Guitta Maroun (Founder and Manager of Alamghar)
To the soul of martyr Father Ragheed Ganni, who inspired us with the strength of his faith and sacrifice
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June 3, 2007 shook Iraq and the whole world!
A young priest, 35 years old, confronts terrorists after celebrating the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Spirit Church in Mosul, with gentleness and courage, saying: “How do you want me to close the house of God?”
He did not close the house of God, and so the evil’s hand showed no mercy. It unleashed a hail of bullets that struck him down as a martyr, but Heaven opened its doors wide to welcome the Hero of Faith.
He clung to the Gospel and did not fear death, holding on to the following verse: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
He wrote his testimony in his blood because he loved Jesus Christ with all his being, giving his soul for the salvation of his beloved ones.
He loved the cross yesterday, and today he embraces the crucified One!
He was martyred yesterday, and today he rises with the Risen Christ, walking the path of Holiness!
He proclaimed Jesus to the people of Mosul yesterday, and today the believers proclaim the fragrance of this courageous Iraqi priest!
He is God’s servant, the martyr Father Ragheed Ganni, who sacrificed his life for his loved ones. Is there greater love than this?
With immense joy, equal to the joy of Elizabeth when she embraced the Virgin Mary, Alamghar shares with its Arab and international readers the testimony of his family, which encapsulates all the testimonies of life in Iraq. For Father Ragheed Ganni is one of the foremost martyrs of the Catholic Church in the Arab world.
Our website’s pages rejoice in the meeting with the mother of the martyr Father Ragheed Gorjeya and his sister Raghad.
For the first time in digital media, through Alamghar, the mother and sister testify to a story of Love drenched in pure blood and filled with the purity of a soul that held onto Christ until its last breath.
A Childhood Overflowing with Faith
Father Ragheed Ganni was born on January 20, 1972, in Mosul. He had five siblings: Ghada, Firas, Inas, Raghad, and Ghadeer.
From an early age, Father Ragheed was a shining example of a devout young man, wholeheartedly committed to the Church. His mother Gorjeya recalls his childhood fondly, describing how he spent most of his time at the church and with the nuns. By the fourth grade, he was already actively participating in spiritual activities. She recounts: “I knew my son was called to serve in the Lord’s field. I felt it deep within me, even without him saying a word. I was certain he would become a priest!”
A Mother’s Intuition
Father Ragheed rarely spoke openly about his decisions, especially when he had vowed to keep a matter confidential. One day, his mother Gorjeya received a call from Sister Outour Youssef asking about Ragheed, who was still at the church. The sister joyfully informed her that Ragheed had to begin his priestly journey in Rome, urging him to prepare his documents and take the next step in his vocation.
Ragheed, bound by a promise of secrecy made with Bishop Georges Karmo and Sister Outour Youssef, refrained from sharing the good news with his mother.
Gorjeya recalls: “One day, his father said, ‘Let’s open a shop for him to work in, and then we’ll help him get married.’ I replied, ‘Ragheed will not get married.’ He looked at me puzzled and asked why. I told him, ‘Your son wants to become a priest.’ When he asked if Ragheed had told me this, I answered, ‘No, but I am certain that he will dedicate his life to God!’”
An Eternal Yes to the Lord!
In 1996, Father Ragheed traveled to Italy to begin his priestly studies, spending six years there before being ordained on October 13, 2001. His ordination took place in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, a moment his mother Gorjeya recalls with deep emotion: “It was the happiest day of my life. I had reached the pinnacle of joy!”
Returning to Iraq
Despite the difficult circumstances Iraq was enduring, Father Ragheed insisted on returning to serve the people of his homeland. He paid no heed to the dangers threatening a suffering Iraq. When his father advised him against going back to his birthplace, he responded: “If I don’t return, will Iraq be left without priests? Should Iraqi priests graduate only to leave for other countries? Iraq needs us.”
In 2003, Father Ragheed returned to his homeland to serve first at St. Paul’s Parish, and later at the Holy Spirit Parish, where he ultimately attained martyrdom.
His mother recalls his years of priestly service, saying: “Those years were filled with giving. I wish he hadn’t returned to Iraq…” Yet, deep in her heart, she knew that his martyrdom would remain eternal.
