Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani visited His Holiness Mar Gorgis III, the new patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East in Erbil today to congratulate His Holiness and to welcome the relocation of the seat of the Assyrian Church of the East from Chicago, USA, to Erbil.

Hi Holiness Mar Gorgis III was consecrated as the new patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East on Sunday, in a ceremony that also marked the relocation of the seat of the Church to Erbil.

The President lauded the decision to bring the seat of the Assyrian Church of the East to the Kurdistan Region, describing it as a significant and historic development that will positively contribute to peaceful co-existence in the region. The President said that there shall be no place for religious discrimination in the Kurdistan Region. President Barzani emphasized that the rights of Christians and all other religious and ethnic communities in Kurdistan will be protected. 

For his part, His Holiness Mar Gorgis III welcomed President Barzani and expressed their appreciation for the efforts of the President and of the KRG for their support of the religious and ethnic minorities. He added that Kurdistan offers a notable example of peaceful co-existence in the Middle East. He also praised the bravery and sacrifices of the peshmerga forces in defending religious and ethnic communities in the fighting against ISIS terrorists. 

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received His Beatitude Archbishop Aprem Mooken, Metropolitan of the Assyrian Church of the East in India and his accompanying delegation, which included a number of bishops of the Assyrian Church of the East.

The delegation has visited Kurdistan Region to hold elections to designate a new Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East.

In the meeting, the security situation of the Region and the war against Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, in Syria and Iraq were discussed.

The delegation expressed its, and the believers’ appreciation to the Kurdistan Region, praising the role of Peshmerga forces in defending territories and all the communities of the Kurdistan Region.

The members of the delegation also expressed their appreciation to the people and the government of Kurdistan Region who have opened doors for victims of terrorism from various religious and ethnic origins, especially those Christians, including the believers of the Assyrian Church of the East, who have fled from Syria and other parts of Iraq and sought safety in Kurdistan Region.

The delegation expressed its gratitude to the Kurdistan regional Government, KRG, for its support to build a Church for believers of the Assyrian Church of the East in Erbil, hailing the role of the KRG Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs.

Prime Minister Barzani reiterated that the people and government of Kurdistan Region respect all ethnic and religious communities. He said that despite enduring financial difficulties, the KRG has been providing assistance to the refugees and internally displaced people.

He also reiterated KRG’s support for building a Church for believers of Assyrian Church of the East, stressing that the government will provide all assistance for the implementation of the project.

Prime Minister Barzani pointed out the role of the Peshmerga forces in their fight against ISIS, stressing that they defend humanity, freedom, territories and peoples of the region, on behalf of the entire world.

He described the war against ISIS as a significant and uneasy challenge. He said, only by military means, ISIS cannot be defeated; rather it needs to be countered by cultural and educational tools.

Prime Minister Barzani emphasised that the new generation must be educated according to principles of coexistence and tolerance.