BASSOARA - ASSAR, Patriarchal Vicariate of. - B. was an ancient Nestorian diocese, called Prath d'Misa, i.e., Mesena. G. S. Assemàni (Bibl. Orient., IV, Rome 1728, pp. 728-29) listed the bishops who governed it from 650 to 1222. In 1860 the Chaldean Catholics established a patriarchal vicariate there. In 1937 there were 2,150 of them; 2 priests and 1 church.
A. stands on the eastern bank of the Tigris, opposite B., from which it is not distinguished. Nevertheless, in 1907 a patriarchal vicariate was established there. In 1937 the Catholics numbered 4,400, the priests 2; 1 church.
BIBL.: S. Congr. Orientale, Statistica della gerarchia dei fedeli di rito orientale, Vatican City 1932, p. 245; Or. Christ. Periodica, 4 (1938), p. 272.