നിനവേ: രണ്ടായിരം വര്‍ഷത്തോളം ക്രൈസ്തവ പാരമ്പര്യമുള്ള നിനവേ ഉള്‍പ്പെടെ മേഖലയില്‍ ഇസ്ലാമിക് സ്റ്റേറ്റ്സ് തീവ്രവാദികള്‍ വിതച്ച വന്‍ അധിനിവേശത്തിനും അക്രമത്തിനും പത്തു വര്‍ഷം തികഞ്ഞ പശ്ചാത്തലത്തില്‍ ക്രൈസ്തവരെ കേന്ദ്രമാക്കി ഡോക്യുമെന്ററിയുമായി പ്രമുഖ കത്തോലിക്ക മാധ്യമമായ ഇ‌ഡബ്ല്യു‌ടി‌എന്‍. മിഡിൽ ഈസ്റ്റും വടക്കേ ആഫ്രിക്കയും ഉൾക്കൊള്ളിച്ച് വാര്‍ത്തകള്‍ പുറത്തെത്തിക്കുന്ന ‘എസിഐ മെന’യുമായി സഹകരിച്ചാണ് ഡോക്യുമെൻ്ററി പുറത്തിറക്കിയിരിക്കുന്നത്.

നിനവേ താഴ്വരയില്‍ നിന്നുള്ള നിരവധി ക്രൈസ്തവര്‍ ഐസിസ് അധിനിവേശ കാലത്തു തങ്ങള്‍ നേരിട്ട വേദനാജനകമായ അനുഭവങ്ങള്‍ “Christians Fight To Survive: ISIS in Iraq” എന്ന പേരില്‍ പുറത്തിറക്കിയ ഡോക്യുമെന്‍ററി

ക്രൈസ്തവ സാഹചര്യങ്ങളെ കുറിച്ചും എഡി നാലാം നൂറ്റാണ്ടില്‍ സ്ഥാപിക്കപ്പെട്ട ആശ്രമത്തെ കുറിച്ചും വടക്കൻ ഇറാഖിലെ സിറിയൻ കത്തോലിക്കാ ആശ്രമമായ മാർ ബെഹ്നാമിന്റെയും മര്‍ത്തായുടെയും ആശ്രമത്തിൻ്റെ പ്രസിഡൻ്റ് ഫാ. മാസിൻ മട്ടോക്ക വിവരിക്കുന്നു. ക്രൈസ്തവര്‍ക്ക് മുന്നില്‍ ഇസ്ലാമിക് സ്റ്റേറ്റ്സ് തീവ്രവാദികള്‍ അവതരിപ്പിച്ച 3 സാധ്യതകള്‍ ഡോക്യുമെൻ്ററിയിൽ, ഇർബിലിലെ കല്‍ദായ അതിരൂപത ആർച്ച് ബിഷപ്പ് ബാഷർ വാർദ പങ്കുവെച്ചു. ഇസ്‌ലാമിലേക്ക് പരിവർത്തനം ചെയ്യുക, ജിസിയ (സംരക്ഷണ നികുതി) അടയ്ക്കുക, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ പലായനം ചെയ്യുക തുടങ്ങിയ പ്രാകൃത നിയമങ്ങളാണ് ക്രൈസ്തവര്‍ക്ക് മുന്നില്‍ ഇസ്ലാമിക് സ്റ്റേറ്റ്സ് നിരത്തിയതെന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം ചൂണ്ടിക്കാട്ടി.

നിർബന്ധിത കുടിയിറക്കൽ മൂലമുള്ള ക്രൈസ്തവരുടെ ദുരിതങ്ങളും, അഭയകേന്ദ്രങ്ങളില്ലാതെ, സുരക്ഷിതത്വമില്ലാതെ, സ്വന്തം നാടും ഭവനവും ദേവാലയങ്ങളും നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ട് രാജ്യത്ത് പാർശ്വവൽക്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടതിൻ്റെ വേദന മൊസൂളിലെ സിറിയന്‍ കത്തോലിക്ക അതിരൂപത ആർച്ച് ബിഷപ്പ് ബെനഡിക്ടസ് യൂനാൻ ഹാനോ ഡോക്യുമെന്‍ററിയില്‍ പങ്കുവെയ്ക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. ഇറാഖിലെ നാമാവിശേഷമായ ദേവാലയങ്ങളുടെയും ഗ്രാമങ്ങളുടെയും കരളലിയിപ്പിക്കുന്ന ദൃശ്യങ്ങള്‍ സഹിതമാണ് ഡോക്യുമെന്‍ററി പുറത്തിറക്കിയിരിക്കുന്നത്.

