The Antiochian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous (self-governing) Eastern Orthodox Christian churches. It is traditionally called the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch or Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East. The seat of the patriarchate was formerly Antioch, in what is now Turkey. However, in the 14th century, it was moved to Damascus, Syria, where it remains to this day. Its traditional territory includes Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, and also parts of Turkey.
The Antiochian Orthodox Church is an ancient church tracing its roots back to the earliest days of Christianity. According to church tradition, the church was founded by Saints Peter and Paul in Antioch in the 1st century AD. Antioch was one of the earliest centers of Christianity, along with Jerusalem and Rome. For many centuries, the Church of Antioch was one of the five major patriarchates that comprised the Pentarchy of early Christianity.
The Antiochian Orthodox Church upholds the Orthodox Christian faith, based on the Bible and Sacred Tradition. It shares the same doctrine and Mysteries (sacraments) with the other Eastern Orthodox Churches. The church recognizes the seven ecumenical councils and adheres to the Nicene Creed. Key elements of Orthodoxy include the veneration of icons, monasticism, and a emphasis on theosis (deification/divinization).
Some of the distinguishing features of the Antiochian Orthodox Church include:
- Use of the Byzantine Rite for its liturgy with prayers and rituals traced back to 4th century Antioch.
- Strong monastic tradition, with many ancient monasteries and ascetic traditions.
- Unique chanting style for church services.
- Emphasis on fasting and asceticism.
- Use of Arabic, Greek, and Syriac languages in services.
- Active missionary work, with ancient see of Antioch responsible for establishing many other Eastern Orthodox churches.
The Antiochian Orthodox Church has faced significant turbulence and crises throughout its long history. Antioch fell to Muslim conquest in the 7th century, making it difficult to sustain its ancient primacy. Temporary unions with the Roman Catholic Church also led to schisms and reformations. Persecution under various Muslim regimes caused turmoil. And in the late 19th-early 20th century, conflicts surrounding the ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople led to a schism within the church.
Today, the Antiochian Orthodox Church remains divided into two rival churches: the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, and the Antiochian Orthodox Church. Both lay claim to the ancient See of Antioch. The complex history is as follows:
- The Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch is headed by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch based in Damascus. It remains in communion with the rest of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
- The Antiochian Orthodox Church, officially called The Orthodox Church of Antioch, is headed by the Antiochian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch based in Damascus. It governing synod is the Holy Synod of Antioch. In the 18th century, ties with Constantinople were severed over disputes surrounding the ecclesiastical authority of the Patriarchate. For a time, the Antiochian church was dependent on the Russian Orthodox Church. It is sometimes pejoratively referred to as the “Melkite” or “Rum” Orthodox Church.
Despite the schism and disputed claims over the See of Antioch, both churches share a common faith and heritage. Efforts have been made at various times towards reconciliation and reunifying the Antiochian Orthodox Church. But divisions still remain.
Beyond the historical Orthodox churches, there are also more recent Western-influenced evangelical Orthodox groups that use the “Antiochian” name. These include:
- The Antiochian Evangelical Church – Formed in the 1840s by Protestant missionaries in Syria and Lebanon. It has Presbyterian church governance and Protestant theology but retains some Eastern liturgy and sacraments. Not recognized by Eastern Orthodoxy.
- The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America – Founded in the 1930s in the United States under the Russian Orthodox Church. Joined the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch in 1975. The greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch appoints the archbishop to oversee Antiochian orthodox christians in the USA and Canada.
So in summary, the Antiochian Orthodox Church refers to either of the two rival Eastern Orthodox churches that lay claim to the ancient See of Antioch – the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, or the self-governing Antiochian Orthodox Church. There are also more recent Western-influenced groups using the Antiochian name. But the original Antiochian church traces its roots directly back to the apostles Peter and Paul.
For Eastern Orthodox Christians, the Antiochian church holds an important place as one of the most ancient patriarchates. Its history is intertwined with the very foundations of Christianity. Antiochian saints and traditions have profoundly shaped Eastern Orthodoxy. And the church persists as a living legacy of the apostolic era, even as the original see now lies within Muslim lands. The church is viewed as an integral part of the continuous, unchanging deposit of faith passed down through Holy Tradition across two millennia.
The Antiochian Orthodox Church has traditionally played a pivotal, but also tumultuous role linking the Greco-Byzantine world with the Semitic Near East. Its eventful history illustrates some of the conflicts that have divided Eastern Christianity. But both estranged branches of the Antiochian Orthodox Church are seen as important voices within the wider Eastern Orthodox Church.
Efforts continue to heal the Antiochian schism and restore its ancient primacy. But regardless of who the canonical Patriarch of Antioch is deemed to be, the Antiochian Orthodox Church remains influential due to its apostolic heritage. For Orthodox Christians, the church stands as a continuation of the faith founded by Christ’s disciples and a focus of church unity.
