Dinkha IV facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mar Dinkha IV ܡܪܝ ܕܢܚܐ ܪܒܝܥܝܐ
His Holiness
Dinkha IV presiding at the Assyrian Eucharist (or Raza) in a church near Chicago in June 2008.
Church	Assyrian Church of the East
Diocese	Patriarchal Diocese of the Eastern United States
See	Holy Apostolic See of Seleucia-Ctesiphon (in exile in Chicago)
Enthroned	17 October 1976
Reign ended	26 March 2015
Predecessor	Mar Shimun XXI Eshai
Successor	Mar Gewargis III
Other posts	Deaconate at Mar Yokhanan Church, Harir (1950), Bishopric at Urmia (11 February 1962)
Orders
Ordination	15 August 1957
Consecration	11 February 1962 by Shimun XXI Eshai
Rank	Bishop
Personal details
Birth name	Dinkha Khananya (Khanania)
Born	15 September 1935 Darbandokeh, Iraq
Died	26 March 2015(2015-03-26) (aged 79) Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.
Buried	Montrose Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Nationality	Assyrian
Denomination	Assyrian Church of the East
Residence	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Parents	Andrews Khananya (father) and Panna Khananya (mother)
Occupation	Cleric

Mar Dinkha IV, born Dinkha Khanania (September 15, 1935 – March 26, 2015), was a very important leader in the Assyrian Church of the East. He was the 120th Catholicos-Patriarch, which is like being the head of the church. He was born in a village called Darbandokeh in Iraq. For most of his life, he led the Church from Chicago, USA, because of difficult situations in his home country.

Early Life and Church Service

Dinkha Khanania was born in Iraq and was baptized in the Church of Mar Qaryaqos in his village. His grandfather, Benyamin Soro, taught him his first lessons.

Becoming a Church Leader

• In 1947, when he was 11, he went to study with Mar Yousip Khnanisho. Mar Yousip was a high-ranking leader in the Assyrian Church of the East.
• After two years of study, Dinkha became a deacon in 1949. A deacon helps the priest in church services.
• In 1957, he became a priest. He was sent to serve in Urmia, Iran. He was the fourth person in his family line to become a bishop in Urmia.

Serving as Bishop in Iran

• In 1962, Mar Dinkha moved from northern Iraq to Tehran, Iran.
• He helped restart a line of church leaders in Iran that had stopped.
• While in Iran, he started a special school for religious studies called a seminary.
• He also worked to bring different Christian churches closer together.
• On February 11, 1962, he was made a bishop by the head of the church at that time, Shimun XXI Eshai.

Mar Dinkha passed away on March 26, 2015, in Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

Leading the Church as Patriarch

After the previous leader, Mar Shimun XXI Eshai, passed away, the Church of the East needed a new head.

Election and New Beginnings

• In 1976, church leaders met in London to choose a new Catholicos-Patriarch. They chose Mar Dinkha because he was the most qualified.
• He became the new leader on October 17, 1976.
• He announced an important change: the leadership of the church would no longer be passed down through families. Now, any qualified church leader could become the Catholicos-Patriarch.

Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church Of The East-St. George Cathedral, 7201 N. Ashland Ave Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Moving the Church Headquarters

• Mar Dinkha set up the church's main headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
• He did this partly because of conflicts like the Iran–Iraq War and other challenges in the Middle East.
• Many Assyrian people had to leave their homes in the Middle East during this time.
• Under his leadership, the number of church members in America grew a lot.

Focus on Education

• In 2008, Mar Dinkha received a special award from the University of Chicago.
• He believed strongly in education. He wanted only highly educated theologians (people who study religion) to become bishops.
• A street in Chicago was even renamed "His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV Blvd" to honor him.

Working for Unity and Peace

Mar Dinkha IV worked hard to bring different Christian churches closer. He also spoke up for the Assyrian people.

Building Bridges with the Catholic Church

• He wanted to improve relations with the Catholic Church and the Chaldean Catholic Church.
• He met Pope John Paul II several times, starting in 1978.
• In 1994, the Assyrian Church and the Holy See (the Pope's office) signed a special agreement. This agreement said that both churches shared important beliefs about Jesus Christ. It was a big step towards full unity.
• In 1996, Mar Dinkha signed an agreement with the leader of the Chaldean Catholic Church. This agreement helped Assyrians and Chaldeans share in the Eucharist (a holy church ceremony) with each other.

Connecting with Other Middle Eastern Churches

• The Church of the East joined the World Council of Churches in 1948. Mar Dinkha used this to talk with many different churches.
• He tried to join the Middle East Council of Churches but faced some challenges at first.
• In 1994, a group called the Pro Oriente Foundation brought together several Syriac churches in Vienna. Mar Dinkha was part of these important discussions.
• He also talked with the leader of the Syriac Orthodox Church in 1997. As a result, the two churches stopped criticizing each other.

Political Work and Advocacy

• In 2006, Mar Dinkha IV visited northern Iraq. He met with Iraqi leaders, including the President and Prime Minister.
• He encouraged the president of Iraqi Kurdistan to open a Christian school.
• Mar Dinkha believed Assyrians should work with their governments.
• He also wanted the church to reach out more to young people. He supported using local languages in church services.

See also

• List of patriarchs of the Church of the East