Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Church of Saint-Jean-Apôtre des Chaldéens d'Arnouville is a religious building built to meet the needs of the growing Assyrian-chaldean community. Open to worship in 2016, it belongs to the Chaldean Catholic Church and is distinguished by its liturgy celebrated in Aramaic, in accordance with the traditions of this Eastern Church. The building, located on rue Jean-Jaurès facing the RER D station, includes a floor dedicated to worship with 500 places, as well as a garden ground with communal spaces (teaching rooms, library, rectory). Its orientation towards the East symbolizes respect for Chaldean liturgical traditions.

The first stone was laid on 1 December 2012 by Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, marking the beginning of a construction project estimated at 6.55 million euros, of which 1 million was financed by the Work of the Cardinal's Buildings. This project was necessary because of the saturation of the Church of St. Thomas Apostle of Sarcelles, consecrated in 2004, unable to accommodate the growing community. The official inauguration took place on 6 March 2016 in the presence of major religious figures: Louis Sako (Patriarch of the Assyrian-chaldeans), André Vingt-Trois (Archbishop of Paris) and Stanislas Lalanne (Bishop of Pontoise).

The church architecture reflects a dual vocation: a traditional place of prayer (orientated heart, sacristy) and a modern community centre (multipurpose rooms, library). This project illustrates the adaptation of the Chaldean Church in France, while preserving its liturgical and cultural roots. The location near a transport node (RER D) facilitates access to the faithful in the Paris region, strengthening its central role for the Assyrian-Chaldean diaspora in Île-de-France.

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