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claim to the first Christian nation. The<br />
history of their religious oppression includes<br />
the Persian Empire, which tried<br />
to forcibly covert them, and the Ottoman<br />
Empire, which nearly erased them. They<br />
escaped to America and settled in metro<br />
Detroit. But they had no church.<br />
In an act of solidarity that local<br />
faith communities continue to exhibit,<br />
St. John’s Episcopalian Church<br />
on Woodward in Detroit allowed the<br />
Armenian worship community to hold<br />
services there until 1931, when the first<br />
Armenian church was built.<br />
Detroit is home to a vibrant array<br />
of immigrant churches that reflect the<br />
city’s status as a melting pot of cultures<br />
and faiths. From the Polish Cathedralstyle<br />
architecture of St. Florian Church,<br />
built by Polish immigrants in the early<br />
20th century, to the history-rich halls of<br />
Second Baptist Church, founded by 13<br />
African Americans in 1836 and serving<br />
CHALDEAN<br />
STORY<br />
This report is made possible with generous support from<br />
Michigan Stories, a Michigan Humanities Grants initiative.<br />
as a stop on the Underground Railroad,<br />
each immigrant church tells a unique<br />
story of resilience, community, and cultural<br />
identity.<br />
Observing the timeline of Detroit’s<br />
historic churches is like watching the<br />
community develop in stages. These<br />
churches serve not only as places of<br />
worship but also as centers of cultural<br />
preservation and community engagement,<br />
offering support, resources, and<br />
a sense of belonging to generations of<br />
Detroit residents from diverse backgrounds.<br />
Through their architecture,<br />
traditions, and ongoing contributions<br />
to the fabric of the city, Detroit’s historic<br />
and immigrant churches continue to<br />
play a vital role in shaping the spiritual<br />
and cultural landscape of our city.<br />
The Detroit: The City of Faith film<br />
crew spent time with the “Ignite the<br />
Spirit” group at St. Joseph Chaldean<br />
Catholic Church this past January, capturing<br />
the congregation’s Eucharistic<br />
adoration, meditation and song and<br />
emphasizing the significance of music<br />
to religion. A social media post of<br />
the taping states that, “The melodies,<br />
harmonies, and rhythms in religious<br />
music evokes emotions and creates a<br />
sense of unity among worshipers.”<br />
The film is more than just a historical<br />
retrospective. It’s a celebration of<br />
the enduring faith that sustains Detroit’s<br />
residents through both triumph<br />
and tragedy. From the grassroots efforts<br />
of faith-based organizations to<br />
the innovative approaches to social<br />
justice and community development,<br />
we witness the profound impact of<br />
spirituality on the city’s ongoing revitalization<br />
efforts.<br />
“Having a great deal of admiration<br />
and respect for our Chaldean community<br />
here in Michigan,” states Famie,<br />
“I was so honored to be able to feature<br />
their rich story of faith as well as their<br />
community leadership in our film Detroit:<br />
The City of Faith.”<br />
<strong>APRIL</strong> <strong>2024</strong> CHALDEAN NEWS 21