St. Matthew's Monastery in Kurdish Iraq, one of the oldest Christian Institutions in the world, was built by Christians fleeing persecution in 363 AD. Today, 16 centuries later, Christians are once again seeking shelter there. In the last decade it has been estimated that half the Christians have left Iraq. Since the Baghdad Church bombing in October, some Christians are afraid to be seen wearing a cross; Others have fled with little more than the clothes on their back. Pray for them.
St. Matthew's is part of the Syriac Orthodox Church
reprinted from December 2010. Things have only gotten worse for the Christians in Iraq, many more have fled.
reprinted from May 2013. The situation in Iraq has become even more perilous. Those Christians unable to leave Iraq have mostly taken shelter in north section of the country, under control of the Kurds.
If they can manage to make it out of that hole, the Christians should be welcomed here. Their plight is why we have that proud green Lady in New York Harbor.
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