Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bassora (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic archeparchy in Bassora opened the first Christian museum in southern Iraq. The new institution, is housed at the archeparchy seat where there is a collection of over 200 documents, artifacts, liturgical furnishings and furniture dating back to the seventeenth century. "These objects - said the Archbishop in statements relaunched by journalist Robert Ewan - have a spiritual value and document the care with which our fathers were also attentive to the liturgical events of our faith". Many of the items were lying unused in the closets of the Archdiocese. From here came the idea to collect them in a small but significant display, available to those who visit the episcopal see.
Also in Bassora, the Christian population - which once represented a significant component of the trading class of the Iraqi city - has fallen dramatically in recent decades. Currently those Christians who live in Bassora are a few hundred, while in the city, before the Iran-Iraq war, there were about 2,500 Christian families. (GV) (Agenzia Fides 10/09/2015)