കടപ്പാട് :പ്രവാചക ശബ്ദം

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“Feb 28th 2025 EWTN News documentary chronicles Iraq Christian history & ISIS impact“ Assyrian, Chaldean, & Syriac Fight to Survive: ISIS in 🇮🇶 during/ after ISIS occupation in of Christians in towns Bartella, Karemlash, Qaraqosh & Mosul marking 10-years since ISIS’

EWTN Feb 28 2025. Music 1 songs 10 years after the deadly invasion of ISIS in Iraq, EWTN News’ Colm Flynn visits some of the Christian communities that were decimated by the terrorist organization. We talk to Church leaders about what that time was like, and how, when ISIS were terrorizing people simply because of their faith, the Church was able to provide shelter and support. Now, a decade on we also meet some of those Christians who have returned, trying to rebuild their lives, and their communities of faith

EWTN News documentary chronicles Iraq’s Christian history and ISIS impact ​ Summary ​ CNA Mosul ACI MENA, Mar 1, 2025 / 11:30 am

Marking 10 years since ISIS swept into Mosul and the towns of the Nineveh Plain, EWTN News, in collaboration with its sister agency covering the Middle East and North Africa, ACI MENA, has released a documentary delving into the roots of Christianity in Iraq, its history dating back nearly 2,000 years, and how Christians there have survived despite attempts to erase their presence.

The documentary, “Persecuted Christians in Iraq: An EWTN News Special,” premiered Feb. 28 at 8 p.m.

Through a dialogue with Father Mazin Mattoka, president of the Monastery of the Martyrs Mar Behnam and Marth Sarah, a Syriac Catholic monastery in northern Iraq, the documentary showcases some of the monastery’s history, dating back to the fourth century A.D., including its sculptures and historical murals, many of which were destroyed by ISIS, especially the crosses.

In the documentary, Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda of the Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil highlights what he calls the ongoing “dialogue of life” between Christians and Muslims since the late seventh century with the arrival of the conqueror, and the role Christians played in enriching the Arab civilization by translating texts of philosophy, mathematics, medicine, and other Greek sciences, first into Syriac and then into Arabic.

The archbishop discusses the choices ISIS put before Christians: Convert to Islam, pay the jizya (protection tax), or leave, noting that while paying the jizya might have been acceptable in the eighth century, it is no longer the case in the 21st century.

Archbishop Benedictus Younan Hano of the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Mosul highlights the suffering of Christians from forced displacement and their deep pain from feeling marginalized in their country, without a place of refuge, unprotected, feeling betrayed and let down as they lose their towns, homes, and churches, becoming refugees in their own nation.

In the film, Hano clarifies that ISIS’ targeting was not limited to Christians but affected all components of Iraq — everyone was at risk and subject to persecution.

Several Christians from the Nineveh Plain provide testimonies in the film of their painful experiences during ISIS’ occupation and during the series of events that followed the 2003 incidents, which created a political, social, and religious vacuum that allowed armed groups with extremist ideologies to occupy that space, as explained by former member of the Iraqi Parliament Khalis Esho.

Several young volunteers who served the displaced in Ankawa-Erbil during the crisis share their experiences and lessons in the film as well.

Father Raed Adel, head of the Syriac Catholic Churches in Mosul, recalls Pope Francis’ courageous historic visit to the city in 2021, attributing the active reconstruction movement to that visit.

For his part, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, the Chaldean patriarch, expresses the relief and great hope that Pope Francis’ visit instilled in all Iraqis, noting: “It was three days free from attacks and problems, and everyone followed the visit with joy.”

In the documentary, Sako also emphasizes the importance of solidifying the state of citizenship to enhance trust in the future and ensure human rights, justice, and equality.

The new documentary briefly covers some of the scars left by the events of 2014, still deeply etched in the Christian villages and towns, but according to witnesses and leaders in the film, these places remain vibrant with life and filled with the remaining Christians who are rooted in their faith and homeland, proud of their heritage, steadfast and clinging to the land of their ancestors, determined to rebuild, develop, and continue to be beacons of light in the darkness.
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NEW YORK — From the first song — the title track “I Will Not Be Moved” featuring Brad Hudson — until the last one, “No Other Name,” Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir has delivered an anointed masterpiece in praise and worship music with their latest album.

If you are a Christian who loves to revel in the presence of the Lord, this album will perhaps make you shout “hallelujah!” from your soul.

Some music albums have only one or a few songs that pique the listener’s interest, but “I Will Not Be Moved” doesn’t appear to suffer from that empty track syndrome. It presents as an intentionally prepared feast for the spirit.

The 32nd album of the Grammy Award-winning choir bears the spiritually sober signature of its longtime director, Carol Cymbala, wife of Brooklyn Tabernacle Pastor Jim Cymbala. Friday night, the choir premiered the album with a two-hour concert inside Brooklyn Tabernacle’s historic sanctuary at 17 Smith Street, and the audience could tell everyone involved understood their assignment. There was no doubt who was the main attraction.

