Sarah Mitchell
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, and was one of the major religions of the region until the Islamic conquests of the 7th century AD. Today, the largest group remaining in the Middle East is the Maronite Church based in Beirut, Lebanon, with around 1.7 million members. However, the number of Christians in the Middle East is declining due to various factors such as low birth rates, persecution, and political turmoil. In 2011, it was estimated that the Middle East's 12 million Christians could drop to 6 million by 2020.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholics in the Persian Gulf Kingdom | 80,000 |
| Percentage of Catholics in the Persian Gulf Kingdom | 4.44% |
| Number of Catholics in the Middle East | 12 million |
| Number of Arabized Melkite Catholics of the Byzantine Rite in the Middle East | Over 1 million |
| Number of Chaldean Catholics in the Middle East | 270,000 |
| Number of Coptic Catholics in Egypt | 164,000 |
| Number of Syrian Catholics in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon | 130,000 |
| Number of Armenian Catholics in the Middle East | 70,000 |
| Number of Maronite Catholics in the Middle East | 1.7 million |
| Number of Melkite Greek Catholics in the Middle East | 700,000 |
| Number of Christians in Iraq | 300,000-500,000 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Maronite Catholic Church: the largest Catholic Church in the Middle East
- The Melkite Greek Catholic Church: the second-largest Catholic Church in the region
- The Chaldean Catholic Church: over 45% of its 600,000 members reside in the Middle East
- The Coptic Catholic Church: almost all of its 164,000 members are in Egypt
- The Syrian Catholic Church: around 130,000 of its 200,000 members are in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon
The Maronite Catholic Church: the largest Catholic Church in the Middle East
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 and was one of the major religions of the region from the 4th century until the centuries following the Arab Islamic conquests of the 7th century AD. Since then, its proportion has decreased, with many Christians leaving the region due to factors such as low birth rates, high emigration rates, political turmoil, and religious persecution.
The Maronite Catholic Church, with around 1.7 million members, is the largest of the Eastern Catholic Churches in the Middle East. It has a strong presence in Lebanon, with smaller communities in Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, and the Holy Land. The Maronite Church is an Eastern Catholic sui iuris particular church in full communion with the Pope and the worldwide Catholic Church. It has self-governance under the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches and is headed by Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, who was elected in 2011. The seat of the Maronite Patriarchate is in Bkerké, northeast of Beirut, Lebanon.
The early development of the Maronite Church can be divided into three periods, from the 4th to the 7th centuries. The Maronites trace their origins to St. Maron, a Syrian hermit who lived between the late 4th and early 5th centuries, and St. John Maron, patriarch of Antioch in 685-707. The Maronites are known for their strong devotion to the See of Peter in Rome and their spiritual homeland of Lebanon. They have a rich history marked by perseverance and independence, having maintained their liberty and customs throughout various invasions and ruling dynasties.
The Maronite Church is immersed in Arabic culture and speaks Arabic, although its liturgy is often conducted in Syriac. While over half of its members have emigrated to countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Australia, and the United States, the Maronite diaspora communities maintain their liturgy and clergy, contributing to the spread of the Maronite Catholic Church globally.
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The Melkite Greek Catholic Church: the second-largest Catholic Church in the region
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 and was one of the major religions of the region until the Islamic conquests of the 7th century. The proportion of Catholics in the region has decreased over time, with many emigrating due to persecution by Islamic majority societies, political turmoil, and the spread of Jihadist and Salafist ideology.
The Maronite Catholic Church is the largest of the Eastern Catholic Churches in the Middle East, with around 1.7 million members. The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is the second-largest Catholic Church in the region, with 1.5 million members worldwide, of which over 700,000 reside in the Middle East, mainly in Lebanon and Syria, but also in Jordan, Israel, Egypt, and Sudan, with a small presence in Iraq. The Melkites are descendants of an ancient church in greater Syria, encompassing peoples from modern-day Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine.
