Podcasts about qaraqosh

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The roof of a Catholic church in the Mexican city of Madero collapsed on Sunday, killing at least 10 people while they were attending Mass, authorities said following the disaster. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255545/roof-of-church-collapses-in-mexico-killing-at-least-10 Pope Francis sent his condolences on Saturday to an Iraqi Christian community in Qaraqosh, northern Iraq, that was devastated by a massive fire at a crowded wedding reception that killed over 100 and injured 150. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255549/pope-francis-sends-telegram-to-iraqi-christian-community-after-tragic-wedding-fire An annual Requiem Mass that has been held at Westminster Cathedral in London, England, for more than 50 years has been relocated amid the continued restrictions on the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass issued by the Vatican. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255543/annual-requiem-latin-mass-canceled-at-westminster-cathedral-in-london-after-50-years The Vatican has released Pope Francis' original responses to a set of dubia on highly-charged doctrinal questions submitted by five cardinals earlier this summer — and criticized the cardinals for going public with the matter just days before the start of the Synod on Synodality. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255540/vatican-releases-pope-francis-responses-to-pre-synod-dubia-criticizes-cardinals Today, the Church celebrates Saint Mother Théodore Guérin. A Frech Sister of Providence, Mother Théodore Guérin was sent to Indiana in 1840 to found a convent of the Sisters of Providence in the diocese of Vincennes. There she pioneered Catholic education, opened the first girls' boarding school in Indiana, and fought against the anti-Catholicism prevalent in the day. She was well known for her heroic witness to faith, her hope, and her love of God. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-mother-theodore-guerin-382

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A fire that ripped through a wedding venue in northern Iraq has killed more than 100 people in a majority-Christian town still rebuilding after years of ISIS occupation. The hall in Qaraqosh on the Nineveh Plains burned Tuesday night during a Syriac Catholic wedding celebration. Witnesses and civil defense officials told the BBC that the fire was sparked, with hundreds of guests present, by fireworks set off as the bride and groom danced. Archbishop Bashar Warda, who leads the Chaldean Catholic Archdiocese of Erbil, said in a statement to EWTN News that “patriarchs, bishops, and priests from all faiths gathered today in Qaraqosh to bury those who had perished.” “No words can adequately describe the mourning of those bringing their loved ones to their final resting places in their ancient land. What was to be a time of joy has now turned into a whole community into mourning and deep shock,” the archbishop, for years an outspoken advocate for the Middle East's persecuted Christian minority, told EWTN News. “I ask for your prayers for those souls we have lost and the severely injured. I ask you to pray for the Syriac community and their families within Iraq and the diaspora.” Iraqi authorities are investigating the disaster. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255500/breaking-iraq-archbishop-calls-for-prayers-after-tragic-wedding-fire The Maryland attorney general's office on Tuesday released an unredacted report on child sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore that names most of the individuals accused. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255499/names-of-accused-in-maryland-ag-s-sex-abuse-report-on-baltimore-archdiocese-are-released Ruben Vardanyan, a former high-ranking official in the ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, was arrested by Azerbaijan authorities on Sept. 27 as he attempted to flee the region along with over 50,000 other ethnic Armenian refugees. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255496/former-nagorno-karabakh-armenian-leader-arrested-as-over-50000-refugees-flee-region On the second day of the 2023 Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), a bishops' committee provided recommendations on diocesan policies that are focused on protecting minors and vulnerable adults to all the bishops in attendance. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255493/canadian-bishops-address-protection-of-minors-vulnerable-adults-at-meeting Today, the Church celebrates Saint Wenceslaus, a Central European ruler who died at the hands of his brother while seeking to strengthen the Catholic faith in his native Bohemia. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-wenceslaus-608

Familiares das vítimas do incêndio no Iraque que matou 100 pessoas e feriu pelo menos 150 fizeram protestos nesta quinta-feira exigindo responsabilização das autoridades e mais fiscalização. O incêndio ocorreu nesta terça-feira, durante uma cerimônia cristã de casamento na cidade Qaraqosh.

