Chaldean Catholic Church
The Chaldean Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic church that is in communion with the pope in Rome, tracing its origins back to the first century CE. Initially known by various names, including the Church of the East and the East Syrian Church, it has a rich history that includes significant theological developments and periods of persecution. The church is primarily based in Baghdad, Iraq, and has an estimated 641,000 members worldwide, with communities also established in various countries, including the United States, due to emigration driven largely by persecution.
Chaldean Catholic beliefs align closely with those of other Catholic traditions, including the belief in the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus. However, they have unique liturgical practices, utilizing the East Syrian rite, and they celebrate certain sacraments differently—such as combining baptism with chrismation. The church is led by a patriarch, who is elected from within the community and approved by the pope, highlighting a structured hierarchy that includes bishops, priests, deacons, and the laity.
Throughout its history, the Chaldean Catholic Church has navigated complex relationships with both Eastern and Western Christianity, eventually affirming communion with Rome in the 16th century. Despite facing challenges, particularly in recent decades, the Chaldean Catholic community continues to maintain its cultural and religious identity across the globe.
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Chaldean Catholic Church
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 Chaldean Catholic Church dates back to the first century CE. It has had several different names, including the Church of the East, the East Syrian Church, and the Chaldean-Syrian Church of the East.
The Chaldean Catholic Church is based in Baghdad, Iraq, and has over 600,000 members. Although the Chaldean Catholic Church was mostly concentrated in the Middle East for many years, its reach has grown as immigrants have moved from the Middle East, taking their faith with them. A particular driver of emigration has been the persecution of Chaldean Catholics by Islamist extremist groups. In contemporary times, 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 church has ten dioceses in Iraq, four in Iran, and several more scattered throughout the Middle East. 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.
History
The Chaldean Catholic Church can trace its roots back to the first century when apostles of Jesus traveled to Persia. This early church converted many Persians and others from the area to Christianity. Followers from this group then traveled and proselytized to people in India, China, Myanmar (formerly Burma), and other regions. The church grew very large for a time, but when its members were persecuted and martyred, the congregation diminished.
In 431 CE, the Chaldean Catholic Church refused to affirm the declarations made at the Council of Ephesus. This council was held by bishops from all different Christian groups to reaffirm the core set of Christian beliefs. One doctrinal idea that the Chaldean Catholics differed from the majority of Christians about was the nature of Jesus’s being. Chaldean Catholics accepted the idea that Jesus lived as two separate beings: one human and one divine. This belief was considered heresy by other Christians, and the Chaldean Catholic Church became separated from other Christians at this time.
In the 1200s, some Roman Catholic missionaries visited areas with large Chaldean Catholic populations. These missionaries converted some Chaldean Catholic bishops; this created intermittent good relations between the Chaldeans and the church in Rome. However, none of these ties were permanent. Then, 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 the early 1900s, members of the Chaldean Catholic Church wanted to spread their beliefs, and some of the members of the church brought their faith to the United States. In the twenty-first century, however, most Chaldean Catholics still live in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East. 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. In the mid-2020s, the Patriarch, Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, clashed with the Iraqi government, leading to his nine-month self-imposed exile in Kurdistan.
Beliefs
The Chaldean Catholic Church holds 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. They also believe that the Bible is the divinely inspired word of God.
Chaldean Catholics also celebrate sacraments that are similar to, but not exactly the same as, the sacraments celebrated by Roman (or Latin) Catholics. For example, Eastern churches, such as the Chaldean Catholic Church, celebrate baptism and chrismation, which is similar to confirmation, together. Roman Catholics usually celebrate baptism and confirmation at different times.
The Chaldean Catholic Church has some practices that are different from other Catholic churches. One difference is that the Chaldean Catholic Church is patriarchal. As a patriarchal church, the Chaldeans can elect a patriarch to lead the church, but the church is headed overall by the pope.
Another difference is that the Chaldean Catholic Church uses the East Syrian rite to celebrate the liturgy. A number of different rites exist, but only Chaldean Catholics and Syro-Malabar Catholics use the East Syrian rite to celebrate Mass. The Chaldean liturgy maintains a basic structure that has been the same since the seventh century. The liturgy is spoken in Syriac or in the local language, and it includes some Latin traditions. Syriac is a form of the Aramaic language that was used when Jesus was alive.
Organization
The pope is considered the leader of the Chaldean Catholic Church. However, the church also has a patriarch who helps lead it. The patriarch is elected and heads a synod, which is a group of bishops. The patriarch must be approved by the pope in Rome. Once the patriarch is approved, he can ordain bishops and meet with a synod.
The Chaldean hierarchy also includes priests and deacons. Men wanting to become priests in the Chaldean Catholic Church can choose from two religious orders. Religious orders are groups that people join to separate themselves from society and focus on a specific religious devotion. To become a religious member of the Chaldean Catholic Church, men have to receive a sacrament. The regular members of the church are called the laity.
Bibliography
“Iraq: Prime Minister Officially Recognizes Cardinal Sako’s Status.” Open Doors, 26 June 2024, www.opendoors.org/en-US/research-reports/articles/stories/Iraq-Prime-Minister-officially-recognizes-Cardinal-Sakos-status. Accessed 10 Jan. 2025.
LaBanca, Nicholas. "For Chaldean Catholics, the Faith Has Been Transmitted by 'a Testimony of Blood.'" The Catholic World Report, 3 Jan. 2018, www.catholicworldreport.com/2018/01/03/for-chaldean-catholics-the-faith-has-been-transmitted-by-a-testimony-of-blood. Accessed 10 Jan. 2025.
Melton, J. Gordon. "Chaldean Catholic Church." Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, edited by J. Gordon Melton and Martin Bauman, ABC-CLIO, LLC, 2010, pp. 536-537.
"Patriarchal Churches." New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, edited by John P. Beal et al., Paulist Press, 2000, p. 32.
"Who are the Catholics of the Middle East?" United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2017, www.usccb.org/resources/who-are-catholics-middle-east. Accessed 10 Jan. 2025.
Yurkus, Kevin R. "The Other Catholics: A Short Guide to the Eastern Catholic Churches." Catholic Education Resource Center, www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/the-other-catholics-a-short-guide-to-the-eastern-catholic-churches.html. Accessed 10 Jan. 2025.