Iraq's largest Christian denomination, the Chaldean Catholics, are canceling Easter celebrations this year to protest a presidential decision revoking the title of Patriarch from Chaldean Catholic Cardinal Louis Sako.

Though Easter is considered the most important festival of the Christian calendar celebrating Jesus' death and resurrection, Easter Sunday in Iraq will be observed this year only through prayers, the Chaldean Catholic Patriarchate in Baghdad announced Monday. All festivities, Mass ceremonies and processions, media coverage and reception of government officials are canceled in a sign of solidarity with Sako.

The move highlights political tensions between groups linked to Iran-backed militias and those who oppose them, fearing their growing dominance in government and daily life.

The Chaldean Catholic Church is an ancient Eastern rite church in full communion with the Holy See. Iraq's Chaldean Catholics say they are protesting the removal of the title Patriarch from Sako by Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid last July. In protest, the cardinal moved from Baghdad to Irbil, the capital of the northern autonomous region of Kurdistan that same month, and was welcomed by the Kurdish leadership.