Chaldean Catholic Archeparchy of Amida

Archeparchy of Diyarbakır

*Amidensis Chaldaeorum*

Diyarbakır'dan bir Archeparchy
Archeparchy of Diyarbakır; Amidensis Chaldaeorum; Diyarbakır'dan bir Archeparchy
Location
Country	Turkey
Statistics
Population; - Catholics	(as of 2013); 7,640
Parishes	9
Information
Rite	Chaldean rite
Established	1553 (As Eparchy of Diarbekir); 3 January 1966 (As Archeparchy of Diarbekir)
Cathedral	St. Mary's Cathedral, Diyarbakır
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Patriarch	Louis Raphaël I Sako
Archbishop	Sabri Anar
Bishops emeritus	Ramzi Garmou

The Archeparchy of Amida (or Diyarbakır) is the Chaldaean rite Catholic diocese of Turkey, with its archiepiscopal see in Diyarbakır, Turkey.

History

It was first established in 1531 as the Chaldean Diocese of Amid(a). In June 1915 it gained territory from the suppressed Chaldean Catholic Diocese of Seert (now a titular see).

After the Assyrian genocide it was left vacant and lapsed after the death of its archbishop in 1923. Nevertheless, the size of the diocese increased on 3 July 1957 from the suppression of the Chaldean Catholic Diocese of Gazireh.

On 3 January 1966, it was promoted to an Archeparchy (Eastern Catholic archdiocese) 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.

Its episcopal see was historically located at St. Mary's Cathedral in Diyarbekir, and it still is in modern day. Today, the archeparch (or archbishop) resides in Beyoğlu, Istanbul. Members of the Chaldean community use the Holy Trinity Greek Catholic Cathedral as their church; it was formerly used by members of the Greek Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Istanbul.