A local civil society and humanitarian organization in Sulaymaniyah has announced a comprehensive expansion project for St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church (Mar Yousif), one of the city's most historic and revered religious landmarks.

The Anzu Foundation, an organization dedicated to creating a lasting impact across the Kurdistan Region by investing in education, restoring cultural heritage, and improving community spaces, said in a statement on Thursday that the initiative was “Driven by the values of coexistence in Sulaymaniyah.”

“This step marks the beginning of a significant project to develop one of the historic and ancient religious landmarks of our city,” the foundation noted.

St. Joseph Church: A Landmark of Chaldean Faith and Coexistence 

St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church, locally known as Mar Yousif, serves as the central parish for Sulaymaniyah’s Chaldean Catholic community under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Archeparchy of Kirkuk-Sulaymaniyah.

The historic church preserves deep liturgical roots by utilizing the East Syriac Rite and Modern Aramaic prayers in full communion with the Holy See in Rome.

Beyond its religious services, the parish acts as a vital community hub for cross-cultural dialogue and stands as a powerful regional symbol of cultural and religious coexistence.

Chaldean Patriarch Mar Paulos III Nona Visits Sulaymaniyah 

The initiative comes as the newly elected Patriarch Mar Paulos III Nona visited Sulaymaniyah earlier this week and met with senior party and administrative officials. They focused heavily on preserving the Kurdistan Region's deep-rooted heritage of interfaith harmony.

Commending Sulaymaniyah’s deep-rooted historical heritage of tolerance, the Patriarch offered his sincere appreciation for the hospitable welcome.

The Patriarch also toured the ancient Christian ruins in Bazian, which stand as one of the oldest Christian landmarks in the entire Middle East.