Araden

Araden (Syriac: ܐܪܕܢ) is a village in the northern Iraqi governorate of Dohuk. It is located 20-30 kilometers (12–19 miles) east of the city of Zakho and lies in a valley. The village of Inishk lies within viewing distance from it. The name Araden means "Land of Eden" in old Aramaic.
The inhabitants speak a dialect of Syriac with elements of both Chaldean Neo-Aramaic and Assyrian Neo-Aramaic.
Chaldean Catholicism is the dominant religion of the village. One of the oldest churches in Christianity, the church of Sultana Mahdokht, established in 325 AD, is located in Araden. Originally prior to the 18th century the inhabitants belonged to the Church of the East.
Today, there are more than 150 homes in the village. also there are three main families Rayes family, the chieftains of the village, Qasha and Sana.
There is a large community of people from Araden in Metro Detroit (Warren, Sterling Heights, and Troy), Michigan. Every year the people of Araden origin gather on January 12, when there is a celebration for the saint Sultana Mahdokht, called Shera. This is a big event in the Chaldean community of Michigan, as the attendance is overwhelming. Also every year on 15th of June, Aradnayeh get together in Shelby Township, for a large celebration at Stony Creek Metropark. 
==See also==
*List of Assyrian villages
==External links==
*Assyrians celebrating the "Assyrian New Year" in Araden
*www.araden.com
Category:Assyrian settlements
Category:Assyrian people
Category:Chaldeans
arc:ܐܪܕܢ