Those years in Iraq were fraught with hardships and threats, but Father Ragheed maintained his silence, saying only that the period was brimming with blessings and grace.
At the time, his parish faced great challenges, with 900 families under his care when he took on his responsibilities.
Raghad, Father Ragheed’s sister, reflects on those years: “The period when he was ordained and had served the church was extremely difficult, as it followed the fall of Iraq. Christians faced constant threats, killings, and massacres. Despite this, the church was alive with activities for children and elderly, reflecting a spirit of resilience and solidarity in the face of adversity.”
The Virtues of Father Ragheed
Father Ragheed was known for his Love for everyone, his constant pursuit of their well-being, his discreet nature, and his readiness to serve. He responded promptly to the needs of the Church and never hesitated to offer help, as his mother Gorjeya recalls.
Raghad, his sister, confirms: “My brother had these virtues from a young age, particularly his care for the poor and their needs. He rarely spoke about his charitable deeds, and we often heard about his acts of kindness from others because of his silence.”
Who was Father Ragheed’s Patron Saint?
Father Ragheed had a profound bond with the Virgin Mary, who was both his patroness and spiritual companion. He prayed to her constantly and sought to please her through his actions.
Did Father Ragheed know Lebanon?
Although he never visited Lebanon, Father Ragheed knew it well. He had Lebanese friends, such as Father Boutros Roukoz, who commemorated him with a hymn titled “The Priest of Perfect Love.”
Father Ragheed did not spend much time with his family, as he was deeply devoted to his ecclesiastical service. As a result, his family knew little about the details of his pastoral missions.
The Day of Martyrdom
Raghad recounts the events of June 3, 2007, the day her brother, Father Ragheed, was martyred:
“We were under constant death threats, so we moved from Mosul to our village of Karamlesh. My brother was in the process of renewing his passport in preparation for traveling to Rome to continue his studies. That day, he told my mother: ‘I’ll have lunch with you.’ He later came to our house carrying some photographs.
My mother invited him to stay and share lunch with the guests, but he replied: ‘No, I’ll have lunch with the guards at the Holy Spirit Church. I have some tasks to complete before the Mass.’
After walking a bit, he returned by car and handed my mother the photos he was carrying, saying: ‘I chose these pictures for you so you wouldn’t be confused when preparing for my funeral.’
Shocked, my mother asked him why he would say such a thing. He replied: ‘I prepared these photos in advance because we were at a loss when choosing a picture for Father Gabriel Bakos’s funeral after his passing.’”
Raghad continues: “We didn’t know if he was joking or if he had a premonition. Afterward, he returned to Mosul, had lunch with the guards, completed his tasks, and celebrated the Divine Liturgy.
My cousin, our friends, and I went to the church to attend the Mass. After it ended, we went to my aunt’s house nearby.
Suddenly, we heard heavy gunfire. I felt anxious and told my cousin: ‘Something dangerous has happened.’ She tried to calm me, saying: ‘Don’t worry! We hear gunfire every day.’”
“How Could I Close God’s House?”
With a heart filled with pain and hope, Raghad continues recounting the tragic events of Sunday, June 3, 2007:
“My aunt’s husband went to the scene after hearing about the killings. The sight was heart-wrenching…He didn’t know what to do. He told my aunt, ‘Our family and your brother’s family are both devastated,’ because her only son, who was with Father Ragheed at the time, was also killed. When she asked him, ‘Why didn’t you bring them back?’ he replied, ‘Who should I carry? My son or your brother’s son, who is also like my own?’”
Raghad continues: “Bayane Bellah, the wife of Deacon Wahid, was a witness to what happened and recounted the event:
‘When the extremists came out of the mosque, they said to Father Ragheed, “How many times have we told you to close the doors of this church?” He calmly replied with a smile, “How do you expect me to close God’s house? Even if only one person enters God’s house, I will not close it.”
They began shouting chants of “Allahu Akbar” and mercilessly opened fire, killing Father Ragheed. Basman tried to protect him by throwing himself over him, but they killed him too.’
Bayane was not physically harmed but fainted from sheer terror. When she regained consciousness, the attackers had already left in their cars.”