It's Monday, August 8th, A.D. 2022. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. By Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com) Iraqi Christians mark tragic anniversary August 6, 2014 is a day Iraqi Christians will never forget. They call it the “Black Day.” Max Wood, Chairman of the American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East, told The Worldview what happened, WOOD: “On August 6, 2014, the ISIS military forces came to a town called Qaraqosh, Iraq, which has traditionally been one of the largest Christian towns in Iraq. They gave the residents of that town just a few hours to either leave or convert to Islam or be killed. As a result, 50,000 Iraqi Christians left that day.” Those Iraqi Christians fled to Turkey, Syria, and Jordan. However, the majority of them, 40,000, went to Jordan which is very welcoming to refugees. The American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East provides food for 8,000 of these Iraqi Christian refugees. WOOD: “Iraqi Christians are allowed to have refuge in Jordan, but they're not allowed to work in Jordan. That's the policy of the King of Jordan. Some refugee groups are allowed to work, but the Christian refugees are not.” Matthew 14:14 says, “When Jesus saw the great crowd, He had compassion on them.” Consider giving a donation to help pay for the food of the Iraqi Christian refugees in Jordan through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, they've established the Olive Tree Center outside the Jordanian capital of Amman. WOOD: “And then we sustain their mental and emotional needs through our Olive Tree Center which offers music classes, guitar classes, piano classes, art classes, English classes are extremely popular, cooking classes give these ladies a chance to gather together as Iraqis in a foreign land.” On Saturday, they held a day of commemoration for the Iraqi Christian refugees in Jordan. WOOD: “On August 6, they had a commemoration ceremony there at the Olive Tree Center commemorating this day. They call this day the Black Day. It's similar to America's experience with September 11. It's a date they will never forget. It's a date that was horrific for them. It's a date that changed their lives forever.” China to U.S.A.: You can't 'treat countries like George Floyd' Enraged by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's August 2nd visit to the island nation of Taiwan, off the coast of China, a Chinese diplomat named Hua Chunying,  said, 'We cannot allow the U.S. to take itself as ‘world policeman' and treat other countries [like] George Floyd whom it can bully and strangle at will,” reports The Daily Mail. China's military fired 11 ballistic missiles into the Taiwan Strait - with five landing in Japan's exclusion zone. Alex Jones ordered to pay $45.2M more over Sandy Hook lies On Friday, an Austin, Texas jury ordered conspiracy theorist talk show host Alex Jones to pay $45.2 million in punitive damages to the parents of a child who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, adding to the $4.1 million he must pay for the suffering he put them through by claiming for years that the nation's deadliest school shooting was a hoax, reports the Associated Press. The total — $49.3 million — is less than the $150 million sought by Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, whose 6-year-old son, Jesse Lewis, was among the 20 children and six educators killed by Adam Lanza, in the 2012 attack in Newtown, Connecticut. But the trial marks the first time Jones has been held financially liable for peddling lies about the massacre, claiming it was faked by the government to tighten gun laws. Mass. GOP governor makes state abortion sanctuary On July 29th, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, a pro-abortion Republican, signed a bill codifying both abortion and puberty blockers for children into law, reports LifeNews.com. According to the Massachusetts Family Institute, this egregious law does 6 things, First, it turns Massachusetts into an “abortion sanctuary” by prohibiting the governor, courts, or law enforcement from cooperating with other states in enforcing their pro-life laws against abortionists who flee to Massachusetts. Second, it forces state universities to provide the abortion pill to students. Third, it forces insurance companies to cover abortion, even if they have religious objections. Fourth, it allows late-term abortions when a doctor deems a baby “incompatible with sustained life” outside of the womb, a decision which is not subject to review by any medical board. Fifth, it extends legal protections to Planned Parenthood which distributes puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, even in states where they have been criminalized for use on children.  Sixth, it establishes Massachusetts as an abortion exporter by: Protecting abortionists who perform abortions out-of-state, even if they violate other states' laws. Lowering or eliminating safety requirements for pharmacies to dispense abortion pills. Giving immunity to abortionists who provide abortifacient drugs through the mail or through telehealth appointments to women in states where abortion is illegal. Despite the fact that this Republican governor is clearly out of step with his own party's pro-life, anti-transgender platform, Baker celebrated the bill's signing with not just one tweet, but a second tweet. He praised the “dedication” of the legislature for passing this evil law. But Proverbs 17:15 says, “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.” After 66 days in hospital, 10-year-old Uvalde victim goes home And finally, a little girl who sustained critical injuries during the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24th finally walked out of the hospital last Friday, more than two months after Salvador Ramos  killed 19 students and two teachers, reports FaithWire.com. Mayah Zamora, age 10, who was shot in three limbs, walked out on her own to cheers and joy from hospital staff. STAFF: “Mayah. Mayah. Mayah.” (cheers) Administrators at University Health, a hospital in San Antonio, Texas, tweeted, “She is our hero, and we can't wait to see all she accomplishes in the future!” A GoFundMe page with a goal of $150,000 to help with Zamora's medical bills has brought in nearly $115,000. Close And that's The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Monday, August 8th, in the year of our Lord 2022. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis plans to visit Kazakhstan in September for an interreligious meeting. The pope intends to visit the Central Asian country for the seventh edition of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, taking place in the Kazakh capital of Nur-Sultan in mid-September. Kazakhstan has also been proposed as a potential country that could serve as a location for a meeting between Pope Francis and Kirill, the Russian Orthodox Patriarch, who is thought to have some influence on Vladimir Putin. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250949/pope-francis-plans-to-visit-kazakhstan-in-september Seven people were killed when a tank fired on a Caritas office in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol. The Catholic charitable organization Caritas-Spes announced April 11 that among the seven people killed by the Russian attack were two women staff members of Caritas Mariupol. Mariupol, a port city in southeastern Ukraine, was attacked by Russian forces on February 24, the first day of the full-scale invasion of the country. Ukrainian fighters have continued to resist the Russian advance on the city despite relentless bombing, which has destroyed many buildings and killed thousands of people. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250941/seven-people-killed-at-caritas-office-in-beseiged-city-of-mariupol After almost a decade of death and destruction, and one year after the historic visit of Pope Francis to Iraq, more than 25,000 Assyrian Christians celebrated Palm Sunday in northern Iraq over the weekend. The town of Qaraqosh became the Christian epicenter of Iraq during a procession and a Mass on April 10. Qaraqosh has been only partially rebuilt after years of assaults by ISIS, and it is estimated that only half of its original Christian population has returned. The Palm Sunday procession was decorated with palm fronds, roses, bright colors, and folkloric costumes characteristic of Holy Week and Easter. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250940/iraqi-christians-return-nineveh-holy-week A jury has convicted Ali Harbi Ali for the murder of British politician Sir David Amess, a pro-life Catholic. Ali stabbed Amess more than 20 times during an October 2021 attack at a Methodist Church in Essex, England. Amess had served in Parliament since 1983 and was a champion of pro-life causes. He also was instrumental in arranging Pope Benedict the sixteenth's visit to the UK Parliament in September 2010. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250944/guilty-verdict-for-murderer-of-catholic-mp-david-amess Today the Church celebrates Saint Giuseppe Moscati, the first modern medical doctor to be canonized. The Catholic understanding of body and soul informed his understanding of illness and medicine, as he saw Confession and Communion as the “first medicine.” To help the poor, he often donated his medical services or paid for his patients' prescriptions. He lived out the Gospel through his position as a teacher and physician. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-joseph-moscati-55

