Ankawa (AsiaNews) – Erbil’s Chaldean bishop, Mgr Rabban al-Qas, told AsiaNews that the doors to the Chaldean Major Seminary andBabel College,Iraq’s only theological faculty run by theChaldeanChurch, have reopened in Kurdistan after shutting down because of the growing insecurity in theIraq. The two institutions were in fact officially inaugurated last Thursday after moving fromBaghdadto Ankawa, near Erbil, inKurdistan.
The reopening of the college was marked by a mass in theMarEliyaChaldeanChurch, celebrated by Mgr Jacques Isaac, rector ofBabelCollege.
In addition to many faithful, Mgr Andraous Abouna, vicar patriarch representing the Chaldean Patriarch Emmanuel III Delly who stayed inBaghdad, and Sarkis Aghajan, a Christian and finance minister inKurdistan’s regional government, were present.
About 25 seminarians are registered atBabelCollegebut there are many other students who are studying theology and philosophy.
Moving the two institutions was a difficult decision. It was made official on January 4 but had been expected for some time.
Abductions, assaults and threats to the Christian community in the capital convinced the Patriarchate first to shut both college and seminar down, then to move them.
AsiaNews sources inBaghdad, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that the Christians left in the city are poorest, those who cannot afford to move elsewhere.
“As for the rest, they have all fled,” they said. “Dora, the historic Christian neighbourhood is [now] in the hands of Sunni militias.”
Moving around the capital is increasingly difficult and dangerous. “If you try to go in or out of a neighbourhood you have to ask permission from militias who are in charge; otherwise you might end up kidnapped or killed.”
