King Charles III attended a special Advent service on Tuesday at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street in Mayfair, London, co-hosted by the 175-year-old Jesuit parish and Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
The service celebrated the courage and perseverance of Christian communities and reflected on the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Mosul and the Nineveh Plains in northern Iraq by Daesh (ISIS).
Farm Street Choir performed My Soul, There Is a Country by Sir Charles Hubert Parry as His Majesty The King joined the congregation in the grand procession, marking the formal opening of the service.
Fr Dominic Robinson, Parish Priest, warmly welcomed everyone, offering an opening prayer that celebrated local community support, the hopeful presence of students of four schools representing the future, and the powerful witness of the Iraqi Christian community demonstrating that reconciliation is possible.
Dr Caroline Hull, National Director at ACN, expressed heartfelt gratitude for The King's presence and all of those who have stood in solidarity with Iraqi Christians.
The Advent service included a scripture reading from Matthew 5:38-48 in Aramaic by Archbishop Athanasius Toma and the Chaldean Choir's performance of King of the Earth. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, led a concluding prayer calling for the blood of martyrs to "continue to be the seed of Christianity".
The service concluded with blessings in English by Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, Apostolic Nuncio to the Court of St James, and in Aramaic by Fr Andrew Toma, Chaldean Catholic Chaplain, leaving a lasting sense of hope and solidarity among all present.
Later King Charles met representatives of the London-based Iraqi Christian diaspora, including individuals who suffered persecution and forced displacement when Daesh seized the Nineveh Plains.
His Majesty also met with members of Farm Street Church, including those involved in outreach initiatives supporting the homeless and others in need, representatives of Westminster LGBT+ Catholics, as well as friends and benefactors of ACN.
Fr Peter Gallagher, The Provincial of the Jesuits in Britain, said: "This special service at Farm Street Church reminds us of our shared commitment to walking with those in need and igniting hope in the face of challenges. We are grateful for The King's presence and the opportunity to stand together in faith and solidarity, recognising the resilience of many Christian communities and God's guiding presence in our lives."
Fr Dominic Robinson said: "It's been a pleasure to bring together friends from different Christian traditions, all faiths and none, to celebrate seeds of hope during this significant season for us all. Advent hope is evident in our local community and was seen today through the presence of our homeless parishioners, those in hospitality who serve us, and our wonderful volunteers.
Amid the tragedies in the Holy Land and the Middle East, we were strengthened by the hope of the Iraqi Christian community, who are now rebuilding their ancient biblical lands. The King's presence, praying and meeting with concern for those on society's peripheries, confirms this Advent hope for justice and peace, and we are truly grateful for his ongoing support."
Dr Caroline Hull, national director at ACN (UK), commented: "Throughout their long history dating back to the 1st century, the Christians of Iraq have been no strangers to suffering. But little could prepare them for the terrors that would be inflicted both on them and so many other communities in recent years.
Dr Hull added: "Since his time as Prince of Wales, The King has shown profound and unstinting compassion, going out of his way to hear the personal stories of the afflicted faithful. The King's constant concern has been a huge source of encouragement for us at ACN."
ACN has supported the rebuilding of churches and homes in the Christian town of Qaraqosh and other settlements in the Nineveh Plains, enabling thousands of families to return to their homeland.
Dr Hull said: "The journey towards restoration and renewal has been a long and sometimes painful one - and there is still a long way to go towards full recovery. But that they have achieved so much and completed the work so quickly is a tribute to the compassion, the care and concern their friends and benefactors have shown them. Such help came at a time when they sorely needed it."
ACN has also helped establish the Catholic University in Erbil in northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, where most Christian families sought refuge after the Daesh invasion.
