The largest blood donor drive ever held in a church in Iraq took place at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the northern city of Kirkuk on Tuesday. More than 100 Christians gathered at the cathedral awaiting their turn to donate blood.
At a press conference the Chaldean Archbishop of Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah, Joseph Thomas, said: “We have organised this campaign to show our support, solidarity and gratitude to our sons in the armed forces and all the victims of terrorist operations who are striving to maintain security, the safety of the nation and protect our people from the vicious attacks of ISIS.”
The city lies 6 miles (10 km) from ISIS-held areas.
He added: "Blood does not differentiate between any sects on the expense of the other; the mixing of the fresh blood will include all the denominations of people and unites us in a common thing that is the love of God and country."
The archbishop concluded: “It is a message to everyone that we, the Christians, are the true sons of this nation; we will stay, live and die in this country despite all the attempts of forced displacement faced by our children, especially after the events of 10 June in Nineveh and its plain.”
Last June ISIS fighters seized control of Mosul, causing sparking an exodus of the city’s ancient Christian population.
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