iraq

You may have noticed the cross with the odd symbol on T-shirts, websites, or in the news. It’s become a symbol of solidarity for Christians all over the world. Oddly enough, the cross’s origins derive from the radical Muslim group, ISIS. Here's how it came to be. The symbol on the cross is “Nuun” (or “Nun”), the Arabic alphabet equivalent of the Roman letter “N”. It’s the first letter of the word “Nasrani” or “Nasarah” (Nazarene in English), a word commonly used by ISIS as a derogatory referral to Christians. The symbol became known in Iraq and Syria where Jihadists spray-painted the letter on houses occupied by Christians in order to mark them for attack (see image gallery below). Christians around the world picked up on the

  “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters... Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” – Hebrews 13:1-3. Christians are familiar with biblical martyrs, those who were imprisoned and/or killed for their faith. But many Christians are unaware that Christian persecution continues unabated in many countries. This is especially concerning because many of the countries where Christians are routinely persecuted are considered “friends” of the United States. Here are the top 10 places where Christians face the greatest persecution today. Algeria Algeria has strict Muslim blasphemy laws which make Christianity difficult to maintain. Nearly 30% of the country’s Christian churches were closed by the Algerian government last year. Egypt From

Who was Ezekiel? Like Jeremiah and Zechariah, Ezekiel, a priest and respected prophet, lived about 600 BC. At the time, ten of the tribes of Israel lived in the north and two tribes of Judah lived in the south. The northern tribes (which had already fallen to Assyria in 722 BC) and southern tribes were at war against each other. When the Northern Kingdom (led by Nebuchadnezzar) destroyed the Southern Kingdom, both kingdoms ended with many of God’s people exiled in foreign lands. Losers of a war were commonly deported to reduce the enemy’s population and thwart potential rebellions – the same practice holds true in the Middle East today. Turmoil in Judah During Ezekiel’s lifetime, several important events occurred. In 605 BC, after Nebuchadnezzar’s defeat of Pharaoh

Open Doors USA and the World Watch List of persecuted Christians Open Doors USA, a non-profit organization, serves persecuted Christians in more than sixty countries. In addition to distributing bibles, training evangelists, and rebuilding churches and homes, ODUSA releases an annual list of countries where Christians suffer the worst persecution. Examples of persecution Christians experience in these countries include “beatings, physical torture, confinement, isolation, rape, severe punishment, imprisonment, slavery, discrimination in education and employment, and even death.” After pinpointing potential victims using its Rapid Appraisal Tool (RAPT) methodology, Open Doors USA compiles its World Watch List using a carefully-designed “expert questionnaire”. Per Open Doors USA, here are the top ten countries that exhibit the most severe religious persecution of Christians. 1. North Korea Not only is Christianity illegal

AP has obtained satellite photos which confirm what Middle East preservationists had feared – the oldest Christian monastery in Iraq has been destroyed by ISIS during their campaign to destroy Christian heritage sites the group considers heretical. Rev. Paul Thabit Habib, a Catholic priest, told the Wall Street Journal: “Our Christian history in Mosul is being barbarically leveled. We see it as an attempt to expel us from Iraq, eliminating and finishing our existence in this land.” Constructed by Assyrian monks in 590 AD, St. Elijah’s Monastery stood on a hill near the northern city of Mosul for over 1,400 years. The image below shows the monastery before ISIS destroyed it. The image below shows the monastery's remains.