The Syriac Orthodox Church, also known as the Syrian Orthodox Church, is an ancient Christian church that uses Syriac as its official and liturgical language. Based in the Middle East, the Syriac Orthodox Church traces its origins to the earliest days of Christianity and claims apostolic foundation through St. Peter and St. Paul in Antioch. Here is an overview of the Syriac Orthodox Church and its history, beliefs, and practices.
History and Origins
The Syriac Orthodox Church considers itself a continuation of the original church founded by St. Peter in Antioch in AD 37. According to tradition, St. Peter served as the bishop of Antioch before going to Rome. The church views itself as the mother church that gave rise to other churches in the Middle East and Asia Minor. After the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD, the Syriac Orthodox Church separated from the Eastern Orthodox Church over Christological differences, becoming an independent communion. The church spread eastward into Persia and India, giving rise to the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in India. Today, there are approximately 5-6 million members worldwide.
Beliefs and Practices
The Syriac Orthodox Church is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, meaning it rejects the dual nature of Christ as defined at the Council of Chalcedon. The church believes Christ has one united divine-human nature. The Syriac Orthodox Church is also iconodule, meaning it promotes the veneration of icons of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints. Liturgies and rituals use Syriac language and are based on ancient Antiochene traditions. Fasting, prayer, and reading the Bible are important spiritual practices. The church has a long monastic tradition and ascetic ethos. Hierarchical clergy consist of patriarch, metropolitans, bishops, and priests. The Syriac Orthodox Church upholds the Nicene Creed and Apostles’ Creed but disagrees with other Orthodox churches over Christology. It has its own Syriac liturgy and patristic tradition.
Relations with Other Churches
Historically, the Syriac Orthodox Church has been isolated from other Christian churches over theological disputes. However, starting in the 20th century, the church pursued ecumenical dialogue to bridge gaps with Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. In 1984, the Syriac Orthodox Church reached a Christological agreement with the Catholic Church. Dialogues are also ongoing with Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran and Reformed churches to resolve historical disagreements. The Syriac Orthodox Church is a member of the World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches.
Persecution and Decline
The Syriac Orthodox Church suffered greatly under persecution in its early history at the hands of the Romans and later experienced massacres and oppression under various conquerors. The church lost dominance and numbers during the Byzantine period. Later conquests by the Persians, Arabs, Kurds, Mongols, and Ottomans continued to reduce and persecute Syriac Orthodox communities. The Seyfo Genocide of 1915 by the Ottomans nearly destroyed the church, killing up to 300,000 Syriac Christians. Political instability and war in the Middle East over the last century have caused further emigration and displacement.
Distribution of Members
The Syriac Orthodox Church has followers spread across the world, but its main presence is in the Middle East and India. The Patriarchate is based in Damascus, Syria. Other major centers are in Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, and Egypt. There is also a large diaspora in Europe, North and South America, and Australia made up of immigrants who fled religious persecution. The church has millions of followers in India as a result of ancient missionary activity.
Notable Syriac Orthodox Christians
Some prominent historical figures from the Syriac Orthodox tradition include:
- St. Ephrem the Syrian (306-373) – Prolific hymnographer and theologian who wrote widely in Syriac.
- St. Jacob of Serugh (451-521) – Syriac poet, mystic, homilist, and hymn writer.
- St. Isaac of Nineveh (613-700) – Revered monastic thinker on spiritual topics like prayer, asceticism, and love.
- Bar Hebraeus (1226-1286) – Influential Syriac Orthodox bishop, philosopher, historian, and polymath.
- Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim (b. 1965) – Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo whose status is unknown after his abduction in 2013.
Worship and Sacred Places
Syriac Orthodox worship services and liturgies are elaborate, using ancient Syriac language and hymns. Holy Qurbana, the Eucharist service, is central. Chanting, incense, and symbolic rituals are employed. Worship involves special vestments for clergy, prayers, Scripture readings, processions with lamps and crosses, and frequent prostration. Fasting is diligently observed. Churches have partitioned sanctuaries and iconostasis with icons and frescoes. Monasteries like Mor Hananyo and Mor Gabriel are important pilgrimage sites. The Liturgy of St. James is used on feast days.
Syriac Heritage and Identity
The Syriac Orthodox Church derives its ethno-cultural identity from the ancient Syriac Christian tradition. Syriac language and literature are vital to its history and theological distinctiveness. Early Syriac poets, thinkers, and hymnographers like Ephrem shaped its spiritual heritage. Syriac Christianity was influential from late antiquity into the Middle Ages producing important philosophical and scientific works. Translations of Greek texts also made the language vital for transmitting philosophy, medicine, and science. Syriac Orthodox identity emphasizes this classical legacy alongside Middle Eastern roots.
Interfaith Relations
Historically, Syriac Orthodox Christians lived relatively peacefully alongside Jews, Muslims, and other religious groups in the Middle East for centuries. However, fluctuating political realities and radicalism have strained interfaith relations over the last century. Some Muslim populations oppose indigenous Christian communities. On the other hand, prominent Muslim leaders have supported Middle Eastern Christians and condemned extremism against them. Many Syriac Orthodox leaders actively promote peace and dialogue with Muslims to ease historical tensions. Education, politics, extremism, and emigration pose challenges.
