Hungarian government official in Iraq helps local Christian communities

The work of the Hungary Helps programme is bearing fruit and Christian communities are being reborn in northern Iraq, Azbej Tristan, the state secretary for aiding persecuted Christians, said on Saturday in a post on Facebook during a visit to Zakho.

The state secretary was participating at the consecration ceremony of the Saint Mary Church and community centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which was built with Hungarian support.

Azbej said the Hungary Helps programme has provided a 750,000 euro grant for the construction of the building complex that includes a church with 300 seats, classrooms and a parish office. Azbej noted that Supreme Patriarch Karekin II had requested help for the construction of the church.

Hungary helps also present in Africa. Photo: FB/Azbej Tristan

The state secretary also noted that Hungary has provided 21 humanitarian and development grants to Iraq since 2016, helping to care for people fleeing war and Islamic State, rebuilding churches, residential buildings and schools, as well as helping make repairs to water supplies and agricultural facilities damaged during the war.