▁... ▁When ▁a ▁portion ▁of ▁the ▁Church ▁of ▁the ▁East ▁became ▁Catholic , ▁the ▁name ▁given ▁was ▁‘ Ch al de an ’ ▁based ▁on ▁the ▁Mag i ▁k ings ▁who ▁came ▁from ▁the ▁land ▁of ▁the ▁Chal de an , ▁to ▁Beth le hem . ▁The ▁name ▁‘ Ch al de an ’ ▁does ▁not ▁represent ▁an ▁eth nic ity ... ▁We ▁have ▁to ▁separate ▁what ▁is ▁eth nic ity ▁and ▁what ▁is ▁religion ... ▁I ▁myself , ▁my ▁sect ▁is ▁Chal de an , ▁but ▁eth n ically , ▁I ▁am ▁Ass y rian .” ▁ ▁In ▁an ▁interview ▁with ▁the ▁Ass y rian ▁Star ▁in ▁the ▁September – Oct ober ▁ 1 9 7 4 ▁issue , ▁he ▁was ▁quoted ▁as ▁saying : ▁“ Before ▁I ▁became ▁a ▁priest ▁I ▁was ▁an ▁Ass y rian , ▁before ▁I ▁became ▁a ▁bishop ▁I ▁was ▁an ▁Ass y rian , ▁I ▁am ▁an ▁Ass y rian ▁today , ▁tom orrow , ▁forever , ▁and ▁I ▁am ▁proud ▁of ▁it .” ▁▁ ▁Bibli ography ▁▁▁ ▁Rap ha el ▁J . ▁B id aw id , ▁Les ▁let tres ▁du ▁patri ar che ▁nest or ien ▁Tim othe e ▁I , ▁St udi ▁e ▁Test i '' ▁ 1 8 7 , ▁V at ican ▁City ▁( 1 9 5 6 ) ▁ ▁Notes ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁▁ ▁Ass y ri ans ▁M ourn ▁the ▁Pass ing ▁of ▁Patri arch ▁Rap ha el ▁ ▁GC atholic . org ▁Website ▁ ▁Category : I ra