Marian devotion
Our Lady of Erbil
Erbil (Ankawa), Iraq
The refugee Christians venerate the Virgin in Ankawa, the Christian neighborhood of Erbil.
In Ankawa, the Christian neighborhood of Erbil, thousands of Christian refugees from Mossul venerate the Virgin Mary. The church of San José is the center of the community.
Los refugees from Mosul
When the Islamic State conquered Mossul in 2014, more than 100,000 Christians fled to Erbil. They lived in refugee camps for years, not knowing if they could return to their homes.
The Virgin Mary was the mother who comforted them in exile. The refugees prayed the Rosary every night in the camps, calling for Mossul's release. When Mossul was released in 2017, Christians again found their churches destroyed, but their faith intact.
Is the advocation of the Virgin Mary of your people missing?
Si no encuentras la advocación mariana de tu ciudad o pueblo, cuéntanosla: la investigaremos para ubicarla y darla a conocer en este mapa del amor de la Madre por el mundo.
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