Emergency restoration of the fresco of the Ancient Syriac Orthodox Church Mar Guorguis in Qaraqosh (Bakhdida)

Located within a Syriac-Orthodox religious domain ransacked by Daesh, the ancient church of Mar Guorguis was likely founded in the 6th century. On the outer wall of the sanctuary is a Byzantine-style fresco dating from the 12th-13th centuries depicting the baptism of Christ. It is the last medieval Christian fresco still visible in Iraq. In a poor state of conservation since it was uncovered in October 2005, the mural is now threatened by further deterioration (such as detachment of the plaster, falling fragments, depigmentation of the pictorial layer).

The project consisted of stabilizing the damaged fresco, restoring it, and presenting it in a new scenography.