Ainkawa
Maryamana Shrine in Erbil attracts both Christians and Muslims seeking blessings and miracles
ERBIL — The Maryamana Shrine, built in honor of the Virgin Mary in the 1960s, is not only a significant religious site for the Christian community in Ainkawa, Erbil, but also attracts Muslims who visit the shrine to seek blessings. Situated in the outskirts of Ainkawa, the shrine has been a key destination for those praying for rain and other forms of intercession.
According to those who maintain the shrine, it was originally reconstructed in the early 1960s on the ruins of an ancient, long-forgotten church, located amidst farmlands. Over the years, the shrine has become a spiritual landmark for both communities.
Each year, the shrine hosts several religious celebrations, the most notable being the Feast of the Assumption of Mary on August 15. This Christian holiday honors the belief that the Virgin Mary was taken body and soul into Heaven at the end of her earthly life, an event observed mainly by Catholics and some Eastern Orthodox Christians. On this day, worshipers gather at the shrine to pray in a warm spiritual atmosphere.
Father Savio Handola, parish priest of Saint Joseph’s Cathedral in Ainkawa, highlighted the deep connection locals have with the shrine. “For decades, the people of Ainkawa have cherished the Maryamana Shrine. Our ancestors used to walk from St. George’s Church to the shrine on August 15, marking the Feast of the Assumption,” he said. “People come here to seek blessings, pray for rain, protection for their farms, and healing from illnesses.”
Although the shrine has limited historical documentation, some suggest that it once served as a church in a forgotten village. “It is said that many miracles have occurred at this shrine, not only for Christians but also for our Muslim brothers, who visit and pray seeking intercession,” Father Handola added.
The shrine has undergone multiple phases of reconstruction. Initially, in 1965, the original structure featured two domes made of clay. These domes were replaced with brick in 1975, and by 2004, the shrine had undergone a full renovation, complete with trees and seating areas to create a serene atmosphere for visitors.
Gerjes Yusuf Nbati, a writer and poet, shared a personal experience of visiting the shrine. “One time, I took my children to the shrine, and it was raining. We lit candles after finishing our prayers, and then we saw a Muslim family—a man, a woman, and a young girl. We asked them about the reason for their prayer at this shrine, and the man said, ‘I have been married for 20 years, and we had not been blessed with children. One day, we visited this shrine and asked the Virgin Mary to bless us with a daughter. A year later, God blessed us with a daughter, and we named her Maryam after the Virgin Mary. Since then, we have continued to visit this shrine and light candles in gratitude to the Virgin Mary.’”
Ainkawa, located north of Erbil, is predominantly a Christian area and a central hub for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region’s Christian community. Home to approximately 65,000 people, it is composed of Chaldean Catholics, Assyrians, and Syriac Orthodox Christians. The town features numerous churches, religious institutions, and cultural centers, and has become a haven for Christians who fled violence in other parts of Iraq, particularly from Mosul and the Nineveh Plains.
Ainkawa Christians begin preparations for the Feast of the Cross
