On Friday, the Dora district hosted the inauguration ceremony of St. Shmoni Church and her sons, after extensive restoration and renovation efforts by the Christian Endowment Bureau, reopening the church after years of closure.

A Symbol of Coexistence and Brotherhood

The ceremony was attended by Dr. Rami Joseph Aghajan, Head of the Endowment Bureau, along with a delegation of senior officials. Patriarch Mar Gewargis III Yonan, in his speech, praised the bureau’s significant efforts in restoring the church, emphasizing that the project had been a top priority from its inception to completion.

Blessing & Remarks by Religious Leaders

The religious ceremonies were conducted under the spiritual guidance of Patriarch Mar Gewargis III Yonan, head of the Ancient Eastern Church, who blessed the attendees and described the restoration effort as a "precious gift to the faithful."

He further stated, "This historic religious landmark is not just a stone building; it stands as a living testament to our shared history and treasured spiritual heritage."

Message of Peace & Cultural Preservation

In a special statement, Dr. Aghajan emphasized that this project is part of the bureau’s strategy to preserve religious heritage for all faith communities without discrimination, noting that the revival of St. Shmoni Church symbolizes a message of love and peace for all Iraqis.

The event was filled with joy, as members of the Christian community from across Baghdad gathered to celebrate the reopening, expressing their deep happiness and gratitude to the Christian Endowment Bureau for this meaningful initiative.