“In the beginning was the Word…” New beginnings in Iraq

SAFIN HAMED / AFP

BARTELLA, IRAQ - OCTOBER 24, 2016: David Dosha, the priest of the Church of Mart Shmony, located in the Christian Iraqi town of Bartella, about 15 kilometres (10 miles) east of Mosul, inspects a book at the church's compound after Iraqi forces retook control of the town from jihadists of the Islamic State group. The counter-terrorism service (CTS), Iraq's best-trained and most battle-seasoned force, retook full control of Bartalla on October 20. ***** In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1: 1-5) *****