'This year is special': Duhok Christians celebrate Christmas at home
DUHOK, Kurdistan Region — Churchgoers and clergymen across the Kurdistan Region are celebrating a different kind of Christmas this year.
Victor George is from one of Duhok's oldest Christian families.
This year, they are celebrating at home, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
"This year is special... we will celebrate at home. There won’t be any visits, we will congratulate family and friends over the phone," he told Rudaw.
Church leaders have made provisions for worshippers to attend church services safely, increasing the number of prayer services to avoid crowding.
"Health comes before prayers, that’s my belief, said Bashar Mati, Archbishop of the Akkadian Church in Erbil.
According to Caritas, 150,000 Christians lived in the Kurdistan Region before 2003. 250,000 more have since fled to the Region since the war with the Islamic State (ISIS).
Victor George is from one of Duhok's oldest Christian families.
This year, they are celebrating at home, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
"This year is special... we will celebrate at home. There won’t be any visits, we will congratulate family and friends over the phone," he told Rudaw.
Church leaders have made provisions for worshippers to attend church services safely, increasing the number of prayer services to avoid crowding.
"Health comes before prayers, that’s my belief, said Bashar Mati, Archbishop of the Akkadian Church in Erbil.
According to Caritas, 150,000 Christians lived in the Kurdistan Region before 2003. 250,000 more have since fled to the Region since the war with the Islamic State (ISIS).