Jurisdictions and Leadership
The global leader of the Syriac Orthodox Church is the Patriarch who resides in Damascus. Other high-ranking leaders are the Maphrian and Catholicos. The church has 26 archdioceses and 11 patriarchal vicariates. Key archdioceses are based in Homs, Baghdad, Aleppo, and Mosul. Bishops oversee each jurisdiction while priests run local parishes. Monasteries have their own hierarchies and rules. While fairly centralized, regional politics and isolation have fostered some autonomy in places like India and Europe.
Comparison to Assyrian Church of the East
The Assyrian Church of the East is an Eastern Christian church that split from the Syriac Orthodox Church in the 5th century over Nestorian Christology which emphasized Christ’s human nature. Other differences include:
- The Assyrian Church originated in Mesopotamia while the Syriac Orthodox Church started in Roman Syria.
- The Assyrian Church uses only the East Syriac Rite whereas the Syrian Orthodox also uses West Syriac Rite.
- The Assyrian Church historically extended into Persia and Asia while the Syriac Orthodox spread West into the Roman Empire.
- The Assyrian Church experienced less Arabic influence and held onto Syriac language longer.
However, both churches share foundational roots in Syriac Christianity and faced similar persecutions. There have been ecumenical talks between the two churches in recent decades to heal historical schisms.
Seminaries and Education
As a historic church, the Syriac Orthodox Church has an extensive religious educational system to train clergy and preserve its theological and liturgical heritage. Key institutions include:
- St. Ephrem Patriarchal Seminary in Damascus, founded in 1932.
- St. Aphrem Theological Seminary in Kerala, India, founded in 1966.
- Mor Ephrem Theological Seminary in New Jersey, founded in 1989.
- St. Aphrem Cathedral Seminary in Maarrat Saidnaya, Syria, founded in 1995.
- Mor Aphrem Seminary in Lebanon for the Archdiocese of Mount Lebanon.
Studies focus on theology, Syriac language, liturgy, philosophy, history, music, and biblical studies. The church also runs schools, colleges, and printing presses worldwide to teach the faith.
Monasticism and Asceticism
Monasticism has been central to Syriac Orthodox spirituality since its earliest periods. Early founders of communal monasticism include St. Eugene and St. Simeon Stylites. Some important monasteries include Mor Gabriel in Tur Abdin, Mor Hananyo near Mardin, and Mor Awgen near Nusaybin. Monks and nuns live ascetic lives of poverty, prayer, fasting, and manual labor while following rules from the 4th century saint Mar Awgin. Monasteries provide seminaries, orphanages, and pilgrimage sites for laity. They preserve manuscripts, liturgical practices, and traditions.
Position Toward Other Denominations
As one of the Oriental Orthodox churches, the Syriac Orthodox Church is not in full communion with Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, or Protestant churches. It accepts only the first three ecumenical councils. However, the church pursues active ecumenism and has achieved some bilateral agreements. In 1984, it reached a historic Christological agreement with the Catholic Church. It engages in dialogue with the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, and Reformed churches. The church allows inter-communion, mixed marriage, and shared sacraments to a limited degree with Eastern Orthodox churches.
Notable Cathedrals and Churches
Some historic and significant cathedrals, churches and monasteries of the Syriac Orthodox Church include:
- St. George’s Cathedral, Damascus – headquarters of the Patriarch of Antioch and seat of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch since 1959.
- St. Peter and St. Paul’s Cathedral, Kirkuk, Iraq – 12th century cathedral serving the Syriac Orthodox Diocese of Kirkuk.
- St. Mark’s Cathedral, Tehesnas, Iraq – important cathedral founded in the 4th century.
- Mor Gabriel Monastery, Tur Abdin, Turkey – Founded in 397, it is one of the oldest surviving Syriac Orthodox monasteries.
- Mor Aphrem Monastery, Maarat Saidnaya, Syria – Major regional monastery founded in the 6th century.
- St. Thomas Syriac Orthodox Church, Keralia, India – Founded in 52 AD, one of the oldest churches in India.
Peshitta – The Syriac Bible
The Peshitta is the standard Syriac Bible used in the Syriac Orthodox Church since the 5th century. It contains the Old Testament, the entire New Testament, and some deuterocanonical books. The name ‘Peshitta’ in Syriac means ‘simple, common.’ Compared to the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate, the Peshitta omits certain Old Testament passages. The text provides key evidence for reconstructing the history of biblical translation and manuscripts.
Current Issues and Challenges
The Syriac Orthodox Church today faces a number of difficulties both internally and externally including:
- Persecution, wars, extremism, and lack of religious freedom in the Middle East threatens its ancient homeland communities.
- Mass emigration and assimilation in Western countries leads to declining membership and loss of language and identity.
- Leadership struggles and financial issues have created administrative instability and disorganization.
- Interchurch conflicts, especially between the Syriac Orthodox and the Syriac Catholic churches.
- Need to maintain spiritual and monastic traditions amidst changing social realities.
- Preserving Syriac language, heritage, and identity in the globalized digital era.
Despite these difficulties, the church retains spiritual vitality and native roots in its historic communities. With activism and reorganization, many hope the Syriac Orthodox Church can overcome contemporary adversities, regain prominence, and spread its ancient traditions grounded in Antiochian origins and Syriac heritage.
