered a poignant appeal to the prime minister. He urged the government to extend the same dedication shown to restoring Iraq’s heritage toward “rebuilding the Christian people.” Hanno highlighted the ongoing struggles of Iraq’s Christian minority, noting that approximately 80% face violations of their rights and denial of basic protections, with many driven into exile.
“Iraqi Christians migrated under compulsion, leaving their homeland in tears and pain,” Hanno said. “They continue to look forward to returning, longing to see Iraq as a beautiful country again, able to embrace its Christian children alongside their brothers from other communities.”
The event concluded with a symbolic gesture of hope: Hanno, al-Sudani, and other attendees rang the church bell and planted an olive tree in the courtyard of Al-Tahera Church. The prime minister then proceeded to the Dominican Monastery to formally reopen the Church of Our Lady of the Hour.
A City Rebuilt from Ruins
The churches, along with Mosul’s iconic Great al-Nuri Mosque and its leaning minaret, were among the cultural treasures devastated during the Islamic State’s (ISIS) occupation of Mosul from 2014 to 2017. Located in the heart of Mosul’s Old City, these sites bore the brunt of the terrorist group’s campaign to erase the region’s diverse heritage.
The restoration of these landmarks was spearheaded by UNESCO’s “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” initiative, which aimed to rebuild the sites according to their original designs. The project received critical funding from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the European Union (EU), reflecting a global commitment to preserving Iraq’s cultural and religious legacy.
For Mosul’s residents, the reopening of these churches is more than a restoration of buildings—it is a beacon of hope for a city striving to reclaim its identity as a place of coexistence. As the olive tree takes root in the courtyard of Al-Tahera Church, it stands as a quiet promise of peace and renewal for a community longing to heal.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA
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