DETROIT — Two Chaldean priests from metro Detroit—Basil Yaldo and Emanual Shaleta— were recently ordained as bishops. 

Yaldo came to the United States after he was kidnapped for three days in Iraq in 2006 and physically abused by his attackers before being released. He’d also received death threats subsequent to his release. He served as a priest at St. George Church in Shelby Township.

Since the start of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, more than half of Iraq’s Christian community has fled the country because of religious persecution.

Yaldo, 44, was expected to return to Iraq to serve as an auxiliary bishop in Baghdad. He will serve under the worldwide head of the Chaldean Church, Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako, helping him in his daily tasks. In Sako’s absence, Yaldo will lead the churches in Baghdad. Yaldo will also be the point man for communication with Chaldean dioceses around the world.

He also wants to give people hope and to keep their faith alive.

“We have to convince the Iraqi government to protect the Christians of Iraq,” he said. Yaldo was born in Tel Keif and ordained in 2002. He said his kidnapping “brought me closer to God and strengthened my faith.”

Shaleta, 58, who was also a priest at St. George Church, has served in Michigan for 28-years. He is now the bishop for the Eparchy of Mar Addai of Toronto.