Kirkuk, Feb. 02, 2006 (CNA/CWNews.com) - Reacting to a series of explosions this past Sunday in Christian churches throughout Iraq, Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk said, “The Iraqi Christian community is once again becoming a Church of martyrs.”

After celebrating the funeral of Fadi Raad Elias, one of the victims of the bombings, Archbishop Sako told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN ) that the faithful came en masse to the cathedral of Kirkuk to show that despite the violence, “they are more committed than ever to Christianity.”

He said the large number of Muslims attending the funerals was a source of comfort, and that Catholics in Iraq would not allow these acts of aggression to drive them out of the country.

Archbishop Sako also said that thanks to ACN, he was able to provide economic assistance to the families of the victims. “They were very thankful,” he said. “For them it was an important gesture of solidarity, because it shows they are not alone.”