{{Infobox Religious group
|group = Chaldean ChristiansChaldeans of Michigan<br/>(<big>ܟܲܠܕܵܝܹܐ</big> ''Kaldāye'')|image= [[File: CHALDEAN-FESTIVAL-2.JPGjpg|200px]]|caption = Chaldeans from of Michigan, 21st Century
|poptime =
|region1 = {{flag|USAUnited States}}
|pop1 = 400,000
|region2 = {{flag|Iraq}}
|pop2 = 550,000
|region3 = {{ChaldeanFlag|Chaldea}}
|pop3 = 550,000
|langs = [[Chaldean language|Chaldean language]], [[Arabic]], [[Chaldean Neo-Aramaic]]
|rels = [[Chaldean Christianity]] (in union with [[Roman Catholic Church|Rome]])
}}
'''Chaldean ChristiansChaldeans''' {{IPAc-enare native people of [[Mesopotamia|k|ae|l|'|d|i:|@n}} ({{lang|syr|ܟܠܕܝ̈ܐ}}), or Mesopotamia]]. The term [[Chaldean people | Chaldean]],<ref>Chaldean Patriarch Sako. July 2015 "We are CHALDEANS" adherent is also noted in the Holy Bible of the [[Chaldean Catholic ChurchHebrew language|Hebrew]]</ref>, originally called ''The Church of the EastUr Kasdim''(according to long held Jewish tradition, which was that part the birthplace of the original universal church (CatholicosAbraham in ''Chaldea'') until as meaning ''Ur of the 4th century AD when Chaldeans followed Bishop Nestorius and split from the universal Christian church. Chaldeans were called [[Chaldean Nestorian]] until 1553 AD when Chaldeans Rejoined the universal church and entered communion with the [[Catholicism|Catholic Church]]Chaldees''.<ref name='BBC'>{{cite web |url=httpBiblical Archaeology Review May/June 2001://newsWhere Was Abraham's Ur? by Allan R.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7271828.stm |title=Who are the Chaldean Christians? |author=BBC NEWS |date=March 13, 2008 |work= |publisher=BBC NEWS |accessdate=March 26, 2010}}Millard</ref>
In addition to their ancient [['''Chaldean homeland ''' {{IPAc-en| Mesopotamia]] in [[Iraq]], northeast [[Syria]], northwest [[Iran]] and southeast [[Turkey]], k|ae|l|'|d|i:|@n}} (a region roughly corresponding with ancient [[Mesopotamia]]{{lang|syr|ܟܠܕܝ̈ܐ}}) , or [[Chaldean people | Chaldean people]] communities ,<ref>Chaldean Patriarch Sako. July 2015 "We are found in CHALDEANS" adherent of the [[United StatesChaldean Catholic Church]]</ref>, [[Sweden]]originally called ''The Church of the East'', which was that part of the original universal church (Catholicos) until the 4th century AD when Chaldeans followed Bishop Nestorius and split from the universal Christian church. Chaldeans were called [[Germany]], [[France]], [[Canada]], [[Lebanon]], [[JordanChaldean Nestorian]] but belong to Chaldean Church of the East until 1553 AD when Chaldeans rejoined the universal church and entered communion with the [[AustraliaCatholicism|Catholic Church]].<ref name='IraqBBC'>{{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Iraq|authors=Edmund Ghareeb, Beth Dougherty|publisher=Scarecrow Press|year=2004|isbn=978-0-8108-4330-1|page=56web |url=http://booksnews.googlebbc.co.uk/books2/hi/middle_east/7271828.stm |title=Who are the Chaldean Christians?id|author=uIyjeUAR5zYCBBC NEWS |date=March 13, 2008 |work= |publisher=BBC NEWS |accessdate=March 26, 2010}}</ref>
In addition to their ancient [[Chaldean homeland | Mesopotamia]] in [[Iraq]], northeast [[Syria]], northwest [[Iran]] and southeast [[Turkey]], (a region roughly corresponding with ancient [[Mesopotamia]]) [[Chaldean | Chaldean people]] communities are found in the [[United States]], [[Sweden]], [[Germany]], [[France]], [[Canada]], [[Lebanon]], [[Jordan]] and [[Australia]].<ref name='Iraq'>{{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Iraq|authors=Edmund Ghareeb, Beth Dougherty|publisher=Scarecrow Press|year=2004|isbn=978-0-8108-4330-1|page=56|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=uIyjeUAR5zYC}}</ref>
Chaldean Catholics of [[Mesopotamia]] started the [[Saint Thomas Christians]] of [[India]] (also called the [[Chaldean Syrian Church]]), who are also sometimes known as "Chaldean Christians".
==Overview Modern History==Chaldeans are native people of [[MesopotamiaFile:Chaldean Fashion Models with Chaldean Flag.jpg|thumb|Mesopotamia]]. The term ''Chaldean'' is also noted in the Holy Bible of the [[Hebrew language|HebrewFashion Models with Chaldean Flag]] ''Ur Kasdim'' (according to long held Jewish tradition, the birthplace of Abraham in ''Chaldea'') as meaning ''Ur of the Chaldees''.<ref>Biblical Archaeology Review May/June 2001: Where Was Abraham's Ur? by Allan R. Millard</ref>
The modern '''Chaldean ''' Catholics are native [[Chaldean people|Chaldeans]] of [[Mesopotamia|Mesopotamia]] <ref>Nisan, M. 2002. Minorities in the Middle East: A History of Struggle for Self Expression .Jefferson: McFarland & Company. Jump up ^ http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/14225.html</ref> and originated from ancient Chaldean communities living in and indigenous to Iraq/Mesopotamia which was known as Chaldea from the 53rd century BC till today as [[Chaldean people| Chaldean people]] continue to survive in [[Mesopotamia]].Chaldean Americans are descendants of native people from Mesopotamia or the northern Tigris-Euphrates Valley, presently located in the Middle Eastern nation of Iraq. The majority of Chaldean Americans live in Detroit, Michigan, although there are also Chaldean Americans in Chicago, Illinois; El Cajon, San Jose, and Turlock, California; and Oaxaca, Mexico. It is difficult to determine the exact number of Chaldeans in the United States because they are not represented as such in the U.S. Census. According to statistical projections from previous data on the Chaldean American community, however, it is estimated that Chaldeans in the Detroit metropolitan area may number as many as 150350,000; in California they are projected at 40100,000 persons.
