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Displaced Christians In Iraq Prepare For Christmas With Festive Holiday Market

Displaced Christians In Iraq Prepare For Christmas
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Reporter, HuffPost

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Iraq's Christians and other religious minorities had a horrific year as the Islamic State swept through the country with its reign of terror. One bishop estimated that 90 percent of Iraq's Orthodox Christians have been displaced, while others have speculated that "Christianity in Iraq is finished."

As Christmas approaches, however, displaced Christians in Iraq are keeping their traditions alive despite the ongoing threat of the Islamic State. Christians staying in the Mar Elias Catholic Church in Ankawa and Umm al-Nour Church in Erbil have set up holiday markets where they are making and selling Christmas merchandise -- and spreading a little Christmas cheer in the process.

Take a look at the photos below:

Matt Cardy via Getty Images
ERBIL, IRAQ - DECEMBER 14: Young Christians sit gather to sell Christmas merchandise made by displaced Iraqi Christian children inside a tent erected in the grounds of Mazar Mar Eillia (Mar Elia) Catholic Church, that has now become home to hundreds of Iraqi Christians who were forced to flee their homes as the Islamic State advanced earlier this year, on December 14, 2014 in Erbil, Iraq.
Matt Cardy via Getty Images
ERBIL, IRAQ - DECEMBER 14: Young Christians sit gather to sell Christmas merchandise made by displaced Iraqi Christian children inside a tent erected in the grounds of Mazar Mar Eillia (Mar Elia) Catholic Church, that has now become home to hundreds of Iraqi Christians who were forced to flee their homes as the Islamic State advanced earlier this year, on December 14, 2014 in Erbil, Iraq.
Matt Cardy via Getty Images
ERBIL, IRAQ - DECEMBER 14: Young Christians sit gather to sell Christmas merchandise made by displaced Iraqi Christian children inside a tent erected in the grounds of Mazar Mar Eillia (Mar Elia) Catholic Church, that has now become home to hundreds of Iraqi Christians who were forced to flee their homes as the Islamic State advanced earlier this year, on December 14, 2014 in Erbil, Iraq.
Matt Cardy via Getty Images
ERBIL, IRAQ - DECEMBER 12: Iraqi Christian children make Christmas decorations in a school tent erected in the grounds of Mazar Mar Eillia Catholic Church, in Ankawa, that has now become home to hundreds of Iraqi Christians who were forced to flee their homes as the Islamic State advanced earlier this year, on December 12, 2014 in Erbil, Iraq.
Matt Cardy via Getty Images
ERBIL, IRAQ - DECEMBER 12: Iraqi Christian children make Christmas decorations in a school tent erected in the grounds of Mazar Mar Eillia Catholic Church, in Ankawa, that has now become home to hundreds of Iraqi Christians who were forced to flee their homes as the Islamic State advanced earlier this year, on December 12, 2014 in Erbil, Iraq.
Matt Cardy via Getty Images
ERBIL, IRAQ - DECEMBER 08: An Iraqi Christian, who fled from his home because of Islamic State's advance earlier this year, sells Christmas decorations at the entrance to a camp near Umm al-Nour Church, which is now home to hundreds of displaced Iraqi Christians on December 8, 2014 in Erbil, Iraq.
Matt Cardy via Getty Images
ERBIL, IRAQ - DECEMBER 07: Iraqi Christian women knit jumpers for Christmas presents at a knitting club set up in a tent in the grounds of Mar Elias Catholic Church, in Ankawa, that has now become home to hundreds of Iraqi Christians who were forced to flee their homes as the Islamic State advanced earlier this year, on December 7, 2014 in Erbil, Iraq.

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Before You Go

Christmas in Bethlehem
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Greek Orthodox priests take part in the Christian Orthodox Christmas Eve celebrations at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Monday, Jan. 6, 2014.(AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-RELIGION-CHRISTIANS-CHRISTMAS(03 of21)
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A clergyman holds a crucifix in Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity as Christians gather for Christmas celebrations in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 24, 2014. Thousands of Palestinians and tourists flocked into the West Bank city of Bethlehem to mark Christmas in the 'little town' where many believe Jesus Christ was born. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD GHARABLI (Photo credit should read AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AHMAD GHARABLI via Getty Images)
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A nun opens a stain glass window at a church in the West Bank town of Bir Zeit as she prepares for the Christmas midnight mass service on December 24, 2014. Pilgrims from across the world have descended on Jesus's birthplace in the West Bank town of Bethlehem to begin the global celebration of Christmas after a violence-plagued year brought suffering to many Middle Eastern Christians. (credit: AFP PHOTO / ABBAS MOMANI )
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