Chaldean Catholic Church
By Shadi Tabbara, Editor-in-Chief

Beirut, Lebanon - The Chaldean Church is a semi-independent Christian church that is affiliated to the Roman Catholic Church through the Eastern Rite. It is the Catholic branch of the Church of the Orient, alias Nestorian which declined the Council of Ephese (431). The Church retains its customs and rights although these vary from the traditions of the Roman Church. The head of the church is established in Baghdad, Iraq, and his title is Catholicos Patriarch. Currently, this position is held by His Holiness Mar Rophael I Bidawid. Below him are four archdioceses (two in Iraq and two in Iran) and 7 dioceses. The Syrian members are led by the Diocese of Aleppo. The few thousand members in Iran are led by 3 archbishops, in Ahwaz, Teheran and Orumiyeh, of whom one is also bishop of Salmas. The Chaldeans still keep hold of their East Syrian liturgy of Addai and Mari, and it is performed in Syriac (close to Aramaic, the language of Jesus). Today, the number of the Chaldeans is evaluated at more than 450,000 Chaldeans.
 
Historical Background

In the beginning of the 16th century, the Nestorian community of India was connected to the Roman Catholic Church after the impact of the Portuguese traders and colonists. In 1551, the Nestorians separated into two groups; the first followed patriarch John Sulaka after going to Rome and professing his Catholic faith. The second group did not accept the conversion. The Catholic branch took the title of Chaldean. The first three centuries were unstable and resulted in periods of non-affiliation. In 1830, the final unification with Rome took place when the Pope Pie VIII confirmed his function in the patriarch Jean Hormizd II, thus assuming the title of Patriarch of Babylon for the Chaldeans. Since then, the Church has had good ties with Rome.

Status in Lebanon

In the year 1895, escaping from the persecutions of the Turks and the Kurds, the first Chaldeans arrived in Lebanon. Since then, their numbers have increased to more than 10,000. Today, they have two parishes, one in Beirut, and the other one is in Zahleh.

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