For the first time in more than two years, Christians from the Iraqi town of Bartella were able to celebrate Christmas.
That's because their town was recently liberated from the control of the Islamic State in late October. The town is just 12.5 miles east of Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq, which is currently the epicenter of a major battle between coalition and Islamic State forces.
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As mass was celebrated Saturday, dozens of Iraqi and US security forces were on standby to protect worshipers at the historic, battle-scarred Mart Shmony Church. A security officer searching cars at a checkpoint said ISIS had been threatening to carry out attacks in Bartella.
Even though volunteers have worked on the church for several days, evidence of the terror group's brutal regime is everywhere. ISIS' signature is written large — in scorched walls, charred books and broken glass. Bullet holes scar the church. The head of a statue and its hands have been smashed.
Outside, a big plastic Christmas tree provides a backdrop for commemorative group pictures and selfies. Emotions are mixed.
Hania Noah, a 52-year-old Iraqi Christian, told CNN that she felt like she lost her home when she was driven from her town and church by Islamic extremists.
"I felt like I lost a family member when I saw the church this way. This is the church that I have been praying in for my entire life," she said. "But I am happy to be back. I am glad I am here to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It's like I'm reborn again."
During Sunday's gathering, the church's priest made it clear that they were there to stay.
"We are here to challenge the sons of darkness and this is why we held this mass here. ISIS are sons of darkness," priest Yaqub Saadi said, according to CNN. "This is a message to the entire world that we Christians ... are the inherent component of this country and we are staying."
The church service culminated as the Christians replaced the church's cross — after Islamic militants destroyed the original one — with a much larger cross.
