Archbishop Najeeb Michaeel Moussa nominated for Sakharov Prize
He ensured the evacuation of Christians, Syriacs and Chaldeans and saved thousands of old manuscripts from Mosul and the city of Qaraqosh.
Iraqi archbishop who helped save ancient manuscripts from ISIS nominated for EU award
In 2020, The European Parliament nominated Iraqi Archbishop Najeeb Michaeel Moussa for its prestigious Sakharov Prize, as he ensured the evacuation of Christians, Syriacs and Chaldeans to Iraqi Kurdistan and safeguarded more than 800 historic manuscripts dating from the 13th to the 19th century."
He had learned that ISIS militants were about to take over his city of Qaraqosh, located about 20 miles southeast of Mosul. At the time, Qaraqosh was home to Iraq’s largest Christian communities.
A prominent religious leader in his community, Moussa was in charge of thousands of ancient manuscripts. They're handwritten texts from the 12th and 13th centuries, covering a wide range of subjects like theology, philosophy, astrology, astronomy and medicine.
https://theworld.org/stories/2020-09-30/iraqi-archbishop-who-helped-save-ancient-manuscripts-isis-nominated-eu-award-0
Syriac Christian communities: people, monuments and manuscripts in Syria, Turkey, and Iraq
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/syriac-christian-communities-people-monuments-manuscripts/id1061135811?i=1000357512811
Part of the Conflict and Cultural Heritage Conference. Theme 1: What is happening? The significance of sites at risk, and the current situation. with Dr Sebastian Brock and Sebastien de Courtois. Dr. Brock (Oriental Institute, Oxford University) speaks about some of the living Syriac Communities of the Middle East, introducing who they are, and their manuscripts.
https://archive.org/details/podcast_conflict-cultural-heritage_syriac-christian-communities_1000357512811
This presentation is based on Sebastien de Courtois' own experience as a journalist who was present in Northern Iraq in the summer 2014. He mentions the destruction of the Yezidis sanctuaries in Sindjar; the destruction of churches and Syriac monasteries in the plain of Niniveh; but also the heroic action of Father Najeeb who saved thousands of old manuscripts from Mosul and the city of Qaraqosh. Then he shows pictures of the very old Synagogue of Al qosh, in the Kurdistan area.