The Martyrdom Reaches the Family
Raghid’s sister, Raghad, continues recounting the painful moments: “It was Bayan who first learned of Father Ragheed’s martyrdom, along with three deacons-Wahid Hanna Ishu, Basmann Youssef, and Ghassan Bidaweid-and she informed everyone of what had happened. The guards at the Holy Spirit Church also learned of the martyrdom immediately and contacted the archdiocese. Due to the danger facing Christians, no one could approach the bodies right away, as the killers’ cars were still roaming the area until 9 p.m. Eventually, the bodies were taken to the church.
A group of young men in the church prevented us from leaving, fearing further dangers. Meanwhile, my brothers came from the village, but my aunt begged them not to go to the scene to prevent further loss.
We didn’t see the bodies until the next day,” Raghad recalls, adding, “Sister Outour washed and shrouded the bodies. This devoted nun had been with Father Ragheed since his childhood until his martyrdom… That painful scene of my brother, drenched in his blood, will never leave my memory.”
Their deep words to the Lord
After Father Ragheed’s martyrdom, what did his mother and sister say to the Lord?
Raghad recounts: “I was in shock and couldn’t cry. At the funeral, those who came to comfort us were surprised by my silence and asked why I wasn’t crying. I told them, ‘Crying is forbidden! Read the Gospel and pray! Why cry and mourn? My brother is a saint! Thank God and pray! Our martyrs need our prayers, and we need theirs! Why cry? Let us pray. The Lord will grant us comfort!'”
Father Ragheed’s mother shares: “When I returned from church, my young son said, ‘Mama, they say Brother Ragheed was killed!’ I answered, ‘I knew he would be killed!’ I had always warned my son, saying, ‘You are personally threatened, be careful!’ But he would reply, ‘No, all churches are threatened!’ He never spoke of the danger in front of me because he knew how worried I was about him. I kept telling him, ‘You are personally targeted, and they might kill you. Please be careful!’ He would calm me down, saying, ‘Don’t worry! The Virgin is by my side!’ I replied, ‘May the Virgin Mary protect you and guard you with God’s permission!’
When I was informed of his martyrdom, I said to my relatives, ‘I already knew his fate because the extremists had repeatedly asked him to close the church doors, but he didn’t yield to their threats!'”
Gorjeya, Father Ragheed’s mother, concludes by saying: “I gave thanks to the Lord after my son’s martyrdom. Praise be to God, we accept your Will!”
Beatification Cause of Father Ragheed
Ragheed’s mother and sister share that the beatification process is ongoing.
Gorjeya recounts: “Two years ago, a delegation from the United States and the Vatican visited our village in Iraq. They opened the grave and retrieved the bodies, which had decomposed. They took Father Ragheed’s clothes, placed them in a glass box, and sealed it with red wax.”
She continues: “The bishop leading the cause, Archbishop Francis Qalabat, who resides in the United States, is following up on the cause, relying on our testimonies and information.”
A Message from the Heart
From her heart, Gorjeya addresses her beloved son, saying, “I wish I were in your place!… I ask for your intercession for peace in the world…”
For her part, Raghad reveals the eternal spiritual bond that ties her to her brother: “I ask for his intercession every night. I speak to him, saying, ‘Guide me to the right path.’ I tell him about my daily life, saying, ‘If I’ve done wrong, visit me in my dreams and give me a sign.’ When I feel he is upset with me, I ask, ‘How can I make peace with you?’ He replies, ‘You know the answer.’ I reflect on myself and realize that I have made a mistake that needs to be corrected. When I reconcile with him, a joy beyond words fills me during the Mass, especially when receiving the Holy Communion.”
Father Ragheed was very close to me, particularly since we were always together at the church. I always felt he was my spiritual father.
In 2004, I was injured when a bomb was thrown at the church. After undergoing surgery at the hospital, Ragheed sat by my side, weeping, and said, “Thank God you are the only one injured. You are my sister, and you bear the pain…”
Father Sabah Kammoura’s Story
Raghd recalls a story shared by Father Sabah Kammoura about an fact that occurred with her brother on May 28, 2007, just seven days before his martyrdom. “The martyr Bishop Paul Faraj Rahho, the bishop of Mosul, decided to take a trip with the priests to northern Iraq. The group left Mosul in the morning, heading toward a region near the entrance of Dohuk.