They were conduits for the presence of the Lord. And it swept the sanctuary as the choir sang the second song on the album, “Spirit Fall Down.” The ministering of that song appeared to set the tone for the rest of the night as the Spirit just kept on falling.

The faithful and their guests in attendance also appeared to understand that they were in the presence of the Holy Spirit and they responded accordingly. Young and old repeatedly alighted from their seats in adoration. They lifted their hands in worship and streamed to the altar without hesitation when Pastor Cymbala opened what appeared to be a seamless but impromptu altar call in the middle of the concert after sharing a word about God’s mercy.

“Those of you who came forward and really want to start now to trust Christ, maybe you’ve never done that. Remember, there’s no such a thing as a Protestant, there’s no Catholics, there’s no Pentecostals, no Charismatics, no Evangelicals, no Lutherans,” he said. “None of those words mean anything to God. There’s His children, and then there’s people who are not His children who He wants to become His children.”

For the rest of the night, the choir served up song after song, and the crowd couldn’t get enough. The third track on the album, “Forever We Will Sing,” is a worshipful declaration of thanks to God. And the fourth track, “I Thank You Jesus,” featuring Babbie Mason, continues in that vein. The fifth track, “His Mercy Is More,” blends a contemporary sound with the choir’s vintage style to deliver a youthful harmony.

“You Keep on Blessing Me,” the sixth track on the album, is an up-tempo song about God’s faithfulness, while the seventh, “Come Jesus Come,” featuring Stephen McWhirter’s gravelly vocals, could likely become a favorite in many people’s playlist. The other songs that round out the album are “Fill My Cup,” “How Jesus Loves,” featuring Taranda Greene and “No Other Name,” which is a song worthy of just being stuck on repeat.

Sources:Christian Post

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Michael Iskander landed the role of a lifetime when he was cast to play David in Prime’s new series “House of David.

Before the show’s Feb. 27 premiere, Iskander reflected on the “life-changing” ability to join the cast in such a pivotal role.

“I think David is one of the most interesting people because … there’s so much duality in him,” he said. “He’s the epitome of what it means to be human, to make mistakes, but to truly have a heart for God — and a heart that seeks after God’s own heart.”

Iskander, who said he feels “blessed” to be able to tell this story, explained how his experience portraying David transformed how he sees Scripture and the people presented within it.

“Now, I view it from a point of view as just human beings,” he said. “And so I put the context of that time and of these people into the story … it just puts a whole different perspective on the Bible, and I think it makes it that much more interesting to read and to discover.”

Iskander said it’s exciting to be able to have such a fascinating lens into Scripture. He spoke about the importance of trusting God and allowing the Lord to guide His path, citing Proverbs 3:5-6. In the end, he knows “House of David” is entertainment for many, but believes the project is really all about the Lord.

“You’re making a TV show, and it’s really fun, and your makeup and hair — it’s all fun and cool, but the reason is to glorify Him, and to honor Him, and to put Him first,” he said. “I think that’s one way it’s changed me; it’s allowed me to put perspective to all of this, and to life, and to realize why we are living life.”

These insights have been infused into his performance as well, as he’s taken the lessons learned and applied them to bringing the characters to life. The infamous battle between David and Goliath was one moment, in particular, that required Iskander to think deeper about what David must have been feeling.

“I always thought of David being so courageous … so brave, but there’s none of that without fear,” he said. “And finding all the stakes of what it means to be the only person from your entire people to choose to go up against the scariest man they have ever faced … and are you willing to truly give up everything in your life to protect the ones you love?”

Iskander said this context surrounded how they filmed and presented the scene.

“It’s beautiful … to just look at that and to live in it,” he said. “And I can’t wait for people to see it.”

Ultimately, Iskander hopes the audience sees the characters of the Bible through the lens of truth and reality.

“As long as you see human beings in front of you — the Bible come to life — my job is done,” he said. “It’s not my job to tell them how to feel; it’s just my job to tell it truthfully.”

Iskander also shared the fact that his foray into acting was essentially accidental.

“It was like the first two weeks of school, sophomore year and … we had switched seats that day, and I happened to sit next to my friend who was in, like, the choir,” he said. “At that time, it happened to be that the director told all the students, ‘Hey, if you guys get some boys to audition for the choir, cause we’re low on boys, then I’ll give you $10.’”

His friend — seeking the $10 — asked if he’s try out simple so she could grab the cash. Iskander said, “Sure,” and ended up doing a great job. Before he knew it, he was in the choir and starring in musicals.

Sources:faithwire

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