TESTO DELL'ARTICOLO ➜http://www.bastabugie.it/it/articoli.php?id=6509IL VIAGGIO DEL PAPA E LA DRAMMATICA SITUAZIONE DEI CRISTIANI PERSEGUITATI IN IRAQFino a trent'anni fa la popolazione di Bartella era al 100% cristiana, poi è passato l'Isis e poi gli shabak sciiti con la loro pulizia etnico-religiosa (VIDEO: la città cristiana invasa dai musulmani)di Leone Grotti«Siamo felici che arrivi il Papa perché qui aspettiamo un difensore, qualcuno che dica alle autorità politiche, religiose e militari: basta perseguitare i cristiani. Perché quello che stanno facendo qui ha un solo nome: pulizia etnico-religiosa». La città di Bartella dista appena 15 chilometri da Qaraqosh, ma sembra di entrare in un altro mondo. Gli stessi pali della luce che nella città principale della Piana di Ninive ospitano i cartelloni di benvenuto a papa Francesco, qui sono disseminati di bandiere nere e immagini del generale iraniano Qasem Soleimani, ucciso dagli americani a Baghdad il 3 gennaio dell'anno scorso. È un chiaro segnale di chi comanda ormai nella città storicamente cristiana: gli shabak, etnia di fede sciita.Come Qaraqosh, anche Bartella ha subìto le angherie e le violenze dell'Isis, e anche qui solo il 30-50 per cento dei cristiani che vi abitavano prima del 2014 ha fatto ritorno. Gli shabak invece sono aumentati di numero e sono riusciti a prendere il controllo della città, sia dal punto di vista amministrativo che militare. La forza di polizia che controlla la città, infatti, è formata dalla 30esima Brigata delle Pmf (Forze di moblitazione popolare), che è formata da shabak e da membri dell'organizzazione Badr (sciiti filo-iraniani del Sud), che non perdono occasione per discriminare e angariare i cristiani.IL NOSTRO INCUBO PEGGIOREDi fianco alla parrocchia di San Giorgio è di stanza il distaccamento di una milizia cristiana, a guardia della chiesa e della zona circostante. La loro presenza è fondamentale: nel 2018 un commando di shabak si è presentato davanti alla chiesa armato di kalashnikov, sparando in aria, poi ha fatto irruzione dentro i locali della parrocchia, terrorizzando i fedeli. Nessuno è stato ferito, lo scopo era lanciare un avvertimento: dovete andarvene.Chiediamo ai soldati cristiani il permesso di girare la città, per fotografare come gli sciiti se ne sono impossessati, ma non ce lo permettono. La tensione è troppo alta e percorrere le strade con una telecamera è sconsigliato. Accettano solo di farci vedere il quartiere attorno alla chiesa, distrutto dalla guerra, ma solo sotto scorta di un soldato armato. L'impronta dell'Isis, come a Qaraqosh, è dovunque: palazzi sventrati, case diroccate, crateri grandi quanto campi da tennis, polvere e macerie dappertutto immerse in un silenzio surreale.Padre Behnam Benoka è nato nel 1978 a Bartella e denuncia senza mezzi termini quello che sta avvenendo in città: «L'Isis è acqua passata. Qui il nostro incubo peggiore porta un altro nome: Shabak», ci confida accogliendoci in canonica. «Vogliono cacciarci dalla nostra città per islamizzarla. Stanno mettendo in atto un'operazione di pulizia etnico-religiosa. Ormai parlano apertamente di fondare uno Shabakistan. Le loro bandiere nere non hanno scritte, ma sono uguali a quelle dell'Isis. I cristiani hanno paura: si sentono estranei a casa loro».SADDAM, IL CALIFFATO, L'INVASIONE MUSULMANAL'invasione degli shabak a Bartella è iniziata negli anni Ottanta sotto Saddam Hussein, che ha creato nelle città della Piana di Ninive dei quartieri per i militari, confiscando la terra ai cristiani e costruendovi sopra case e moschee, laddove prima c'erano solo chiese. Era una strategia ben studiata: «Indebolire i cristiani per arrivare a cacciarli in futuro». La differenza tra Bartella e Qaraqosh è che in quest'ultima città i cristiani hanno subito raccolto un'ingente quantità di denaro per convincere i musulmani a rivendere loro la terra. Così sono riusciti a preservare l'identità cristiana della città: Bartella non è stata altrettanto fortunata o lungimirante.Fino al 2003, però, Saddam Hussein teneva a bada i musulmani stanziati nelle città cristiane. A partire dall'invasione americana, invece, la situazione è cambiata radicalmente. Gli shabak alzano al massimo il volume degli altoparlanti delle moschee, che vengono puntati verso le case dei cristiani e verso le chiese. La polizia molesta apertamente le donne e i bambini, per spaventarli nella speranza di convincerli ad andarsene.Dopo il 2003 l'amministrazione di Bartella, che è sciita, ha spostato da Mosul oltre 5.000 famiglie shabak, anch'esse perseguitate dai jihadisti sunniti, e invece di farle trasferire nei villaggi storicamente appartenenti all'etnia, le ha fatte risiedere in città, dando loro terre da coltivare su cui i musulmani hanno costruito, in barba alla legge, quartieri residenziali. «Qui non succede come da voi in Europa. Magari dal Sud ci si sposta al Nord per studiare o lavorare, ed è normale. Qui invece i musulmani vengono spostati nella nostra città per invaderci e sbarazzarsi di noi», riassume padre Behnam. Il risultato è che se fino a 30 anni fa la città era al 100 per cento cristiana, dopo il 2003 è diventata al 60 per cento cristiana e al 40 shabak. Dopo l'invasione dell'Isis, invece, i cristiani sono diventati una minoranza.Il cambiamento demografico è stato così imponente negli ultimi anni che se prima i cristiani riuscivano a eleggere 7 o 8 membri nel Consiglio distrettuale di Al Hamdaniya, che comprende molte città della Piana di Ninive, ora potrebbero non averne più neanche uno. A Bartella i cristiani erano più di 15 mila nel 2014: oggi forse raggiungono la metà. «Prima avevamo peso politico ed economico. Ora i musulmani ci rubano anche il lavoro e siamo diventati quasi dei mendicanti: ecco perché non possiamo ricostruire da noi stessi le case distrutte dall'Isis. L'ultimo elemento che rende gravissima la nostra situazione è l'emigrazione, non solo numerica, ma anche di qualità: a essere fuggiti all'estero sono i nostri medici, professori universitari, ingegneri».Padre Behnam teme davvero che l'identità cristiana sarà presto cancellata. [...]Nota di BastaBugie: nel seguente video (durata: 1 minuto) dal titolo "Bartella, la città cristiana invasa dai musulmani" si può vedere l'attuale situazione nella città descritta nel precedente articolo.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNEIDusI1Q4 Titolo originale: I cristiani di Bartella: «Stanno islamizzando la nostra città. Il Papa ci aiuti»Fonte: Tempi, 3 marzo 2021Pubblicato su BastaBugie n. 707

