Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic Chaldeans, or Chaldean Catholics, are an ethnic and linguistic group of Assyrian Christians who originate from the Nineveh Plains in Northern Iraq, near the ruins of the ancient Assyrian capitals of Nimrud and Nineveh. They speak a dialect of Arabic called Chaldean, which is a dialect of Assyrian neo-Aramaic. The Chaldean Catholic Church came about through evangelization by St. Thomas the Apostle, and Chaldeans were some of the first Catholic converts. In the 16th century, a group of concerned Chaldean Catholics elected a representative to send to Rome to meet with the pope, and their group came into communion with Rome, creating the modern Chaldean Catholic Church. In 1830, the Catholic Church established the Patriarchate of Babylon of the Chaldeans, which helped unify the church. While Iraq still has the most Chaldeans in the world, many have moved away due to war and persecution, and they can now be found in countries such as the United States, Australia, Turkey, Belgium, Lebanon, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Syria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 628,405 Chaldean Catholics worldwide in 2017, with about 240,000 in Iraq. An estimated 500,000 Chaldeans/Assyrians reside in the US. |
| Language | Neo-Aramaic, a dialect of Assyrian neo-Aramaic. |
| Religion | Catholic. |
| History | Can be traced back to the first century CE when apostles of Jesus travelled to Persia and converted many to Christianity. |
| Beliefs | God is made up of three separate beings: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is both human and divine and died to atone for human sins. |
| Rites | Biblical readings and the Eucharist. |
| Creed | Nicene and Apostles' Creed. |
| Virgin Mary | Respected and venerated, but not worshipped. |
| Diaspora | People leaving their homeland and living throughout the world. |
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What You'll Learn
The Chaldean Catholic Church is based in Baghdad, Iraq
The term "Chaldean" has been associated with the Aramaic language spoken in the region since at least the time of Jerome in the 4th century. However, the specific usage of "Chaldean" to refer to Catholic Assyrians emerged in the 17th century when a portion of the Church of the East became Catholic. The name "Chaldean" was chosen based on the belief that the Magi kings, who visited Jesus in Bethlehem, came from the land of the Chaldeans.
The Chaldean Catholic Church emerged as a distinct entity following the Schism of 1552, when a faction of the Church of the East sought to restore communion with the Roman Catholic Church. The church has experienced periods of growth and decline over the centuries, with internal discord and external conflicts influencing its development. In the 19th century, the church underwent considerable growth, with its territorial jurisdiction expanding and its membership nearly doubling. However, the early 2000s saw a drastic decrease in the number of Chaldean Catholics in Iraq due to the war and persecution by Islamist extremist groups.
The Chaldean Catholic Church has a presence in various countries outside of Iraq, including Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The church's global membership was estimated to be around 600,000 in 2018, with the majority residing in Iraq and significant diaspora communities in North America, Europe, and Australia. The church is headed by the Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, currently Louis Raphaël I Sako, who is assisted by several bishops and archbishops.
The Chaldean Sisters, founded in 1922, is a notable apostolic order within the Chaldean Catholic Church. They have been instrumental in providing educational and social services, including running orphanages, schools, and retirement homes, and have had a significant impact on the communities they serve.
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The Chaldean Catholic Church is in communion with Rome
The Chaldean Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church that is in communion with Rome, meaning that the Pope serves as its leader. The Chaldean Catholic Church emerged following the Schism of 1552, when a faction of the Church of the East sought to restore communion with the Roman Catholic Church. In 1551, a group of concerned Chaldean Catholics elected a representative to send to Rome to meet with the Pope. This group accepted Roman Catholic teachings about the nature of Jesus, and their group came into communion with Rome. This event essentially created the modern Chaldean Catholic Church.
In 1553, Shimun VIII Yohannan Sulaqa, the elected patriarch, travelled to Rome, where Pope Julius III confirmed his position and recognised him as the patriarch. The title or description under which Sulaqa was recognised as patriarch is given variously as "Patriarch of Mosul in Eastern Syria", "Patriarch of the Church of the Chaldeans of Mosul", "Patriarch of the Chaldeans", "Patriarch of Mosul", or "Patriarch of the Eastern Assyrians". The term "Chaldean" was a misnomer that indicated the Biblical Aramaic language and was still the normal name in the nineteenth century.
Chaldean communities are primarily located in northern Iraq, especially in towns such as Alqosh, Ankawa, Araden, Tel Keppe, and Shaqlawa, as well as among diaspora populations. The Chaldean Catholic Church has ten dioceses in Iraq, four in Iran, and several more scattered throughout the Middle East. The official language of Chaldean Masses is Syriac, an Aramaic dialect, and a number of Latin customs have been adopted. The church also has a patriarch who helps lead it. The patriarch is elected and must be approved by the Pope in Rome. Once the patriarch is approved, he can ordain bishops and meet with a synod.
The Chaldean Catholic Church has grown as immigrants have moved from the Middle East, taking their faith with them. Chaldean Catholics can be found in Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, the Republic of Türkiye, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, France, Canada, and the United States. The United States has two Chaldean dioceses, the Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle, which is located in Michigan, and the Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle in San Diego.