Although Chaldean Americans constitute the bulk of Iraqi immigrants living in the United States, they represented less than 10 percent of the population of Iraq by 2003. While the vast majority of Iraqis, like residents of other Arabic nations, are Muslim, Chaldeans are Roman Catholic, and practice one of the 18 to 20 separate rites of the Catholic Church. They also differ from other Iraqis in that their ancestral language is not Arabic but [[Chaldean Language | Chaldean language]] of Neo Aramaic. Chaldeans may also be knows as Syriac (religious term) or neo Assyrian (or Chaldean Nestorians until 1870 AD).
Chaldean Americans are a highly religious respected people proud of their Christian heritage. According to legend, they were converted to Christianity by the Apostle Thomas on one of his missionary journeys to the East. (St. Addai, an associate of Thomas, is revered as a Chaldean patron.) In the third century, they were followers of Nestorius, a patriarch of Constantinople who was declared a heretic by the Roman Church for teaching that Jesus Christ was not concurrently God and man. This division between the followers of Nestorius in the East and the Roman Church lasted until 1445, when some Chaldeans were received into the Roman Church by Pope Eugenius IV. They were permitted to retain their historic rituals and the Chaldean/Aramaic language for mass and other ceremonies. Searching for an appropriate name to call this new Catholic rite, the Pope focused on their the Chaldean historic native homelandof [[Mesopotamia|Mesopotamia]], the native Chaldean history and Chaldean culture, which in ancient times had been the land of the Babylonians, Assyrians, and ChaldeansBabylonians. It was also the historic homeland of the prophet Abraham, who came from Ur, a city of the Chaldeans. Hence, the Pope chose recognized "Chaldean" as the name for the new Catholic riteand as a continuation of recognition of our [[Chaldean people|Chaldean people]] as the native people of [[Mesopotamia|Mesopotamia]]. Some of the earliest members of Detroit's Chaldean American community recall hearing stories from their grandparents about the conversion of their Chaldean towns in Mesopotamia Iraq, Syria, Southern Turkey and Western Iran from Nestorianism. This occurred in about 1830, when the town recognized the Roman Pontiff as the head of the Church.
== Immigration to America==
[[File:WEBBabylonDay4.jpg|thumb|Chaldean Debka Dance]]
While Chaldeans are believed to have immigrated to the United States as early as 1889, the first significant migration wave did not occur until around 1910, when Chaldeans began settling in metropolitan Detroit. At the time, Detroit was popular among a number of immigrant groups because of the growing automobile industry. It also had an established Middle Eastern community during this period, consisting primarily of Christian immigrants from Lebanon.
In 1943 community sources listed 908 Chaldeans in the Detroit area; by 1963, this number had tripled, to about 3,000 persons. An even greater number of Iraqi citizens immigrated to the United States due to changes in U.S. immigration laws during the mid-1960s, and growth in Detroit's Chaldean American community became even more dramatic, increasing to about 45,000 in 1986, and approximately 75,000 by 1992. (These figures are based on the statistical projections and estimates of Chaldean American community leaders.) This period also saw an increase in immigration to other parts of the country, particularly California.
==Modern Chaldeans of Michigan==
[[File:Chaldean Nation People.jpg|thumb|Chaldean Nation People]]
The steady rate of Chaldean migration has had a profound effect on the assimilation of Chaldeans in American society because it has provided a constant influx of Chaldean culture. However, many changes have taken place in Iraq since the first Chaldean settlers came to the United States, which, in turn, has greatly altered Chaldean American communities.
Most modern-day immigrants speak Arabic, the dominant language of the Iraqi nation, but the earliest Chaldean immigrants spoke only Chaldean, which they also call "Jesus language," since it is believed to be the language that Jesus Christ spoke during his life. Some Chaldeans resent the fact that they were forced to learn Arabic in Iraqi schools. Inquiring which language Chaldean American children should learn usually provokes a debate. Practical thinkers consider the Arabic language more useful in today's world. More nostalgic individuals assert the importance of learning their original tongue. Hence, while most Chaldean Americans speak Arabic, they do not necessarily take pride in it. Family and Community Dynamics
==Chaldean towns in Towns, Mesopotamia Iraq== [[File:Chaldean City of Karemlish.jpg|thumb|Chaldean City of Karemlish]]
*[[Zakho]]
*[[Alqosh]] ({{lang|syr|ܐܠܩܘܫ}})
*[[Baqofah]] ({{lang|syr|ܒܝܬ ܩܘܦ̮ܐ}})
*[[Batnaya]] ({{lang|syr|ܒܛܢܝܐ}})
*[[KaramlesKaramlish]] ({{lang|syr|ܟܪܡܠܫ}})
*[[Shaqlawa]]({{lang|syr|ܫܩܠܒ݂ܐ}})
*[[Tel Isqof]] ({{lang|syr|ܬܠܐ ܙܩܝܦ̮ܐ}})