Everyone shared conversations, prayers, and lunch. During the break, some of the priests stayed behind, while others climbed the nearby mountain. The second group eventually stopped climbing and decided to return, but Father Ragheed chose to continue alone and disappeared.
Bishop Rahho, concerned, asked the priests about Father Ragheed’s whereabouts, saying, ‘Why did you leave him alone?’
After three hours, Father Ragheed returned, tired but composed.
Bishop Rahho said, ‘You worried us, my dear!’ Father Ragheed replied, ‘I decided to climb the mountain alone to reach its summit.’ Bishop Rahho asked, ‘Wouldn’t it have been better for one of the priests to accompany you?’ Father Ragheed responded, ‘No, I wanted to be alone to meet my God!’
Father Ganni continued, ‘I had questions that I wanted to confess to God, some related to my priestly journey and others about my future and the challenges I was facing. Therefore, I wanted to be alone for hours in the presence of my Lord, atop the mountain, to make my decisive choice.’
Raghad continues, explaining what Father Sabah Kammoura concluded from this journey: ‘It was as if Father Ragheed had made a covenant with God from the mountaintop, deciding to remain steadfast and face the challenges ahead. Just as Jesus descended from Mount Tabor after the Transfiguration to walk to Jerusalem and be crucified there, so did God’s servant, Father Ragheed, descend from the mountain, having strengthened himself in the Lord to boldly face the decision to close the church doors to hold a celebratory Mass for the Feast of the Holy Trinity on June 3, 2007.'”
Raghad further reveals that her brother had desired to become a hermit, dedicating himself entirely to God.
Father Ragheed Ganni’s Prayer
Raghad shared with us a prayer written by her brother, which the family discovered after reviewing his files following his martyrdom. The prayer reads:
“Lord, I don’t think they will view my prayer as one of despair, for everyone has known me as an optimist.
Perhaps, for a moment, they’ve forgotten, and wondered about the source of my optimism, for they saw me smiling, encouraging, and strong even in the most difficult times.
But when they remember the times of hardship I endured, and the struggles I went through, those moments that revealed my weakness and showed your strength, that exposed my fragility and your power, they will know that, my hope, I always spoke of You, because I truly knew You and You were the reason for my optimism, even when I realized that my death was near.
But let me be, and now, let me be with You. I place my hope before You, for You know better than I the times in which we live.
I am human, and I know how weak a human is. I want You to be my strength, so that no one may dishonor the priesthood I bear.
Help me not to weaken and surrender myself in fear for my life, for I desire to die for You, to live with You and by You.
I am now ready to meet You, so help me not to weaken in the time of trial. For I have told You that I know man, but I have also said that I know You, my strength, my power, my hope.”
Additionally, Raghad provided us with some beautiful images of her martyred brother, Father Ragheed Ganni, which are being published for the first time.
At the end of the inspiring testimony of the life of Father Ragheed’s mother and sister, shared through Alamghar, his mother offers her thanks to God, who granted her the blessing of having her son as a saint in heaven. She says, “Praise be to God, and thanks to Him.”
Similarly, Raghad praises the Lord, saying, “I thank God for all the blessings in my life; I praise Him for my family, for all the sweet and bitter moments, the joys and the hardships, health and illness. I praise Him because He gave us a tongue with which to express ourselves and glorify Him.”
It is worth noting that Alamghar has transcended the borders of Lebanon with inspirational life stories. It has interviewed some of the most inspiring figures in Syria, including Mirna Al-Akhras, the grandchildren of the saintly Massabki brothers (Fadi Massabki and Beshara Serhal), and Dr. Rahaf Lebbos.
Furthermore, God has showered us with His love and blessings through interviews with the Blessed Sources of inspiration in Italy, including Antonia Salzano, the mother of Blessed Carlo Acutis, and Gianna-Emanuela, the daughter of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla.
Our website has been enriched by sharing one of the most inspiring life testimonies in Australia, that of the Abdallah family.
Today, Alamghar rejoices in publishing the most important inspiring testimony from Iraq.