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Chaldeans are Aramaic-speaking, Eastern Rite Catholics
Chaldeans originate from central historical Assyria and the Nineveh Plains. They inhabit the modern-day Nineveh Province near the ruins of the ancient Assyrian capitals of Nimrud and Nineveh. The Chaldean language, neo-Aramaic, is spoken throughout a large region, from the Nineveh Plains in Northern Iraq to parts of southeastern Turkey. Chaldean communities in many other countries, including Australia, Turkey, Belgium, Lebanon, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Syria, and the USA, also speak the language.
Chaldean neo-Aramaic is considered a dialect of Assyrian neo-Aramaic and resembles the Assyrian tribal dialects of the Hakkari Province. Each village that speaks the language has its own dialect. Chaldeans write in the ""madnhaya" version of the Syriac alphabet, also used for Classical Syriac. Most speakers are members of the Chaldean Catholic Church, and they use Classical Aramaic in their liturgy.
Chaldeans are ethnically and linguistically Assyrian. They largely bear the same family and personal names, share the same genetic profile, and hail from the same villages, towns, and cities in northern Iraq, southeastern Turkey, northeastern Syria, and northwestern Iran as their neighbours of other religious denominations.
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Chaldeans have a unique dialect of Arabic
Chaldeans are a Catholic ethno-religious community that hails from northern Iraq. They are Aramaic-speaking Eastern Rite Catholics. Chaldeans have a unique dialect of Arabic, which is a Neo-Aramaic dialect spoken by around 220,000 people. It is mainly spoken on the plain of Mosul and in Iraqi Kurdistan in northern Iraq, and by Chaldean communities in other countries, including Australia, Turkey, Belgium, Lebanon, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Syria, and the USA.
The language, also known as Chaldean Neo-Aramaic, is considered a dialect of Assyrian Neo-Aramaic. Each village that speaks the language has its own dialect, with names corresponding to the villages: Ankawa, Alqosh, Aqrah, Mangesh, Tel Keipeh, Baghdeda, Tel Skuf, Baqofah, Batnaya, Bartella, Sirnak-Cizre (Bohtan), Araden, and Dahuk.
Chaldean Neo-Aramaic is written in the "madnhaya" or "madnhāyā" version of the Syriac alphabet, also used for Classical Syriac. Most speakers are members of the Chaldean Catholic Church, and they use Classical Aramaic in their liturgy.
The term "Chaldean" was applied to this community in 1445 AD when a small portion of the Church of the East embraced the Romish faith. The name was also based on the Magi kings, who were believed to have come from what was once the land of the Chaldeans, to Bethlehem.
The ethnic and linguistic identity of Chaldeans is Assyrian, and they originated from central historical Assyria and the Nineveh Plains. They inhabit the modern-day Nineveh Province near the ruins of the ancient Assyrian capitals of Nimrud and Nineveh.
The question of whether Chaldeans are Arabs is complex and depends on various factors. Some Chaldeans consider themselves Arabs, while others do not. Anthropologists state that a Chaldean fits the general scholarly definition of an Arab. However, many Chaldeans do not identify as ethnically Arab, emphasizing their Christian faith and Aramaic language as distinct from the predominantly Muslim and Arabic-speaking identity associated with Arabs.
Chaldeans in the diaspora, such as in Michigan, U.S., may have differing views on their Arabness, with some embracing multiple identities, including Arab, Chaldean, Iraqi, and American, as seen in the example of Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha.
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Chaldeans are proud of their Christian heritage
Chaldeans are Aramaic-speaking, Eastern Rite Catholics. They believe that God is made up of three separate beings: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They also believe that Jesus, while being both fully human and fully divine, died to atone for human beings' sins. They venerate the Virgin Mary but do not worship her as a god. These beliefs are shared by the Roman Catholic Church, and the two churches are in communion with each other. The Chaldean Catholic Church is based in Baghdad, Iraq, and has over 600,000 members worldwide.
Chaldeans have a strong sense of cultural and religious identity that they have maintained across the globe. They are united with the Roman Catholic Church but have separate bishops and a patriarch who oversees the Chaldean Catholic Church. The Chaldean language, neo-Aramaic, is spoken throughout a large region, including the Nineveh Plains in Northern Iraq and parts of southeastern Turkey. Chaldean communities can also be found in Australia, Turkey, Belgium, Lebanon, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Syria and the United States.
Chaldeans have faced significant challenges in recent decades, particularly due to the war in Iraq in the early 2000s, which caused many Christians in Iraq to flee the country in fear of persecution. Despite these challenges, the Chaldean Catholic community has continued to grow, especially in the United States, where there are an estimated 500,000 Chaldeans/Assyrians. Chaldeans have been successful in various fields, including government, business and technology. They have also held on to their traditions and unique identity, even in foreign lands. Chaldean Catholic bishops have encouraged their people to persevere and maintain their faith and cultural identity.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic Chaldeans originate from central historical Assyria and the Nineveh Plains.
The Catholic Chaldeans hold many of the same beliefs as other Catholic churches. They believe that God is made up of three separate beings: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They also believe that Jesus, while being both fully human and fully divine, died to atone for human beings' sins.
In 2016, there were around 400,000 Catholic Chaldeans, down from 550,000 in 2008 and 1.4 million in 2003. In 2017, there were an estimated 628,405 Catholic Chaldeans worldwide, with about 240,000 living in Iraq.
The Catholic Chaldeans are in communion with the Roman Catholic Church and recognise the Pope as their leader. The two churches share many of the same beliefs, but their rites and ways of worship differ.
