Pope approves Chaldean Eparchy in Canada

Vatican Radio ^ | June 11, 2011

[NYer]

Pope Benedict XVI has erected the Chaldean Eparchy of Canada under the title of Mar Addai of the Chaldeans of Toronto and appointed SE Archbishop Hanna Zora first Bishop of the new Eparchy, transferring him from the See of Ahwaz and retaining the title of Archbishop ad personam.

“We are very pleased at the news”, Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk told Emer McCarthy “we Chaldeans are part of the universal Church. However, at the same time we are a little saddened by the continuing exodus from our land, where the Church has been present since the 5^th century. We appeal to Christians not to abandon this land, their faith, their specific liturgical traditions, but to stay. We have a mission to remain here, to witness to our Muslim brothers”.

Archbishop Sako also appeals to Christians across the world and to nations to help Christians remain in Iraq by fostering projects and investing in the diminishing community. “We also need your prayers”, he adds. “The situation in Kurdisan in the North is safe for Christians, and also here in the city, nonetheless we must promote coexistence with our Muslim brothers but also employment for our young people”. The Archbishop of Kirkuk appeals to the Diaspora not to forget those who have chosen to remain in Iraq as a living presence of the ancient community.

Archbishop Hanna Zora was born in Batna (Alquoch - Iraq) 13 March 1937. Ordained a priest June 10, 1962, he was elected Archbishop of Ahwaz of the Chaldeans (Iran) on 1 May 1974, remaining an Iraqi citizen. In February 1987 he left Iran, remaining in Rome until 1993, when he was made responsible for the pastoral care of the Chaldean community in Canada.

The total number of Chaldean Christians in Canada is around 38,000. Pastoral care is offered by the Archbishop Hanna Zora as a community leader in Toronto, under the jurisdiction of the Latin Archbishop of Toronto, and four priests. Most of the Chaldean Christians are concentrated in certain areas of the country: Toronto, Montreal, London - Windsor, Hamilton and London – Ontario, Oakville, Saskatoon, Vancouver and Ottawa.
The Church of Mar Addai in Toronto, recently consecrated by the Chaldean Patriarch, Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, has been elevated to a eparchial Cathedral.

[NYer]

Archbishop Hanna Zora was born in Batnaya ( Iraq) 13 March 1937. Ordained a priest June 10, 1962, he was elected Archbishop of Ahwaz of the Chaldeans (Iran) on 1 May 1974, remaining an Iraqi citizen. In February 1987 he left Iran, remaining in Rome until 1993, when he was made responsible for the pastoral care of the Chaldean community in Canada.

Mabrouk to Archbishop Zora!

and his community outreach to the Chaldeans in Canada.

[BipolarBob]

Who’s next, the Hittites?

[Regulator]

Isn't it wonderful that the United States has made the Islamic Republic of Iraq such a beacon of tolerance and democracy in the Middle East?

Gosh I'm just sooo thrilled that all these Christian miscreants are being intimidated out of land that is clearly part of the New Magnificent Umma.

[sayuncledave]

God bless them all, and congratulations, Archbishop Zora!

[bboop]

On the other hand, I welcome the Christian refugees. They will understand terrorism very well, and they will recognize and cherish the freedoms they have here in Western civ.

[Regulator]

On the other hand, I welcome the Christian refugees. They will understand terrorism very well

Didn't we send hundreds of thousands of men to Iraq to end that? Didn't we lose thousands of American lives supposedly to defend people's rights?

If so, why have these people been forced to flee, something they did not do under Saddam Hussein?

If this is the result of an American war for "democracy", then where is the success? We put a closet Islamist regime in power and this is what they tolerate: pogroms against Christians, who have been in Iraq for centuries before the nauseating heresy known as "Islam" was invented.

When will it be safe for them to return? When you can tell me that, then we will have a measure of success.

[Cronos]

good news

[Cronos]

from 2 million Christians in Iraq in 2003, there are now 400,000 and dropping as many flee. Many have fled to Syria, which reports now say is 20% Christian

And we should NOT support the "democracy movement" there -- these are Sunnis who are disaffected by Assad's secular regime. If they win, the future for Christians there is bleak.

[bboop]

I didn’t argue any of that. I only said, “If they come, I will welcome them, because they have been on the front lines fighting terrorism, and they can sound the alarm here.

[annalex]

At its beginning, Christianity is a Middle Eastern religion, that prior to the Muslim aggression dominated in the region. Throw a dart in the map in the general direction of Turkey and you will hit a nation that was Christian, should have remained Christian, and will be Christian again one day.

[annalex]

where is the success?

There is no success.