Erbil, Kurdistan Region – Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with Mar Georges III Younan, the newly appointed Patriarch of the Ancient Church of the East, on Saturday, June 24.

The meeting took place at the KRG’s headquarters in Erbil. Prime Minister Barzani congratulated Patriarch Younan on his appointment and reaffirmed the KRG’s dedication to peaceful coexistence among the diverse communities in the Kurdistan Region.

Patriarch Younan expressed gratitude for the KRG’s support of the Christian community in the Kurdistan Region. He said that the KRG has been a beacon of hope for Christians in the Middle East.

The meeting was also attended by KRG Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs Pshtiwan Sadq Abdullah.

The Ancient Church of the East is an Eastern Christian church that was founded in the 4th century. The church has a long history in the Kurdistan Region, and there are currently around 100,000 members of the church living in the region.