‘Vicar of Baghdad’ Says Christianity is Gone from Middle East: ‘It is Over’

Veronica Neffinger | iBelieve Contributor | Updated: Mar 22, 2017

‘Vicar of Baghdad’ Says Christianity is Gone from Middle East: ‘It is Over’

Prominent priest Canon Andrew White, known as the “Vicar of Baghdad,” said that Christianity has practically been wiped out from the area of its birth.

“The time has come where it is over, no Christians will be left,” White told Fox News. Some stay Christians should stay to maintain the historical presence, but it has become very difficult. The future for the community is very limited. The Christians coming out of Iraq and ISIS areas in the Middle East all say the same thing, there is no way they are ever going back. They have had enough.”

The number of Christians in Iraq has significantly decreased since ISIS took over much of the area in 2014.

Thirty years ago, there was an estimated 1.4 million Christians in Iraq. Now, there is estimated to be less than 250,000 left.

White, along with other religious leaders, have led the call for help for these persecuted Christians.

“If there is anything I can tell Americans it is that your fellow brothers and sisters are suffering, they are desperate for help,” he said. “And it is not just a matter of praying for peace. They need a lot – food, resources, clothes, everything. They need everything.”

White has seen the devastation and persecution firsthand. He served as the vicar of St. George’s Church in Baghdad until 2014 when the Archbishop of Canterbury ordered him to leave for safety reasons.

 

Photo: An Iraqi family who have fled fighting as Iraqi forces advance into Islamic State controlled west Mosul, March 4, 2017. Iraqi forces have encountered stiff resistance with improvised explosives, heavy mortar fire and snipers hampering their advance.

Photo courtesy: Martyn Aim/Getty Images

Publication date: March 22, 2017



‘Vicar of Baghdad’ Says Christianity is Gone from Middle East: ‘It is Over’