Introduction / History

The Chaldean Neo-Aramaic population of today arbitrarily received the name "Chaldean" from the Roman-Catholic Church in the 1500s when many Christians in eastern Anatolia converted to Catholicism. They were given the name Chaldean-Catholic, although they are actually the descendants of the Hittites. Their conversion to Christianity began soon after Jesus, which is the reason they still retain Neo-Aramaic as a spoken language, since Aramaic was the main language of the area at the time of their conversion, and it is still used as a second language of the modern populatio

Where Are they Located?

World War I caused the population to move outside of Anatolia, mainly south to Mesopotamia for a few generations, and more recent problems in Mesopotamia have caused the majority of the population to be scattered around the world. Some still live as minorities in what is currently called Iraq and Iran, while large populations exist in America, Canada, Australia, Europe, and elsewhere.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Those still living in Muslim-majority areas are generally persecuted to some degree. The majority elsewhere have often become successful in business, and in other professions as well.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The majority claim to follow the Chaldean-Catholic beliefs, which is an Eastern Church of Catholicism, unique in some ways from other forms of Catholicism.

Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Chaldean in United States.