Centuries-Old Virgin Mary Church in Akre Undergoes Rehabilitation
The church, which sits on a 100-square-metre site, is being restored by the Akre Directorate of Heritage and Antiquities in collaboration with the Lotus Flower Organization, with funding from the Federal Republic of Germany and in collaboration with GIZ.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — In collaboration with a German development agency, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) heritage and antiquities entity in Akre is currently rehabilitating the Virgin Mary Church in the center of Akre, a historic basilica-style structure built in 1695, as part of an effort to preserve one of the town's oldest religious landmarks.
The church, which sits on a 100-square-metre site, is being restored by the Akre Directorate of Heritage and Antiquities in collaboration with the Lotus Flower Organization, with funding from the Federal Republic of Germany and in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The renewed restoration effort is part of a livelihood program titled Employment Prospects for the Socio-economic Integration of Refugees, IDPs, and Host Communities in Iraq (EPSI).
Virgin Mary Church rehabilitation is one of several projects the local NGO is currently undertaking, underscoring the group's broader commitment to preserving cultural and religious heritage sites in the region, Hawar Adil, the NGO’s project supervisor, told Kurdistan24.
The rehabilitation work plays a dual role in safeguarding the town's cultural identity while boosting its appeal as a tourist destination, Hiwa Shamal, Director of Antiquities and Heritage in Akre, told Kurdistan24.
“These efforts help preserve the site and maintain its identity, while also making it more attractive to tourism,” Hiwa said.
Akre, known for its layered history and diverse religious communities, has long been home to landmarks reflecting the coexistence of different faiths across generations. The Virgin Mary Church, dating back more than three centuries, stands as one of the town's enduring symbols of that heritage.
Organizers say the restoration is expected to not only stabilize the structure but also reinforce Akre's growing profile as a destination for heritage tourism in the Kurdistan Region, where historic sites increasingly draw visitors interested in the area's religious and architectural diversity.
Most of Akre's 760 archaeological sites are located within the city's historic neighborhoods. Authorities said they are coordinating efforts to revitalize these districts as part of a broader strategy to strengthen cultural and heritage tourism across the area.