DECEMBER 2009

More documents

Recommendations

Info

life as a persian chaldean Bishop Ramzi Garmo talks about life for Christians in Iran BY VANESSA DENHA GARMO In recent years, we have focused on Christian refugees who have fled Iraq to live in surrounding Arab countries, to Europe and the United States. One country that has not received any Christians in recent years, yet has a population of Christians living there, is Iran. Chaldeans today are living all over the world, assimilating to new countries and learning new languages. Not all countries have given the same freedoms to immigrants as the United States. Although they have the freedom to worship in Iran, Christians are a minority and life is not easy, according to Bishop Ramzi Garmo, who has been living in Iran since 1976. He was sent to Iran just one year after being ordained a priest in France because there was a high demand for priests. In 1996, he was ordained the Bishop after Bishop Yohanna Issayi retired. “Our faithful in Iran are mostly Assyrian Catholics with a small Chaldean community originally from Telkaif, Iraq,” said Bishop Garmo, who was recently visiting his family in Michigan for the first time in five years. The Sourath dialect commonly spoken is Assyrian. Masses are also done in Farsi, the country’s native tongue. His diocese is headquartered in Tehran at St. Joseph Cathedral. There are a total of seven churches within his diocese and only four priests. His parishioners are about 600 families and 3,000 people. “We can practice our religion inside our churches but we are not allowed to evangelize our faith,” he said. All women, including Christian women, wear the Muslim-required headdress — a scarf. Today, it is a bit contentious in Iran ever since the war began in Iraq; there is a belief by many Christians scattered around the Middle East and in Iran that the U.S. foreign policy caused the terrorist attacks in Iraq and now life is chaotic for the Christians. In fact, Iran does not have a U.S. Embassy. Christians work and socialize with Bishop Ramzi Garmo has been living in Iran since 1976. many Muslims but do maintain their own culture and identity. Few interfaith marriages have occurred over the years; about four a year take place. The women are required to follow the man’s religion. “When the war started between Iran and Iraq in 1980, many Christians came to Iran,” said Bishop Garmo. “They stayed many years but a large group has left.” He also explained that he has lost many parishioners who now live in the United States, primarily in California. During his U.S. visit he traveled to California to spend time with his former parishioners. During this last war, Bishop Garmo explained that it was much easier for Chaldeans to flee to countries where Arabic was spoken. Not many Chaldeans speak Farsi. They traveled to Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. Christians are the largest minority with Jews falling in second and Zoroastrianism in third. Today, there is one Assyrian deputy in the parliament, two Armenian Christians and one Jew. He believes many more Christians will eventually leave Iran for an easier life. “I can’t oblige Christians to stay in Iran because the life is difficult,” said Bishop Garmo. “It is hard to find a job and a decent standard of living is costly just like in many countries in the Middle East.” 32 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2009 cn1209_0148.indd 32 11/25/09 5:04:39 PM
Smile a little every day. 32940 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills (248) 855-1730 www.greis.com DECEMBER 2009 CHALDEAN NEWS 33 cn1209_0148.indd 33 11/25/09 5:04:58 PM
Page 1 and 2: VOL. 6 ISSUE XI METRO DETROIT CHALD
Page 3 and 4: Gary Sako 248-990-3010 Mary Ann Yon
Page 5 and 6: DECEMBER 2009 CHALDEAN NEWS 5 cn120
Page 7 and 8: W FARMINGTON HILLS 33250 12 MILE RO
Page 9 and 10: CONTENTS DECEMBER 2009 THE CHALDEAN
Page 11 and 12: GUEST column your LETTERS 2009 year
Page 13 and 14: A Fond Farewell From Jerry Shannon
Page 15 and 16: noteworthy Sharon Hannawa Paul Aske
Page 17 and 18: Community Bulletin Board Blame It o
Page 19 and 20: Happy Holidays from Tapper’s With
Page 21 and 22: SETTING THE STANDARD FOR INTEGRITY
Page 23 and 24: TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE Welcome t
Page 25 and 26: looking BACK Khalid Bahoura: Chicke
Page 27 and 28: stained-glass window depicting the
Page 29 and 30: A Program to help YOU. Services are
Page 31: Add the world. $ 5. Unlimited inter
Page 35 and 36: “Make health choice your choice,
Page 37 and 38: Huntington Cleaners & Shirt Laundry
Page 39 and 40: I think is a smart woman and works
Page 41 and 42: 325-MONTH CD - 2.52% APY 1 TripleOp
Page 43 and 44: It’s all about the Spirit Ever
Page 45 and 46: in the KITCHEN with Haresa (Barley
Page 47 and 48: chaldean for KIDS Christmas Greetin
Page 49 and 50: PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESS
Page 51 and 52: Wedding Specials SEPTEMBER 15TH - M

DECEMBER 2009

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?