Christmas in Iraq 2008

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
-Isaiah 9:6-7

A Catholic resident kisses the feet of a statue of Jesus Christ after attending a holy mass on Christmas Day at the Virgin Mary church in central Baghdad December 25, 2008

Worshipers attend a mass on Christmas Eve at a Syrian Catholic church in Hamdaniya town, east of Mosul, 390 km northwest of Baghdad, December 24, 2008. (AP)

Iraqi Christian children light candles at Saint Teriza church after Christmas Day mass in Basra, 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2008. Christmas Day was this year for the first time declared an official holiday in Iraq. (AP/Nabil al-Jurani)
Iraqis today celebrated Christmas Mass without fear.
An Iraqi Christmas bonfire:


Iraqi Christians gather around a fire during Christmas Eve mass at The Great Virgin Mariam Church in Hamdaniya area, 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of the northern city of Mosul, Iraq, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008. (AP Photo) Hat-tip to Gateway Pundit for some of these photos and the verse!