Il viaggio di Papa Francesco in Iraq è un impegno profondo e porta un vento nuovo nel difficile cammino verso la pacificazione di una terra tormentata da guerre. Baghdad, Erbil, Mosul nel nord Iraq sono nomi che evocano bombardamenti, massacri di civili, guerriglie, sparatorie, morte.Francesco ha attraversato le strade di Iraq come un umile pellegrino che cerca di comprendere fino a che punto l'uomo raggiunge il massimo livello di violenza e barbarie.A Mosul le tragiche conseguenze della guerra e delle ostilità sono fin troppo evidenti. "Com'è crudele che questo Paese, culla di civiltà, sia stato colpito da una tempesta così disumana, con antichi luoghi di culto distrutti, e migliaia e migliaia di persone, musulmani, cristiani, yazidi annientati dal terrorismo e altri sfollati con la forza o uccisi", ha ricordato il Papa.Un forte messaggio di pace e fratellanza di portata storica, perché la speranza, dice Francesco, è più forte della morte e la pace è più forte della guerra.Qaraqosh è diversa da quando nel 2014 l'Isis cacciò a colpi di kalasnikov e cannoni la comunità cristiana ma i segni del potere distruttivo del fanatismo rimangono tutti, anche sui volti dei pochi superstiti alla mattanza.I cristiani tornano a poco a poco in questi luoghi, ma la comunità è devastata: chiese, messe, tradizioni non ci sono quasi più.Oggi c'è bisogno di voltare pagina, lo ha detto a gran voce Francesco a Mosul: i leader del mondo si devono impegnare nella ricostruzione.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that her party will continue the fight against the farms laws till the government takes back its black laws. BJP's newest member in West Bengal, actor turned politician Mithun Chakraborty compared himself to the dangerous 'Cobra' snake and said he will finish the opposition in one bite. Pope Francis urged the Christians of Iraq not to stop dreaming and not to give up hope at a packed church in Qaraqosh on his third day of his trip. For more live news download Etv Bharat Download ETV Bharat on App store – https://apps.apple.com/in/app/etv-bharat/id1453416186 Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.etvbharat.android Or watch us live on – www.etvbharat.com ETV Bharat is a Division of Ushodaya Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. , is a comprehensive digital national news platform conceived to deliver seamless news and information services, using video-centric Mobile App and Web Portals. It is first-of-its kind offering in India in terms of diversity and depth, dedicated journalists network, reach of 24 states with services in 13 languages i.e.– Hindi, Urdu, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, Assamese, Odia and English. ETV Bharat is the latest initiative of the five-decade old multi-dimensional Ramoji Group. The Group's highly successful media endeavors include : Eenadu - one of the largely circulated language dailies in the country , and ETV Network with Telugu general entertainment, infotainment and news channels. With a strong lineage of the most trusted media house, ETV Bharat would draw on its strengths of decades' long experience and innovation. ETV Bharat will combine the new technologies of mobile and digital media to engage news and information seekers in a new connected world. It will be driven by well-established news gathering setup, technology specialists and other professionals.

durée : 00:15:41 - Journal de 12h30 - Au milieu des décombres, le pape François a prié dimanche pour les "victimes de la guerre" dans le nord de l'Irak, où les jihadistes du groupe Etat islamique (EI) ont semé la terreur et détruit des églises millénaires avant d'être défaits il y a trois ans.

durée : 00:15:41 - Journal de 12h30 - Au milieu des décombres, le pape François a prié dimanche pour les "victimes de la guerre" dans le nord de l'Irak, où les jihadistes du groupe Etat islamique (EI) ont semé la terreur et détruit des églises millénaires avant d'être défaits il y a trois ans.

Religions du Monde - Dimanche 7 mars 2021 - 10h10-11H Heure de Paris Le Covid et une situation sécuritaire fragile n’ont pas eu raison de la volonté du pape François de se rendre en Irak et d'accomplir ce que le pape Jean-Paul II n'avait pu réaliser. Une visite de 3 jours pour réconforter les 350 000 chrétiens de ce pays qui a vu fondre cette communauté. Sur la terre des origines des trois religions monothéistes, le pape vient apporter une parole de paix et de réconciliation alors que le pays peine à émerger du chaos laissé par trois décennies de guerre et de terrorisme islamiste. De Bagdad à Erbil en passant par Najaf, Moussoul et Qaraqosh, chaque étape de ce voyage est destinée à laisser une empreinte : À Najaf avec la rencontre avec l’Ayatollah Al Sistani, la plus haute autorité chiite irakienne, à Ur avec une grande rencontre interreligieuse. Christian Lochon, arabisant, spécialiste du Proche-Orient, du Maghreb et des chrétiens d’Orient ; Laurence Desjoyaux, grand reporter à l’hebdomadaire La Vie de retour de Mossoul ; Père Patrick Desbois, président de l’association Yahad in Unum qui documente, depuis 2015, le génocide des Yézidis ; le frère dominicain irakien Amir Jaj, spécialiste du chiisme et Arthur Herlin, qui couvre pour l’agence de presse vaticane I-Médias le voyage du pape.    

REPORTAGE - À Qaraqosh, où le Pape François est attendu vendredi 5 mars, la moitié des habitants sont revenus après le passage meurtrier de Daesh.