The Melkite Greek Catholic Church was formed in 1729 in Syria when a group separated from the Greek Orthodox Church to be in union with the Holy See. The term "Melkite" comes from the Syriac root "Mālkâ", meaning "king", and the Greek ending "ites", denoting followers. The Melkites are closely associated with the ancient Patriarchal Churches of Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, and their origin is linked to the establishment of Christianity in the Near East. Antioch is considered a significant site as it was there that the disciples were first called "Christians" and the Gospel was preached in Koine Greek.
Arabic has become the primary language of the Melkite Church, gradually replacing Byzantine Greek in liturgical practices. The church is in full communion with the Holy See and the Pope of Rome, but it adheres to the traditions and customs of Byzantine Christianity. The Patriarch of Antioch of the Greek Melkites resides in Damascus, Syria, and the church has a strong presence in Lebanon, with approximately 425,000 members as of 2014. However, due to emigration, the global Melkite population outside the Middle East surpasses that within the region, with significant communities in Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Venezuela, and the United States.
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The Chaldean Catholic Church: over 45% of its 600,000 members reside in the Middle East
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 and was one of the major religions of the region from the 4th century until the centuries following the Arab Islamic conquests of the 7th century AD. The Catholic Church in the Middle East is made up of seven Catholic Churches or "Rites", each with its own unique liturgical traditions and culture. Each of these Catholic Churches is in full communion with Rome, but six Eastern Rite Churches are self-governing and have their own Patriarchs. All these Churches are immersed in Arabic culture and speak Arabic, although the Syriac Catholic liturgy is also conducted in Aramaic.
The Chaldean Catholic Church is one of the seven Catholic Churches in the Middle East. It has over 600,000 members, with about 45% residing in the Middle East. The Chaldean Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church and is in communion with the Pope in Rome, meaning that the Pope serves as the leader of the church. The church is based in Baghdad, Iraq, and has ten dioceses in Iraq, four in Iran, and several more scattered throughout the Middle East. The church has had several different names, including the Church of the East, the East Syrian Church, and the Chaldean-Syrian Church of the East.
The history of the Chaldean Catholic Church dates back to the first century CE when apostles of Jesus travelled to Persia and converted many Persians and others from the area to Christianity. The church grew very large, but when its members were persecuted and martyred, the congregation diminished. In 431 CE, the church refused to affirm the declarations made at the Council of Ephesus, which was held by bishops from all different Christian groups to reaffirm the core set of Christian beliefs. In the early 16th century, a group of Assyrian bishops decided to seek union with Rome, and in 1553, a new union with the Pope was negotiated. In 1672, the "Shimun line" of patriarchs adopted Nestorian doctrine, which was followed by widespread adoption of the opposing Christology upheld in Rome. By 1700, nearly all the East Syrians were Catholics.
Today, most Chaldean Catholics still live in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East, but there are also significant populations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Europe, and other parts of the world. The war in Iraq beginning in the early 2000s caused many Christians in Iraq to flee in fear of persecution, and the number of Chaldean Catholics decreased drastically in the country. The Chaldean Catholic Church is under particular stress due to the war in Iraq, and many Chaldeans have fled to escape the violence. In addition, the recent spread of Jihadist and Salafist ideology has also contributed to the unsettling of Christians' decades-long peaceful existence in the region.
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The Coptic Catholic Church: almost all of its 164,000 members are in Egypt
The Coptic Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic particular church in communion with the Catholic Church. It is also known as the Coptic Catholic Church of Alexandria, belonging to the Alexandrian liturgical tradition. The Coptic Catholic Church has almost 164,000 members, almost all of whom are based in Egypt, particularly in Upper Egypt. The Coptic Catholic Church has eight suffragan bishops throughout Egypt, comprising the only Coptic Catholic ecclesiastical province: Abu Qurqas, Alexandria, Assiut, Giza, Ismailia, Luxor, Minya, and Sohag. The patriarchal cathedral of Our Lady of Egypt is in Nasr City, a suburb of Cairo.
