Population
- Catholics (as of 2013)
7,640 Rite Chaldean rite Country Turkey | Parishes 9 Pope Francis | |
Established 1553 (As Eparchy of Diarbekir)
3 January 1966 (As Archeparchy of Diarbekir) Cathedral Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Diyarbakır | ||
The Archeparchy of Amida (or Diyarbakır) is the Chaldaean rite Catholic diocese of Turkey, with its archiepiscopal see in Diyarbakır, Turkish Kurdistan.
Contents
History
It was first established in 1531 as the Chaldean Diocese of Amid(a), but was left vacant after the Assyrian Genocide and lapsed after the death of its Archbisop in 1923. Its episcopal see was historically located in Diyarbekir, and it still is in modern day, but the archeparch (or archbishop) now resides in Beyoğlu, Istanbul.
In June 1915 it gained territory from the suppressed Chaldean Catholic Diocese of Seert (now a titular see), and again on 3 July 1957 from the suppressed Chaldean Catholic Diocese of Gazireh (which isn't even a titular see anymore). It was promoted to an Archeparchy (Eastern Catholic archdiocese) on 3 January 1966 and a new Archbishop was ordained to fill the role. Since that point, it has been the sole Chaldean Diocese in Turkey, and in effect resides over all of Turkeys Chaldeans.
The Archeparch (archbishop) is immediately subject to the Patriarch of Babylon, who heads the Chaldean Catholic Church.
Demographics
The most recent data indicates that the Chaldean population is 7,640, up from 6,000 in 1980.
Statistics
1980 6,000
1990 1,400
1999 5,000
2001 5,100
2002 5,100
2003 4,800
2004 5,925
2006 4,226
2009 6,219
2013 7,640
Episcopal incumbents
(incomplete)
...