Iraqi Christians celebrate Easter

Dozens of Iraqi Christians gathered at Mar Yousuf Catholic Church in central Baghdad to celebrate Easter Sunday and attend Mass. For Christians, Easter is a day of joy and hope, as they mark their belief that Jesus triumphed over death by resurrection following his crucifixion. 

In Iraq, two decades of back-to-back conflicts have left ancient Christian communities, that were once a vibrant and integral part of the landscape, scattered and in ruins. As the Associated Press reported, Iraq was estimated to have nearly 1.5 million Christians before the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein’s regime. 

Christians were among the first groups targeted amid the breakdown in security and sectarian bloodbath that prevailed for years after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Christians in Iraq date back to the first centuries of the religion and include Chaldean, Syriac, Assyrian and Armenian churches.