Historically, the Copts suffered waves of persecution, which gave way to relative tolerance in cycles that varied according to the local ruler and other political and economic circumstances. Themes of persecution and martyrdom constitute a significant part of Coptic identity due to historical and current conflicts. The Coptic Catholic Church was formed in the 18th century when a Coptic Orthodox bishop became Catholic. The Pope appointed him Vicar Apostolic of the small community of Egyptian Coptic Catholics, which numbered fewer than 2,000 at the time.
The Coptic Catholic Church is sui juris and comprises a single ecclesiastical province covering Egypt alone. The Patriarch is the sole metropolitan archbishop, retaining the ancient title of Alexandria, but his actual seat is in Egypt's modern capital, Cairo. The Coptic Catholic Church does not have Coptic monasteries. Instead, the church has religious congregations such as the three communities for women: the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, the Coptic Sisters of Jesus and Mary (both based in Egypt), and the Egyptian province of the Little Sisters of Jesus. There is also a community of male Franciscans and Jesuits.
The Coptic Catholic Church is one of seven Catholic Churches or "Rites" that comprise the Catholic Church in the Middle East. Each of these Catholic Churches is in full communion with Rome, but six Eastern Rite Churches are sui juris, or self-governing, and have their own Patriarchs. All these Churches are immersed in Arabic culture and speak Arabic. The Maronite Catholic Church is the largest of the Eastern Catholic Churches in the Middle East, with around 1.7 million members. It has a strong presence in Lebanon, with smaller communities in Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, and the Holy Land. However, more than half of its members have emigrated from the Middle East to countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
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The Syrian Catholic Church: around 130,000 of its 200,000 members are in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon
The Syrian Catholic Church is spread throughout the Middle East, with around 130,000 of its 200,000 members residing in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. The Syrian Catholic Church is one of the seven Catholic Churches or "Rites" that make up the Catholic Church in the Middle East. Each of these churches has its own unique liturgical traditions and culture, and they are all in full communion with Rome.
The history of the Syrian Catholic Church dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries, when there was a significant growth in the number of Syrian Catholics. In 1729, the first Syrian Catholic Patriarch was elected, marking the beginning of a long line of successive patriarchs. The Patriarchate moved several times before finally settling in Beirut, Lebanon.
The Syrian Catholic Church has a strong presence in Syria, where it is one of several Catholic churches in the country. By the year 2000, there were 204 parishes in Syria served by 174 diocesan and 74 religious priests. However, the Syrian Catholic Church also has a significant presence in Iraq and Lebanon, with members scattered throughout these countries.
The Catholic Church in the Middle East has a long and ancient history, dating back to the 1st century AD. While it was once one of the major religions in the region, its proportion has decreased over time due to various factors such as persecution by Islamic majority societies, political turmoil, and emigration. Today, the Catholic Church in the Middle East is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome, and it continues to play an important role in the region's religious landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that there are 12 million Christians in the Middle East, forming about 3% of the population. The largest Catholic Church in the Middle East is the Maronite Catholic Church, with around 1.7 million members.
The Maronite Catholic Church has a strong presence in Lebanon, with smaller communities in Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, and the Holy Land. The Lebanese town of Bsharri is the largest predominantly Christian town in the Middle East, with Maronite Christians making up over 99.5% of the population.
Yes, the Melkite Greek Catholic Church is the second-largest Eastern Catholic Church in the region, with 1.5 million members, of which 700,000 reside in the Middle East, mainly in Lebanon and Syria. The Chaldean Catholic Church has over 600,000 members, with about 45% in the Middle East, mainly in Iraq. The Armenian Catholic Church has over 700,000 members worldwide, with less than one-tenth residing in the Middle East, mainly in Lebanon and Syria.
The number of Christians in the Middle East is declining due to various factors, including low birth rates, high emigration rates, and religious persecution. Political instability and the spread of extremist ideologies have also contributed to the decline.
