Fewer Iraqi Christians than usual came to church for Christmas Day prayers on Saturday, but those that did came despite fears insurgents, who have attacked churches and mosques in the past year, would strike again.
At Our Lady of Salvation, one of Baghdad’s largest churches, hundreds of Christians sang hymns, gave donations and received holy communion. Other churches had far fewer visitors.
“My visit to the church was a sort of challenge to the situation in the country,” said Sabah Jorjis, standing at the door of Our Lady of Salvation.
“Security is lost in Iraq now, and churches are being bombed, but despite this I wanted to come.”
Midnight Mass, the centerpiece of festivities for Iraqi Christians, was cancelled due to night-time curfews.
Most churches were holding prayers on Christmas morning instead, although far fewer people attended than previous years because of fears churches would come under attack.
Christians feeling vulnerable
While Iraq’s estimated 650,000 Christians, some 3 percent of the population, had little power under former dictator Saddam Hussein, they were free to worship without the threat of sectarian violence.
With Iraq’s government struggling to stop the bombings, murders and kidnappings that have scarred Iraq for the past 18 months, Christians say the small size of their community makes them feel particularly vulnerable.
With that in mind, the community, mostly from the early Assyrian and Chaldean churches, have kept celebrations low-key.
“This year is different from other years, but we came to church despite the insecurity so we could say Christmas prayers,” said Farah Sabah, standing outside Our Lady of Salvation, which is ringed by barbed wire and defended by tall concrete blocks.
“We hope the situation will be better next year," Sabah said.
The Syrian Catholic church was one of five in Baghdad and the northern city of Mosul hit in coordinated attacks in August this year which killed 12 people.
Five Baghdad churches were bombed in October, on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Eight people were killed in two church bombings in November.
At a shrine to the Virgin Mary outside Our Lady of Salvation, worshippers lit candles and prayed that peace would return to Iraq.