Michael Brooks
The Catholic Church in the Middle East is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. The Catholic Church is said to have traditionally originated in the Middle East in the 1st century AD. The largest group remaining in the Middle East is the Maronite Church based in Beirut, Lebanon, with around 1.7 million members. The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is the next largest, with 1.5 million members, of which over 700,000 reside in the Middle East. The Armenian Catholic Church has over 700,000 members, less than one-tenth of whom reside in the Middle East. The Chaldean Catholic Church has over 600,000 members, with about 45% residing in the Middle East. The Latin Church of the Catholic Church has several dispersed populations of members in the Middle East, notably in Turkey, Cyprus, and the Levant.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholics in the Middle East | 12 million (2011 estimate) |
| Number of Christians in the Middle East | 6 million (2020 estimate) |
| Largest Catholic Church in the Middle East | Maronite Catholic Church (1.7 million members) |
| Location of Maronite Catholic Church | Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, and the Holy Land |
| Number of Armenian Catholics in the Middle East | 700,000 |
| Number of Chaldean Catholics in the Middle East | 270,000 |
| Number of Melkites in the Middle East | 700,000 |
| Number of Arabized Melkite Catholics in the Middle East | 1 million |
| Number of Protestants in the Middle East | 400,000 |
| Number of Christian Believers from a Muslim Background in the Middle East | 483,500 |
| Countries with Large Catholic Communities in the Middle East | Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Israel, and Sudan |
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What You'll Learn
The Maronite Catholic Church
The Maronite Church traces its origins to St. Maron, a 4th-century Syrian hermit monk who led an ascetic life. St. Maron's disciple, Abraham of Cyrrhus, also known as the Apostle of Lebanon, set out to convert the Phoenician inhabitants of Lebanon to Christianity. The Maronites are proud that their church never lacked communion with the Holy See since its formation in the 4th century. They received papal recognition in 518 AD. The head of the Maronite Church is Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, who resides in Bkerké, northeast of Beirut, Lebanon.
The Maronite Church is part of Syriac Christianity by liturgy and heritage and retains the ancient West Syrian liturgy, often delivered in Syriac. While the modern Maronites speak Arabic, they have also historically spoken Cypriot Maronite Arabic on the island of Cyprus, where there are approximately 5,800 Maronites today. The Maronite Church has branches in nearly all countries where Maronite Christian communities live, including in the Lebanese diaspora.
The Maronite Church has had a significant presence in the Middle East and has played an active role in the region's history. They were staunch defenders of the decrees of the Council of Chalcedon and maintained their independence and customs under various ruling empires. Despite facing challenges due to sectarian violence and political instability, the Maronite Church continues to provide humanitarian aid and preserve its cultural and religious heritage.
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The Melkite Greek Catholic Church
The Melkites are an ancient patriarchate of Antioch, dating back to the early Christian community of the Patriarchate of Antioch in the 1st century AD. The term "Melkite" comes from the Syriac word "malkā" meaning "king" and the Arabic word "malakī" meaning "royal" or "imperial". It was originally a pejorative term for Middle Eastern Christians who accepted the authority of the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) and the Byzantine Emperor, used by non-Chalcedonians.
The Melkite Church shares its Byzantine liturgical, theological, and spiritual heritage with the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch and other Eastern Orthodox churches. It follows the Byzantine Rite and uses Arabic as its official language, although liturgies are also conducted in Aramaic. The Melkites have maintained practices such as a married clergy, the election of bishops by the Church as a whole, and collegial government, which are unfamiliar to many Roman Catholics.
The Melkite Church was formed in 1729 in Syria when a group separated from the Greek Orthodox Church to be in union with Rome. In 1709, Patriarch Cyril V recognised the authority of the Pope of Rome as the head of the Church, but this move was opposed by some members of the Church of Antioch, leading to a split in 1724. The Melkite Catholics have since worked to be a "voice for the East within the Western Church".
The relationship between the Melkites and Rome has been strained at times, particularly during the Crusades when Western Catholics did not recognise the legitimacy of Eastern methods of worship. Despite this, the Melkites never broke off relations with Rome. The Ottoman conquest in 1516 also brought harsh reprisals on the Christians of Antioch, with sustained destruction of religious sites, persecution of clergy, and massacres of faithful, leading to a depopulation of entire Christian communities.
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The Chaldean Catholic Church
The Catholic Church in the Middle East is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. The Catholic Church is said to have originated in the Middle East in the 1st century AD. The Maronite Catholic Church is the largest of the Eastern Catholic Churches in the Middle East, with around 1.7 million members. The Chaldean Catholic Church is another of the seven Catholic Churches or "Rites" that comprise the Catholic Church in the Middle East.
The name "Chaldean" does not represent an ethnicity but rather a church. The term was first used in the early 4th century AD as a synonym for "Assyrian". In the 15th century, it began to be used to refer to Aramaic speakers in communion with the Catholic Church. In the 16th century, the term was used by Spanish cleric Francis Xavier to refer to the Syriac language. The Chaldean Catholic Church traces its beginnings to the Church of the East, which was founded in the Parthian Empire. The Church of the East is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:9) and is said to have been founded by Thomas the Apostle, Thaddeus of Edessa, and Bartholomew the Apostle.
Union with Rome was first realized in 1551 when the elected patriarch John Sulaka went to Rome and made his profession of the Catholic faith. From this period on, those Nestorians who became Catholics were referred to as Chaldeans. Other unions were realized in 1672, 1771, and 1778, with the current unbroken line of “patriarchs of Babylonia” originating in 1830. In that year, Rome established the Patriarchate of Babylon of the Chaldeans, which strengthened and unified the Church. The church is centered in Iraq, from the northern part of the country to Baghdad, and can also be found in Iran, Lebanon, and other Middle Eastern countries.
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The Armenian Catholic Church
In communist times, the Armenian Catholic Church in the former Soviet Union was disbanded, and most priests lost their lives. Only a few communities in Georgia managed to defend their churches, and people still gathered for prayer. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Armenian Catholic Church in Armenia and Georgia began reconstructing and reorganizing its religious life, with old temples being renovated and new ones erected.
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The Latin Church
Yes, there are Catholics in the Middle East. The Latin Church, also known as the Western Church, is the largest and most widespread of the 24 autonomous (sui iuris) particular churches that together compose the
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are Catholics in the Middle East.
There are seven Catholic Churches or "Rites" in the Middle East, each with its own unique liturgical traditions and culture. These include the Maronite Catholic Church, the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, the Armenian Catholic Church, the Chaldean Catholic Church, and the Latin Church.
The Maronite Catholic Church is primarily based in Lebanon, with smaller communities in Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, and the Holy Land. The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is also present in these countries, with a larger presence in Lebanon and Syria. The Armenian Catholic Church has its largest concentrations in Lebanon and Syria, but there are also dioceses in Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Turkey, and Israel. The Chaldean Catholic Church is historically concentrated in Iraq, but its members can also be found in other Middle Eastern countries. The Latin Church has dispersed populations throughout the Middle East, including in Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan.
It is estimated that there are around 12 million Christians in the Middle East, including Catholics. However, due to factors such as low birth rates, emigration, and religious persecution, the number of Christians in the region is declining.
Catholics and other Christians in the Middle East have faced persecution and violence from extremist groups, contributing to the decline in their numbers. Additionally, political turmoil and ethnic tensions have also impacted their presence and safety in the region.
