The Chaldean Church of Mary The Immaculate Conception, near the Royal Gate. , Alqōš

(1-5) This shrine, including its altar, was built for the first time in the year 1806 of our Lord, after the name “Mary Mother of God”. In the second time, in the year 1854 of our Lord, it was built after the name of “Mary Conceived without Human Sin”. In that year—during the days of Mār Yawsep Audō the Patriarch—the Conception of Mary without Sin was officially confirmed. Now at the beginning, (6-10) the shrine was part of the domain of the church, to the south side of which there was an inner way called ‛lōltā d-sabbā‛ē “Alley of the Dyers”. In the year 1930 of our Lord, as the shrine with its altar was doomed to fall, the people of Alqōš, men and women together, rose up with the well-known zeal that they had (11-15) for building churches, and destroyed it to its foundations within two-days. On the 16th of Ādār (March), they began to built it (anew) into a high and magnificent building. While its walls were formerly standing on the soil, now (the building) sits on wide and seven drā‛ā-cubit deep foundations. Its walls are strengthened with hewn stones (16-20) and its vaults are held with iron straps on all sides. Its building was completed at the beginning of First Kānōn (December) of the year 1930, during the days of the Father of Fathers Mār Pius XI the Pontiff of Rome, and Mār ‛Ammānū’ēl II Catholicos-Patriarch of Babylon over the Chaldeans. The expenses were twelve thousand (21-25) Rupees in total—notwithstanding the assistance of the people of the village in terms of handwork and the offering of a more than 4100 tġār-load of crushed-stone plaster. Mār ‛Ammānū’ēl, the most blessed Patriarch, the blessed people of Alqōš, and our brothers and co-citizens of Alqōš who dwell in Mosul, Baghdad, Basrah, and Aleppo, took charge of a portion of the expenses, and the rest was assumed by (26) the treasury of the church. May the Lord reward them through the prayer of the Immaculate Mother.