Iraq: Rekindling faith in the “Land of Eden”
Through its support for a construction project in Iraqi Kurdistan, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has helped a religious order to strengthen its roots in the region, for the benefit of the surrounding Christian population.
Araden is a small village located in the Sapna Valley, in Iraqi Kurdistan, surrounded by the beautiful Gozaneh mountains and watered by the Great Zab River. The scenery helps explain the origin of the village’s name; it is believed that Araden comes from the Syriac terms “ara” and “Aden”, meaning “Land of Eden”.
Traditionally, the village has been inhabited almost exclusively by Aramaic-speaking Christians of the Chaldean Catholic Church. Despite its small size, the village has two important churches and has been home to three bishops.
Yet Araden has also borne witness to some of the tragedies that affected the Christian population of Iraq over the centuries. Its people found themselves caught in the successive conflicts between the central Government in Baghdad and Kurdish militants, with the village being destroyed more than once.
The Congregation of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, an order of Chaldean religious sisters, was founded in Araden by Father Abdul Ahad Rayes, a priest whose “vision was to educate and provide Christian and human values to the youth of the region, while offering essential social and health services,” says Mother Samar Mikha, the current superior of the order.
“Our community has faced numerous hardships, having lost our general mother home three times due to wars and migrations in Iraq,” she tells Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). “This tumultuous history led to a dearth of vocations in our community.”
For years the sisters have dreamed of a return to Araden, to their roots, and thanks to the help of ACN that dream has now been realised, with the completion of the construction of a shrine to Father Abdul Ahad and a retreat centre for the sisters to conduct their spiritual exercises.
“Through your unwavering support, we have not only met our objectives but exceeded our expectations. The Abdul-Ahad shrine and retreat house now stands as a symbol of resilience and hope for our community,” Mother Samar explains to ACN. “This shrine now provides a space for the much-needed spiritual retreats, offering solace, tranquillity, and silence to our dedicated sisters who serve the community and the Church tirelessly.”
The newly constructed building includes a shrine with the tomb of Father Rayes, two floors with seven bedrooms, and a meeting room. According to Mother Samar, “the positive bearing of this project extends beyond the walls of the shrine. The revitalised space will continue the mission of Father Rayes by supporting the Christian educational needs of the region. He was a tireless advocate for education, building schools and nurturing young minds. We are committed to carrying forward his legacy by focusing on educational initiatives in the villages surrounding Araden”.
These are exactly the type of initiatives which make it easier for Christians to remain in their ancestral homelands, a goal that ACN has pursued through its projects in the Middle East.
“We cannot emphasise enough the profound gratitude we hold for Aid to the Church in Need. Your support has rekindled the spirit of our congregation,” the head of the order concludes.
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