Vatican City -- First, the Maronite Patriarch, Béchara Raï, in Lebanon, and now, the Chaldean Archbishop in Kirkuk, Louis Sako, in Iraq. The development of the Arab spring are causing concern to leaders of Eastern Christian communities, who have by now started to openly express their fears with regard to an rise in Islamic radicalism in the New Middle East. "The Arab Spring has created more Muslim militants," the Iraqi Archbishop, Sako complained, pointing out the risk of the thousand year old Middle Eastern culture of pluralism, crumbling. But the West too has made a mistake: "Instead of trying to impose the western model of democracy, they need to invest in youngsters' education," Kirkuk's Chaldean spiritual leader commented.

Archbishop Sako has, already, on several occasions, made lively appeals to the International community, asking it to protect Christians in Iraq who "risk extinction". Indeed, "in Iraq, the number of Christians continues to drop. They could disappear altogether as a result of continuous persecution, threats and violence." Between America's invasion of Iraq in 2003 and today, there have been attacks on about sixty Churches; one bishop and three priests have been kidnapped and killed; approximately a thousand innocent Christians have been killed and hundreds of thousands forced to abandon their homes in search of safety. This is why, "in Iraq and in other Countries, there is a risk of the Christian community becoming extinct."

What is worrying the prelate the most is "the lack of a plan", when Christians in Iraq and the Middle East have two options: "They can either emigrate or accept life as second rate citizens amidst numerous difficulties and fears." Hence the appeal: "We are in need of stronger support from everyone, with a clear political vision and clearly set out plans, not just to protect and encourage Christians to stay in their country, but also to promote reconciliation among the Iraqis, and human rights," as well as to "ensure governments respect the rules." According to Monsignor Sako, "the international community needs to assume responsibility" and "come to a mutual agreement with local authorities" in order to guarantee equal protection and equality between all citizens. The international community must also "help emigrants to return" or, if this is not possible, they should help them remain settled wherever they have found shelter.

It is therefore the picture as a whole that is raising alarm bells. The last Vatican Synod on the Middle East, showed that Christians in the area, total 20 million in a population of 356 million. Catholics (in their various rites) are estimated at almost six million. Syriacs, Copts, Chaldeans and Maronites, are all Christian communities which are talked about often in the Middle Eastern news, and who often fall victim to violence, discrimination and bombings. These are denominations that are not often heard of in the western world, despite the fact that they are the heirs of ancient Christian Empires that were created in opposition to Byzantium and went as far as to conquer Central Asia, before being brushed away by the Tamerlane hordes. History and continuous schisms weakened these communities which had once been powerful. Their current presence, numbers aside, represents an important religious and political heritage for the Church as a whole, and serves as a reminder of the fact that Christianity was born in the East and is an Oriental religion.

The Syriac Church, which is present primarily in Iraq, was born in the fifth century in Antioch: its founders were Monophysites, in other words, contrary to the Byzantine Roman tradition, they denied the double nature of God as man too in the form of Jesus. Hostile as they were towards Byzantium, the Syriacs fitted in well with the new Arabic Islamic structures. In the Eighteenth century, a group of them decided to reunite with Rome and today are called Syriac Catholics.

The Assyrian Church, which also has its roots in Iraq, was born out of Mesopotamia's earliest Christian communities, during the second century of the Christian era. It developed in relative isolation compared to Byzantium and welcomed Nestor's heresy theories, which spoke of a human Jesus and a divine Jesus, making them their own. The Assyrian Patriarchate's headquarters, were established in Bagdad.

The Chaldean Church, on the other hand, was formed out of a schism in the Assyrian Church, during the Sixteenth century, when a number of bishops and faithful decided to reunite with Rome. The Chaldean community is concentrated mainly in Iraq.

The Coptic Church, in turn, was born in Alexandria. The name derives from the Greek word "aigyptos", meaning Egyptian. This Church was also against Byzantium and the doctrine of Christ's dual nature. The Arabic invasion of 641 marked the beginning of their decline, but also the Islamisation of society. The Copts still form a considerable minority. A small Coptic Catholic Church has also existed since the Eighteenth century.

Then there is the Armenian Church. The Armenians were the first people to convert, as a nation, to Christianity during the Fourth century. Since then, they have kept their own independent identity. During the Nineteenth century, an Armenian Catholic Church was officially formed (in a meeting in Rome), with Patriarchal headquarters in Istanbul.

The Maronites were founded in the Fourth century, around the teaching of Saint Maron. The Maronite Church was founded as a Christian enclave in the Lebanese mountains during the Crusades in 1182, declaring its unity with Rome. Added to all these autocephalous churches are those of Orthodox rites, which remained faithful to Byzantium, following the schism of 1054 with Rome. The Melkites are Orthodox faithful who re-entered the Catholic Church and are mostly concentrated in Palestine. It is difficult to give numbers for each of these communities.

By Giacomo Galeazzi
http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it