Bagdad, Nadjaf, Ur, Erbil, Mossoul et Qaraqoch, du 5 au 8 mars, le pape François se rendra Irak pour son premier voyage pontifical hors d’Italie depuis novembre 2019. Un voyage historique mais aussi symbolique pour donner un nouvel élan à la reconstruction du pays. Afin de bâtir à nouveau les maisons et les églises des chrétiens irakiens, mais aussi de construire la paix et favoriser le dialogue interreligieux avec leurs frères musulmans. Pour RCF, Etienne Pépin est allé rencontrer les communautés qui vont accueillir François en Mésopotamie, le berceau de la civilisation.   Le pape en Irak : une lumière au milieu des ruines Le pape François se déplacera ensuite dans la plaine de Ninive, notamment dans la cathédrale Al-Tahira de Mossoul, presque complétement détruite par Daesh. Abouna Noël, prêtre du diocèse fut l'un des premiers à revenir sur les lieux aprés les bombardements. "Ici c'est la ruine dans tout" décrit-il. La présence du pape sur ces lieux ravagés est primordiale pour le prêtre : "pour moi c'est très important que le pape voit ces églises qui sont détruites, pour donner une image au monde entier de ce qu'a pu faire Daech."    Les villes irakiennes se pavoisent   LES ÉGLISES SE MOBILISENT POUR FAIRE REVENIR LES FIDÈLES Les chrétiens irakiens n’ont pas abandonné la plaine de Ninive. Depuis le départ de Daesh en 2017, ils reviennent peu à peu. La ville de Qaraqosh comptait 50.000 chrétiens avant la guerre, 25.000 sont rentrés chez eux. À Mossoul, il y avait plus de 500 familles chrétiennes, seules 70 sont revenues. Les principales églises sont mobilisés pour faire revenir leurs fidèles exilés. À Mossoul, tout a été détruit par Daesh, la ville est encore dévastée en ruine. Malgré cela, les communautés chrétiennes se reconstituent autour des églises dont la restauration a commencé. C’est le cas de la paroisse d’Al Bichara, un symbole. C'est l’église du camp de réfugiés d’Encawa près d’Erbil qui a été déplacé pierre par pierre pour être réinstallée et embellie, la seule église qui accueille la messe tous les dimanches à Mossoul.    La façade en restauration de l'église Mar Thoma de Mossoul   UNE VISITE POUR LA PAIX, LA FRATERNITÉ ET LE DIALOGUE INTERRELIGIEUX Le père Olivier Poquillon est en charge de la reconstruction du couvent dominicain de Mossoul. Il observe au coeur de sa vie quotidienne l'élan fraternel qui unit les chrétiens et les musulmans dans cette attente de la visite du pape. "Les musulmans sont trés attentifs et trés désireux que cette visite soit un succés [...] ils sont trés excités de renouer avec leurs racines, pas avec leur passé, avec leurs racines pour construire l'avenir" raconte-t-il. Le voyage du souverain pontife en terre irakienne est un symbole fort pour les communautés chrétiennes mais aussi pour le dialogue interreligieux entre chrétiens et musulmans. "Ce que le pape vient promouvoir c'est précisément une religion qui est un mécanisme de paix, une démarche de paix" témoigne le père Olivier Poquillon. Il rappelle également : "je n'ai jamais vu une religion tenir un fusil, en revanche les Hommes, oui".   Le couvent des dominicains de Mossoul   LES CHRÉTIENS D’IRAK, UNE GRÂCE POUR L’ÉGLISE DANS LE MONDE Devant la haine destructrice de Daech qui a dévasté l'Irak ces dernières années, on peut aisément se poser la question de la difficulté du pardon. Pourtant c’est une nécessité pour le patriarche des chaldéens, le cardinal Louis Raphaël Ier Sako, car “pardonner ce n’est pas une faiblesse c’est quelque chose de très positif.” Il exprime toute sa fierté devant l’ardeur de la foi des chrétiens irakiens. “Imaginez-vous, 120 000 chrétiens qui laissent tout derrière eux pour être fidèle à leur foi", raconte-t-il admiratif. Cet acte fort, exemple de fidélité totale est selon lui “une grâce pour tous les chrétiens, une bénédiction pour l’Église entière”.       

The European Parliament has nominated Iraqi Archbishop Najeeb Michaeel Moussa for its prestigious Sakharov Prize, awarded every year to recognize individuals and organizations that defend human rights. The announcement came earlier this month and the European Parliament said it is nominating the Catholic Chaldean Archbishop because he "ensured the evacuation of Christians, Syriacs and Chaldeans to Iraqi Kurdistan and safeguarded more than 800 historic manuscripts dating from the 13th to the 19th century." The night of Aug. 6, 2014, is one the archbishop will never forget.He even has a name for it: the "black night."He calls it that because it was the most harrowing experience of his life, he told The World in an interview from his home in northern Iraq.A few days prior, he had learned that ISIS militants were about to take over his city of Qaraqosh, located about 20 miles southeast of Mosul. That meant one thing: It was time to leave.Related: US Embassy closure in Iraq would hand Tehran a 'strategic victory'“At midnight, I started to leave with many thousands of families. [They were] crying, shouting and most of them had no cars,” he recalled.Qaraqosh residents had reason to fear. ISIS is a Sunni extremist group that asserts that non-believers of Sunni Islam deserve to be killed and that people of other monotheistic faiths, like Christianity, are inferior. Christians and other minority groups suffered a lot during ISIS' rule in Iraq and Syria.At the time, Qaraqosh was home to Iraq’s largest Christian communities. The Christians that remained were reportedly given an ultimatum: pay a special tax for non-believers, leave, or be killed. Thousands of Christians and other minorities fled Qaraqosh overnight. “I feel that something dangerous [was about to] happen against our life and against our heritage,” Moussa recalled.Related: New rail service in Iraq through former ISIS territoryA history of displacementThis wasn’t the first time Moussa was being forced to leave his home. He said the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 unleashed a wave of attacks against minorities across the country. His church was targeted.“Fanatic groups killed five priests and one bishop,” he said. “This is just in Mosul.”At one point, he said, he found out his name was on a hit list.A prominent religious leader in his community, Moussa was in charge of thousands of ancient manuscripts. They're handwritten texts from the 12th and 13th centuries, covering a wide range of subjects like theology, philosophy, astrology, astronomy and medicine.In 2007, Moussa decided it was no longer safe to stay in Mosul. But if he was leaving, he said, he was taking the documents with him. Over several clandestine trips, he moved the documents to Qaraqosh. Then, on that night in August 2014, he found himself doing the same thing all over again.“We had two cars. And when we [found out that] many people were without a car and they want to save their lives, we asked them to come in our car and [sit] on the heritage.”Archbishop Najeeb Michaeel Moussa “We put what we had in the cars,” he said. “We had two cars. And when we [found out that] many people were without a car and they want to save their lives, we asked them to come in our car and [sit] on the heritage.”They loaded up as many people as they could. Men, women, children squeezed together on top of cardboard boxes full of fragile, ancient manuscripts.“We said we will live together or we will die together,” Moussa said.Related: Iraqi security expert's assassination in Baghdad has left many in shockFleeing ISISThe cars sped off into the darkness. They were headed to the Kurdish region of Iraq, to safety.“At 5:30 a.m. a young girl started saying, ‘Father, Father, look at your right,’" Moussa recalled. “And I see many cars with the black and white ISIS flags. They are ready to attack us.”That’s it, he thought. They were about to be ambushed.“I started to pray. I asked God to give me 10 hands or 10 legs to save [the people and the manuscripts].”Archbishop Najeeb Michaeel Moussa “I started to pray. I asked God to give me 10 hands or 10 legs to save [the people and the manuscripts].” Moussa remembers spotting the Kurdish security forces in the distance. He said they opened fire on the ISIS convoy and managed to hold them back while the civilians got through the checkpoints.He and the others eventually made it to safety. A trail of death and destruction They were lucky, says Reine Hanna, director of the Assyrian Policy Institute, a US-based nonprofit that advocates for the rights of minorities in the Middle East.“There was a smaller number of Christians or Assyrians that lived under ISIS rule. ... and it was a very traumatic experience, very scary and unknown on a day-to-day basis.”Reine Hanna, director, Assyrian Policy Institute “There was a smaller number of Christians or Assyrians that lived under ISIS rule,” she said, “and these were more elderly, members of the community who were not able to travel. And [...] it was a very traumatic experience, very scary and unknown on a day-to-day basis.”Human rights groups have documented ISIS mass killings of not just Sunni Iraqis but minorities as well. They have described what happened to the Yazidis, a Kurdish religious minority group, for example, as genocide.ISIS also pillaged and destroyed heritage sites. For a while, it was making money off of selling historic artifacts on international black markets.The documents that Moussa helped save have now been digitized and exhibited in France and Italy.The winner of the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is handed out each year to individuals and organizations that “defend human rights and fundamental freedoms.The winner will be announced in December and is rewarded with €50,000 (about $60,000).The archbishop said the manuscripts are currently in Iraq and he plans to keep it that way.He dedicated his nomination to the Iraqi people.

