Destroyed in 2014, Jonah’s Tomb in Mosul is Being Restored Again

1. Destroyed in 2014, Jonah’s Tomb
in Mosul is Being Restored Again
By: Nadia Cavner

2. Destroyed in 2014, Jonah’s Tomb in Mosul is Being
Restored Again
With an extensive background as a finance executive, Nadia Cavner maintains a strong community
presence and membership with the Assyrian Church of the East. The religious institution of which
Nadia Cavner is a part stands as a traditional Eastern Christian Church rooted in Syria and Iraq,
with most of its members ethnic Assyrians.

3. Destroyed in 2014, Jonah’s Tomb in Mosul is Being
Restored Again
The Church’s ancient holy sites have been targeted by ISIS, with the Assyrian Church of the East’s
Tomb of Jonah standing as Iraq’s oldest monastery before its destruction in June of 2014.

4. Destroyed in 2014, Jonah’s Tomb in Mosul is Being
Restored Again
With a strong symbolic role as a beacon of interfaith cooperation, Jonah’s Tomb attracted
Christian, Muslim, and Jewish believers, as the site is reputedly the final resting place of Jonah,
who was swallowed by a whale in the Old Testament. Also featured in the Koran, Jonah gave
warning of a need for repentance that helped save residents of what is now Mosul.

5. Destroyed in 2014, Jonah’s Tomb in Mosul is Being
Restored Again
Blown up by ISIS in 2014 as a warning that Mosul would no longer harbor the diverse and
peacefully coexisting religions it once had, the site returned to those of all faiths after ISIS was
routed from the city. Fortunately, the legacy of the monument remains intact, with archeologists
who combed through the rubble of the structure having found remains of a 2,600-year-old Assyrian
palace and an extensive tunnel system that has yielded new clues about ancient civilization.

6. Destroyed in 2014, Jonah’s Tomb in Mosul is Being
Restored Again
Iraqi and foreign experts are currently working with the support of organizations such as UNESCO
and the British Institute for the Study of Iraq to restore the tomb and preserve the palace site for
future generations.