(AFP) -- Syriac, an ancient dialect of Aramaic, has traditionally been the language spoken by Christians in Iraq and neighbouring Syria, mostly in homes but also in some schools and during church services. However, Syriac-speaking communities in the two countries have declined over the years, owing to decades of conflict driving many to seek homes in safer countries.
Mosul, Iraq (AINA) -- Photos taken on April 20 show Kurdish armed forces conducting military exercises on an Assyrian archaeological site dated to 800 BC. The site is Sennacherib's Aqueduct, located north of Mosul at Jerwan, and is the oldest known aqueduct in the world.
By Susan Gonzalez
In his new book "Assyria: The Rise and Fall of the World's First Empire" (Basic Books), Yale professor Eckart Frahm offers a comprehensive history of the ancient civilization (circa 2025 BC to 609 BC) that would become a model for the world's later empires.
By John Burger
Although the number of Christians in Iraq continues to be low, there are signs of rebirth of the Church in areas that were severely impacted by the Islamic State group's rule there almost a decade ago. On a recent visit to the United States, Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda outlined ways in which the Church is overcoming the struggles brought about by the ISIS reign of terror.
Tehran -- The Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, Mar Awa III, praised Iran for fighting against the Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) terrorists in Iraq and Syria in defense of humanity and faith.
By Joseph Tulloch
Eleven different European countries, together with the European Union, released a statement on Sunday evening affirming their support for Iraq's Patriarch Louis Raphaël Sako. The Patriarch -- who heads the country's Chaldean Church, and was made a Cardinal by Pope Francis in 2018 -- is facing criticism over comments concerning political representation for Iraq's ancient Christian minority.
By Yolande Knell
(BBC) -- The deliberate cultural vandalism committed by Islamic State (IS) militants shocked and appalled the world after they took over Mosul in Iraq in 2014. Now, the restoration of the recaptured city's iconic museum, heavily damaged by arson, bombing and looting, has become emblematic of its rebirth.
By Siranush Ghazanchyan
Australia's State of Tasmania has recognized the Armenian Genocide, reports the Armenian National Committee of Australia. The Tasmanian House of Assembly today adopted a historic motion to recognize the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides. Tasmania thus becomes the third Australian state after South Australia and New South Wales to recognize the genocide.
By Amr Salem
Baghdad -- As the recovery of Iraqi cultural treasures and antiquities from abroad continues, the Iraqi President, Abdul Latif Rashid, decided on Sunday to return thousands of Iraqi artifacts that Britain had borrowed.
By Judy Siegel-Itzkovich
Experts in Assyriology -- who specialize in the archaeological, historical, cultural and linguistic study of Assyria and the rest of ancient Mesopotamia (Iraq) --spend many years painstakingly trying to understand Akkadian texts written in cuneiform, one of the oldest forms of writing known.
Led by the new President of the Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia, Mrs Esta Paschalidis-Chilas, members of the Pontoxeniteas and Panayia Soumela associations of NSW joined Armenian and Assyrian Australians in a March for Justice on Sunday, April 23.
By Ramsen Shamon
Many welcomed President Joe Biden's recognition of the Armenian genocide on April 24, 2021. In a rare move, the president stood up to Turkish lobbyists and the Turkish government in recognizing what was a bloody period in human history. "We honor the victims so that the horrors of what happened are never lost to history," the president said.