Rehabilitation of the House of Prayer, Church of Our Lady of the Hour (Al-Saa’a Church)

The city of Mosul, which means "the junction" in Arabic, has been characterized by a multi-religious and multicultural environment for centuries. From 2014 to 2017, Mosul suffered from acts of terrorism, leaving the city and its urban heritage in ruins. In February 2018, UNESCO launched the "Revive the Spirit of Mosul" initiative to help restore the city’s rich cultural heritage.

This project contributed to the UNESCO initiative by restoring the House of Prayer in the Old City and repurposing it as an educational and cultural centre. Over 24 months, a thorough damage assessment and documentation were prepared and the identified rehabilitation measures and works executed.

The project was implemented, under UNESCO’s supervision, by local experts, in close cooperation with the Dominican Order, the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH), the Governorate of Nineveh, the Municipality and the University of Mosul with the goal of fostering and improving social cohesion and resilience.