We, Christians of Mesopotamia, are used to religious persecution and pressures by those in power. After Constantine, persecution ended only for Western Christians, whereas in the East threats continued. Even today we continue to be a Church of martyrs.
—Mar Paulos, Nov. 26, 2007
Paulos Faraj Rahho, the Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul in northern Iraq, was found dead on Thursday after having been kidnapped two weeks ago by a group of Islamist gunmen. He had served as archbishop of the Chaldean Catholics of Mosul for seven years. (Mosul, the archbishop's hometown, is the Biblical city of Nineveh.)
Three of the archbishop's companions were killed in a gunfight during his kidnapping, as he returned home after Mass on February 29. There are conflicting reports about the cause of death of Mar Paulos himself; there are some suggestions that he died from preexisting health conditions made worse by the circumstances of his captivity, while others claim he was shot.
(Sources: The Times Online, AFP)
May the God who was preached in Nineveh by Jonah the prophet and by Mar Paulos, and Jesus His Son, bring perfect peace to Mosul and to all Iraq and the Middle East. May He reduce His enemies to obedience to Christ, through the testimony that His servants offer in both life and death.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Mar Paulos Faraj Rahho, archbishop and martyr (1942-2008)
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3 comments:
There are so many frustrations here. And while there is much persecution in most places in the Middle East, where I am there doesn't seem to be enough to make people really serious about faith. But the recent bombing will hopefully get people thinking eternally again. We are all grieved by the death of the archbishop. He had a good reputation for being truly Christian.
That quote from Mar Paulos is a great reminder of the true persecution we sometimes forget about while living in the comforts of the west.
Colleen and Billy,
Thanks for the good words.
Like so many things, the persecution of our fellow saints is a double-edged sword. While we grieve over the sufferings of our brothers and sisters, we also have hope that their faithful testimony "even unto death" will cause the Church to grow and flourish.
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