«Håp for Midtøsten» er Åpne Dørers langsiktige kampanje for Irak og Syria. Sammen med Middle East Consern og lokale menigheter bringer Åpne Dører håp til kristne i disse krigsherjede landene. I dette programmet deler Olaug Lillian Bjørke noen glimt fra denne kampanjen. Du får blant annet møte 19 år gamle Yousif fra Irak. Han måtte flykte for livet da IS inntok hjembyen hans i 2014. Nå er han og familien tilbake i Qaraqosh, hvor de forsøker å gjenoppbygge både hjem og liv. Takket være støtten de har mottatt, kjenner Yousif på håp midt i det håpløse: «Vi forteller hverandre at vi skal bygge opp igjen denne byen. Vi skal snu denne vanskelige situasjonen til noe godt.  Vi har ikke mistet troen. For meg personlig har troen blitt sterkere.» I Syria er flere kirker blitt «Senter for håp». En pastor uttrykker det slik: «Vi er overbevist om at vi skal bli værende i Syria, som ambassadører for himmelen. Og kampen vi står i, er dette: At vi skal spre himmelske verdier, Jesus Kristus sine verdier. Så istedenfor hevn, tilgivelse. Istedenfor hat, kjærlighet. Istedenfor å drepe, gi liv. Menneskene trenger en Frelser. Hvem andre kan fortelle dem om Frelseren enn vi som tilhører Guds menighet?»  I programmet får du ellers høre Ingebjørg Bratland synge: «Kom, Jesus, lys din fred på jord.»

Dans le centre-ville de Qaraqosh, les magasins ont rouvert, certaines églises accueillent à nouveau des fidèles et plusieurs milliers de familles sont revenues après une période d’exil qui aura duré un peu plus de deux ans. La vie reprend peu à peu dans les villages chrétiens de la plaine de Ninive.   En revanche, la question du retour est plus épineuse pour les chrétiens de Mossoul, pour qui l’arrivée de l’Etat islamique dans la ville n’aura été finalement qu’un épisode de plus dans la longue persécution dont ils sont les victimes. La deuxième ville d'Irak n'a pas été aussi détruite que celles de la plaine de Ninive. > Retrouvez l'album complet du reportage sur Facebook Outre les chrétiens, une autre minorité a particulièrement souffert avec l'arrivée de Daech : les Yézidis. Peu connue, cette communauté regroupe les pratiquants du yézidisme, une religion monothéiste où coexistent la croyance en la réincarnation et une dévotion profonde pour les éléments de la Nature. Un centre médico-social financé par le Conseil régional Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, la Fondation Mérieux et la Fondation Saint-Irénée a été ouvert à Shekhan pour accueillir de jeunes femmes yézidies, utilisées comme esclaves sexuelles par les djihadistes, parfois offertes en cadeau ou vendues pour la somme de deux ou trois dollars. En Irak, la reconstruction ne passe donc pas seulement par le bâti. Les esprits ont autant besoin d’aide que les pierres. A Qaramless, dans la plaine de Ninive, une grande fête a réuni le 9 mai dernier 600 chrétiens, syriaques-catholiques comme chaldéens, autour de la remise de médailles du « Run in spirit ». Cette course d’inspiration chrétienne née à Lyon a fait une étape symbolique en Irak. Un groupe de huit coureurs lyonnais a fait le déplacement pour parcourir les quatre kilomètres de bitume qui séparent les villes chrétiennes de Qaraqosh et Qaramless. Un moment de joie partagée entre Irakiens et Français. Une respiration symbolique du retour à la normale pour la communauté chrétienne, si précieuse après ces temps troublés par l’Etat islamique.

Eyewitness Dominican Sister Diana Momeka, during a hearing before Congress in 2015, testified: “Uprooted and forcefully displaced, we have realized that ISIS’s plan is to evacuate the land of Christians and wipe the earth clean of any evidence that we ever existed.” Sr. Diana’s own convent was destroyed by ISIS. She and Syriac Catholic Father Behnam Benoka founded and run the Humanitarian Nineveh Relief Organization in Iraqi Kurdistan where they provide crucial health services and humanitarian aid to thousands of displaced families in and around Erbil. Today, many of the ancient villages have been liberated from ISIS, but the majority of homes, churches, building and infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed. As ISIS retreats, their goal is to restore hope for those who have survived. Sister Diana shared personal stories of ISIS’ campaign of genocidal acts throughout her homeland. She speak about the future of Christianity and other religious minorities in Iraq, the current humanitarian crisis and the urgent need to support the population. Sr. Diana was displaced from her hometown Qaraqosh, where she taught English since 2013, by ISIS on August 6, 2014. She has also taught at St. Ephrem Seminary in Qaraqosh and the Baghdad Academy for Human Science. She received a Doctorate of Ministry degree from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

For the eighth episode of the Collateral Repair Podcast, we talk about Christian refugees in Iraq who had to flee their homes due to religious extremism. We sit down with Nasir, who was given three options when the Islamic State invaded his home of Qaraqosh, pay a tax, convert or be killed. He also talks about fleeing to Kurdistan, and being cornered in a larger political argument, as he was asked to support the Kurdish referendum for independence, something that would jeopardize his safety as an Iraqi, or once again face threats against his and his family’s wellbeing. We also discuss Nasir’s background as a photographer, and his job taking photos of his hometown after ISIS left.

