Bell rings again at restored Chaldean Church in Mosul

MOSUL — Residents of Mosul celebrated the ringing of the bell at the Chaldean Church of Um Al-Ma’una in the Dawasa area on Sunday, marking a significant moment in the church’s restoration. Built in 1944, the church’s bell, newly crafted in France, was returned after the building’s rehabilitation. The event drew Christians from Hamdaniya, Tel Keppe, Akre, and Mosul.

The church, damaged during the battle to liberate Mosul from Islamic State control, had been used as a headquarters by the extremist group. It has now been restored alongside the adjacent Um Al-Ma’una School, which has educated generations of both Christian and Muslim students. The school has 20 classrooms and serves as a symbol of interfaith harmony.

During Islamic State’s occupation of Mosul from 2014 to 2017, the city suffered extensive destruction, including the demolition of cultural and religious sites. Archbishop Mikhael Najeeb, the Chaldean archbishop of Mosul, told 964media that the church dates back to Iraq’s monarchy era and was one of 35 Christian shrines in Mosul that were damaged, burned, or looted. He stressed the importance of restoring places of worship, noting that the Nabi Yunus Mosque also suffered significant damage.

Earlier this month, reconstruction of the Nabi Yunus Mosque reached 70% completion.

“A French couple, François Kirchhoff and Marie Clavel, funded the reconstruction of this church. They wanted it restored for prayer and peace, as well as to rebuild the ‘Um Al-Ma’una’ School for education,” Najeeb said. He added that the church’s original bells were stolen during the conflict, and the new bell was made in France and flown to Mosul.

Historically, 95% of Dawasa’s residents were Christians, but many have since emigrated to other Iraqi cities or abroad. “Today, we are less focused on how many Christians remain in Mosul,” he said, “but we are focused on citizenship and securing a future for all on this land.”

The church was rebuilt in a year and a half, and Najeeb expressed his thanks to everyone involved in the project. “Um Al-Ma’una symbolizes the integration of culture and faith between the church and the school. Today, the bell rings for the first time since Mosul’s liberation, a symbol of peace and love,” he said.

Kristina Youssef, who attended the ceremony from Akre to hear the bells chime for the first time since liberation, shared her joy: “It’s a joyful moment and encourages us to return,” she told 964media, calling on officials to accelerate the reconstruction of other churches.

In late July, significant progress was made in rebuilding two historical landmarks in Mosul, with the Al-Tahira Church in Hosh Al-Bieaa nearing completion and the restoration of the iconic Al-Hadba Minaret at the Al-Nouri Mosque well underway. These projects are part of the “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” initiative.

In February 2018, UNESCO launched the “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” initiative to restore heritage sites and empower the local community. Recently, efforts have focused on rebuilding key landmarks, including the Al-Tahira Church and the iconic Al-Hadba Minaret at Al-Nouri Mosque, both nearing completion. The Nineveh Antiquities and Heritage Office, in partnership with UNESCO, is also preparing to restore Mosul’s oldest standing bathhouse, Hammam Al-Qalaa,  built in 1744, with plans to convert it into a traditional restaurant.