Iraqi bishop: Americans need to know
there is a Christian presence in Iraq
New York, June 17, 2008 – A prominent Christian leader in Iraq has lamented
that few Americans are aware of the Christian presence in Iraq.
"It is important for the Christian world to take this factor into account,"
said Archbishop Avak Asadourian, Ph.D., Primate of the Armenian Church of
Iraq, during a June 12 meeting with ecumenical leaders here in The
Interchurch Center. The meeting was hosted by Archbishop Vicken Aykazian,
President of the National Council of Churches USA, and by the Rev. Dr.
Michael Kinnamon, general secretary.
Archbishop Asadourian is general secretary of the Council of Christian
Church-Leaders in Iraq, which was formed in June 2006 to maintain
communication with different Christian bodies and to channel humanitarian
supplies to the people in need.
Media reports give many Americans the impression that the prevalent religion
of the land is the exclusive religion in Iraq, Asadourian noted. But
Christianity traces its roots in Iraq to the first century mission visits of
St. Thomas the Apostle to Mesopotamia.
"Christianity is indigenous to the land since Apostolic times," the
archbishop said. Current trends, however, show that thousands of Christians
are emigrating to Jordan, Syria and elsewhere, as are many other Iraqis."
Before the "War of 2003," as Asadourian termed it, Christians and
Muslims - Sunni and Shia - lived amicably with one another. "Christians are
well respected in Iraq ," he said, and added that now, with insurrection and
terrorism a part of daily life, there has been a large emigration across the
spectrum of Iraqi society, including Christians.
Asadourian described Iraq as "a wounded country – a severely wounded
country."
"Iraqis were under the strain of several hardships stemming from many wars,
including the thirteen-year-old embargo, which in and of itself is an act of
war," concluded Archbishop Asadourian. The coalition embargo of Iraq,
"caused great harm to the population," he said. "But even worse is what
happened after 2003. Iraqis thought there would be a change for the better –
at least that’s what the media reported."
The coalition occupation of Iraq led to an unforeseen insurrection and daily
acts of brutal terrorism. "People are aware that they can leave home alive
and never return to their families," Asadourian said. "My cathedral closed
for a year and a half because of the lack of security. What Iraqis need,
before anything else, is security."
The archbishop said that one of his missions is to remind Americans about
the ill effects of war upon the entire population of Iraq, irrespective of
religious differences. He called upon U.S. churches to influence their
government to keep its promises to the Iraqi people.
"There is a tragedy in Iraq now because the promises made to Iraq were never
kept. Our natural resources, which are tremendous, must be utilized for the
betterment of the Iraqi people," he said. "Until now, the infrastructure in
Iraq is in shambles, and people are still waiting for basic necessities, so
they may live in a normal fashion. For example, we were promised clean water
but what we got is Blackwater." Iraqis live by their word in business and
are particularly disappointed by broken promises.
Kinnamon said the member churches of the NCC are "very concerned about our
Christian sisters and brothers in Iraq and throughout the Middle East" and
will be seeking ways to bring their plight to the attention of the American
people and the U.S. government.
"It is very difficult to live under the shadow of death for so many years.
It takes its toll on you," Archbishop Asadourian said.
Ecumenical leaders attending the meeting with Archbishop Asadourian were:
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, president of the National Council of Churches;
the Very Rev. Haigazoun Najarian, Diocesan Vicar of the Armenian Diocese of
New York; the Very Rev. Vahan Hovhanessian, pastor of the Armenian Church of
the Holy Martyrs in Bayside, N.Y.; the Rev. Mark Arey, ecumenical officer of
the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; Clare J. Chapman, NCC Chief
Operating Officer; Chris Ferguson, World Council of Churches representative
to the United Nations.
Also, the Rev. Deborah DeWinter, Program Director for the United States,
World Council of Churches; the Rev. Harriett Olson, director of the Women’s
Division of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries; Wesley
M. "Pat" Pattillo, NCC Senior Program Director for Justice and Advocacy and
Communication; Kurt Kaboth, NCC Director of Development; Philip E. Jenks,
NCC Media Relations Specialist; and Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, NCC Senior
Program Director for Interfaith Relations and Faith and Order.
The NCC is the ecumenical voice of America’s Orthodox, Protestant,
Anglican, historic African American and traditional peace churches. These 35
communions have 45 million faithful members in 100,000 congregations in all
50 states.
NCC News contact: Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2228, [email protected]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