Il 20 marzo 2003 gli Stati Uniti invadevano l’Iraq con lo scopo di deporre il dittatore Saddam Hussein. Quella che dopo appena 40 giorni era stata dichiarata “missione compiuta” dall’allora presidente Bush è diventata presto una “missione infinita”, che in momenti diversi ha dato vita a numerosi conflitti, molti dei quali ancora oggi irrisolti. L’ascesa e la caduta dello Stato islamico sono soltanto gli ultimi episodi di questa catena di eventi. Proprio nel giorno del quindicesimo anniversario di questa lunga guerra uscirà un web documentario dal titolo Donne fuori dal buio, realizzato da Arianna Pagani e Sara Manisera e finanziato attraverso un crowdfunding ancora aperto.Un viaggio attraverso quattro luoghi e quattro biografie che, racconta Sara Manisera, «sono simboliche. Sono quattro storie di donne che all’interno della società irachena sono molto attive: un’avvocata, una dottoressa, una madre e un’attivista. E poi attraverso 4 luoghi: Baghdad, dove è cominciata l’invasione del 2003, Halabja, luogo simbolico perché nel 1984 Saddam lanciò un’offensiva contro la popolazione curda bombardando con un attacco chimico 5000 persone, Qaraqosh, perché è una cittadina a maggioranza cristiana che nel 2014 ha subito l’offensiva e l’occupazione dello Stato islamico, e poi Mosul, la cosiddetta capitale del Daesh, o almeno lo era fino alla liberazione dello scorso luglio».

Il 20 marzo 2003 gli Stati Uniti invadevano l’Iraq con lo scopo di deporre il dittatore Saddam Hussein. Quella che dopo appena 40 giorni era stata dichiarata “missione compiuta” dall’allora presidente Bush è diventata presto una “missione infinita”, che in momenti diversi ha dato vita a numerosi conflitti, molti dei quali ancora oggi irrisolti. L’ascesa e la caduta dello Stato islamico sono soltanto gli ultimi episodi di questa catena di eventi. Proprio nel giorno del quindicesimo anniversario di questa lunga guerra uscirà un web documentario dal titolo Donne fuori dal buio, realizzato da Arianna Pagani e Sara Manisera e finanziato attraverso un crowdfunding ancora aperto.Un viaggio attraverso quattro luoghi e quattro biografie che, racconta Sara Manisera, «sono simboliche. Sono quattro storie di donne che all’interno della società irachena sono molto attive: un’avvocata, una dottoressa, una madre e un’attivista. E poi attraverso 4 luoghi: Baghdad, dove è cominciata l’invasione del 2003, Halabja, luogo simbolico perché nel 1984 Saddam lanciò un’offensiva contro la popolazione curda bombardando con un attacco chimico 5000 persone, Qaraqosh, perché è una cittadina a maggioranza cristiana che nel 2014 ha subito l’offensiva e l’occupazione dello Stato islamico, e poi Mosul, la cosiddetta capitale del Daesh, o almeno lo era fino alla liberazione dello scorso luglio».

After 9 staff have been suspended following an edition of Panorama this week on the Immigration Removal Centre, Brook House, William talks to Rev Nathan Ward about his experience of working at this and another detention centre. The American Catholic Church hits back at Steve Bannon after he questioned their motives for defending DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme, which President Trump has announced he is closing. Middle East Correspondent Yolande Knell tells William about her trip to Qaraqosh, the biggest Christian town in Iraq, which has been retaken from so-called Islamic State. Following the publication of the National Social Attitudes Survey which reported only 15% of the population are affiliated to the Church of England, Trevor Barnes asks how much longer can the Church remain the established Church of England. And why are Cathedrals and in particular Choral Evensong increasing in popularity? Producers: Amanda Hancox Rajeev Gupta.

Kate Adie introduces dispatches by: Yolande Knell in Qaraqosh, who observes Iraq's trials of people accused of fighting for so-called Islamic State; Martin Patience, who takes his leave of Nigeria with mixed emotions after a two-year stay; Matthew Hill in Sri Lanka, who finds that the strains and tensions between those who govern and many of those whom they govern are intensifying; Harriet Constable, who reports from Kenya on the increasingly violent and costly incidence of sand harvesting; and Hywel Griffith visits one of Australia's many micro-nations to meet the white-bearded Prince Paul of Wy to discover why he has set up his own realm.

Hun stad is bevrijd van Islamitische Staat, maar toch keren er nauwelijks inwoners terug naar Qaraqosh, dat net buiten Mosul ligt. De vijftigduizend inwoners van wat ooit de grootste christelijke plaats in Irak was, hebben een probleem. Ze zijn nog steeds bang voor hun moslimburen. Veel huizen zijn verwoest, en er is nauwelijks water en elektriciteit. De Nederlander Werner Nijman werkt voor de christelijke organisatie Salt en woont al jaren in Irak. Hij leidt verslaggever Hans Jaap Melissen rond in het spookachtige Qaraqosh. (foto: AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOPHE SIMON )

Part of the Conflict and Cultural Heritage Conference. Theme 1: What is happening? The significance of sites at risk, and the current situation. with Dr Sebastian Brock and Sebastien de Courtois. Dr. Brock (Oriental Institute, Oxford University) speaks about some of the living Syriac Communities of the Middle East, introducing who they are, and their manuscripts. This presentation is based on Sebastien de Courtois' own experience as a journalist who was present in Northern Iraq in the summer 2014. He mentions the destruction of the Yezidis sanctuaries in Sindjar; the destruction of churches and Syriac monasteries in the plain of Niniveh; but also the heroic action of Father Najeeb who saved thousands of old manuscripts from Mosul and the city of Qaraqosh. Then he shows pictures of the very old Synagogue of Al qosh, in the Kurdistan area.

Part of the Conflict and Cultural Heritage Conference. Theme 1: What is happening? The significance of sites at risk, and the current situation. with Dr Sebastian Brock and Sebastien de Courtois. Dr. Brock (Oriental Institute, Oxford University) speaks about some of the living Syriac Communities of the Middle East, introducing who they are, and their manuscripts. This presentation is based on Sebastien de Courtois' own experience as a journalist who was present in Northern Iraq in the summer 2014. He mentions the destruction of the Yezidis sanctuaries in Sindjar; the destruction of churches and Syriac monasteries in the plain of Niniveh; but also the heroic action of Father Najeeb who saved thousands of old manuscripts from Mosul and the city of Qaraqosh. Then he shows pictures of the very old Synagogue of Al qosh, in the Kurdistan area.

