Posted on 07/24/2017 2:06:21 AM PDT by OrthodoxIndianCatholic
Introduction and History :
Iraqi Catholic Christians also known as "Chaldean Catholics" are an Ancient Catholic Community that exists in the Middle East.
There are less than 400, 000 left today in Iraq. 75% of all Iraqi Christians are "Chaldean Catholics".
The Chaldean Catholic Church was founded in Babylon in "Ancient Mesopotamia" sometime during the 2nd Century A.D.
The Chaldean People who lived in and around the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers were evangelized by Saint Jude Thaddeus, An Apostle of Jesus Christ sometime towards the middle of the First Century A.D. to Christianity.
They are one of 3-4 Catholic Communities in the Middle East that still speak "Aramaic" in word in the Liturgy as well as among themselves today.
Aramaic is the language that was spoken by Jesus Christ and His Apostles.
All About Chaldean Catholic Christians :
The Chaldean Catholic Church has been in communion with the Holy See at Rome for a number of Centuries, but specially from the 13th Century onwards.
During the 17th, 18th, and 19th Centuries in Iraq there was a substantial rise in numbers among Chaldean Catholics.
This was due to conversions to the Catholic Faith by Eastern Rite Orthodox Chaldeans.
Missionary Dominican Friars were instrumental in evangelizing a large number of Orthodox Chaldeans in Iraq to the Catholic Faith specially in and around Mosul in the 1700's and 1800's.
Mosul in Northern Iraq was a large Archdiocese with many Parishes and Churches dedicated to Our Lady.
The Plains of Nineveh near Mosul witnessed the biggest ever Missionary Movement among Orthodox Chaldeans towards the Catholic Faith in the 18th and 19th Centuries.
The vast majority of Chaldean Catholics used to live in Northern Iraq specially in Mosul, Erbil, and Qaraqosh.
The rest live in and around Baghdad and near Basra in Southern Iraq.
Chaldean Catholics of Iraq are "Very Precious" in terms of their Historical Significance and Spiritual Significance. They are Christianity's "Precious Soldiers".
Conclusion :
It is my prayer that Countries in the West will extend a helping hand to these Catholic Christians of Iraq with immediate effect.
Most importantly, Chaldean Catholic Christians of Iraq are the only "Native Catholic Christians in the Arabian Peninsula".
Let us do our utmost for them by word and by deed as they are "One of Our Own".
The Iraqi Catholic Christian Community is the most ancient Christian community in the world.
I’m so glad you’re back !!!
Nice link. This president is committed to including Christians in the ME to any and all emergency care coming from the USA.
Welcome to FR. You are back from where? Nice to see you.
WELCOME BACK AND THANK-YOU in shout-out! God Bless.
I thought Thomas preached the gospel and established a church in the area, before going to India
Very nice post. Happy to see your name again!
Up to 15,000 Iraqi Christians returning home this month
24 August 2017
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2017/08/24/up-to-15000-iraqi-christians-returning-home-this-month/
Around 15,000 displaced Iraqi Christians are expected to return home in the space of a single month, a charity has said.
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) says 3,000 families will likely return this month to Qaraqosh on the Nineveh Plains, which suffered some of the worst violence committed by Islamic State.
Christians are returning at such a rate that parents are increasingly concerned about securing places for their children at local schools. ACN Middle East projects coordinator Father Andrzej Halemba said that up to 10,000 school places could soon be available, with buildings being urgently repaired for the start of the new school year.
About 5,000 Christians have so far returned to Qaraqosh, however this is still only a fraction of the 50,000 who lived there until they were forced out in August 2014.
(Snip)
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