UNIVERSITY OF EXCELLENCE WWW.UOFE.ORG  Prince HandleyPresident / Regent  AN END TIME KEY TODAY: PERSECUTION IS COMINGTHE FIRST STAGES You can listen to this message NOW. Click on the pod circle at top left. (Allow images to display.) Or, Listen NOW >> LISTEN HERE    Email this message to a friend.    Subscribe to this Ezine teaching by Email: princehandley@gmail.com (Type “Subscribe” in the “Subject” line.)    24/7 release of Prince Handley teachings, BLOGS and podcasts > STREAM    Text: “follow princehandley” to 40404 (in USA) Or, Twitter: princehandley  _________________________________ DESCRIPTION Several years ago – in 2007 - I did a podcast on the material contained herein. A prophecy! We are NOT yet in the vertex of the end times; However, we are in the first stages of the End Times. What to LOOK FOR from religious leaders and from governments and what TO DO in these days in which we live. Just think about these recent attacks against Christians: Students discriminated against in public schools by administrators and teachers Catholic nuns & Christian businesses targeted for refusing ObamaCare coverage Christmas cards and wrappings – and carols – banned for Veterans by Obama VA  _________________________________ AN END TIME KEY TODAY: PERSECUTION IS COMING THE FIRST STAGES When you hear of wars and disturbances, don't be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won't come immediately. Then he said to them, Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.  [Luke 21:11] But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name's sake.  [Luke 21:12] _____________ EDITOR'S NOTE: Synagogues here used refers to religious houses of worship, which can include churches. In other words, religious (but NOT born-again) so-called Christians persecuting REAL Christians.  A sign to watch for - an End Time KEY - will be the religious establishment persecuting the Body of Messiah. This does not, however, exclude non-believers - other anti-Christian groups - from the persecution, also. The thing to realize is that there will be persecution and arrests done ... "for my name's sake." People will think they are doing God a favor, but maybe the real reason is that they have a form of Godlness, but hate and deny the REAL power tof God _____________ The original word for fearful sights in verse 11 above is from the Greek phobetron, (pronounced fob'-ay-tron) which means terrors. This rare word phobêthra is only used here in the New Testament. It is from phobeô, to frighten, and occurs only in the plural as here. To scope, or micro focus, on this segment (verses 11 and 12) of a larger range of scripture dealing with the end times (Luke 21) we can see clearly that BEFORE the terrors and great signs from heaven will come a period of time where many of God’s people will be arraigned, detained, or arrested to appear in either synagogues or prisons . . . even before presidents, kings, and rulers of nations for a testimony. The advance by ISIS Hell-bent on world Islamic domination should NOT be a surprise to anyone who knows that the Quran teaches Muslims to murder Jews and Christians. A quick, but knowledgeable, study of Islam and Its Teachings will show you the foolishness of Islam. We can see that Christians (at least in the Western world) are NOT at the vertex of the end times yet because of what Jesus taught in verse 12. However, in Islamic countries and in Africa today Christians are being murdered, beheaded, crucified and churches are being burned. One of the Bishops I ordained into the ministry informed me three days ago that only 10 miles from his church and residence a village which is in his mission area was attacked by Muslims: the church was burned and many Christians were killed (with only a few escaped.) Just this morning I received another request of prayer for Christian missionaries in Qaraqosh where ISIS told children to deny Christ and follow Islam. Every one of the children did NOT deny Yeshua (Jesus) and were murdered by the Muslims. What should speak to us TODAY, however, is that in the (probably) not too distant future, leaders of nations (maybe both Islamic and Western nations), will have Christians incarcerated. The rise of ISIS terrorism and beheadings is not being addressed accurately in the media. It is an Islamic operation. If a person claims to be a Muslim, then they should read the Quran, which commands that Christians and Jews be murdered. Right now, in the Western world, governments are imposing fines and also imprisonment on pastors for speaking out against things such as alternative (or, sinful) life styles. When you read carefully the teachings I recommend at the bottom of this Ezine, you will see that we are in the first stages of the Last Days. However, it is important to recognize “waymarks” along the pathway, and to be prepared. One of the most extraordinary documents in human history—the Bill of Rights — has come to an end under President Barack Obama. Derived from sacred principles of natural law, the Bill of Rights came to a sudden and catastrophic end when the President signed the National Defense Authorization Act (2012 NDAA Sec. 1021), which grants the U.S. military the “legal” right to conduct secret kidnappings of U.S. Citizens. Section 1071 outlines the creation of the “Conflict Records Research Center”, where the unconstitutionally obtained information that the NSA has collected is compiled and shared with the Department of Defense.  The information, called in the wording  “captured records,” can be anything from your phone records, emails, browsing history or posts on social media sites. This is all conducted completely outside the protection of law, with no jury, no trial, no legal representation and not even any requirement that the government produce evidence against the accused. It is a system of outright government tyranny against the American people, and it effectively nullifies the Bill of Rights.  Just a FEW things to contemplate: California churches forced by state to provide abortion coverage Legal demand to obtain copies of pastor's sermons (Houston lesbian mayor) Systemic persecution of Christians by Muslims not showed by mainstream media Messiah Jesus, speaking to His disciples in verse 12 concerning their being brought before kings and leaders, was partly referring to the great persecutions they would experience by the Romans in the early church era; however, in the grand scope of end time prophecy He was giving instructions as to what would happen before He returns to establish His Kingdom.  [See Luke 21:5-36] What this microcosm of scripture shows us in verse 12 . . . “But BEFORE all these things” . . . is that we need to, as my blessed mother used to say, “Make hay while the sun shines!” I admonish you as an elder brother in Messiah Jesus, do whatever the Holy Spirit is leading you to do. Seize the day! Get rid of the weights that are holding you back from doing God’s will. Buy up the time. Take advantage of every IDEA, RESOURCE, and OPPORTUNITY you have to reach people, and the world, for Messiah Jesus! Satan hates anointed MONEY, anointed PEOPLE, and anointed TIME. Do NOT let people steal YOU, your MONEY, or your TIME. Spend time with God in the Word and prayer . . . listen to what He is telling you. Make the moves you need to on the chess board of life so that the Master may say of you one day: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Now, let me give you some recommendations. Here are four books to help you know exactly what's going on and HOW to STRATEGIZE and WIN. ►►► Learn the material, teach it to others … share the victory. Map of the End Times Flow Chart of Revelation Prophetical Calendar for Israel and the Nations (2014 thru 2013) New Global Strategy The Art of Christian Warfare