Universal Syriac Church

The Universal Syriac Orthodox Church is one of the most ancient Christian churches, tracing its roots to the Church of Antioch. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts of the Apostles 11:26). Apostle Peter is believed to have established a church in Antioch in AD 37, the remnants of which are still in Antakya (the modern name of Antioch), Turkey. After the martyrdom of Apostle Peter, he was succeeded by St. Euodius and St. Ignatius Noorono as shepherds of the flock in Antioch. In the writings of St. Ignatius, we find the evolution of the ecclesiastical order of bishops—ordained successors of the Apostles in whom continued the spiritual authority vested by our Lord in the Apostles. The bishopric of Antioch was recognized in the ecumenical Synod of Nicea (AD 325) as one of the Patriarchates of Christendom (along with those of Alexandria and Rome). It produced a line of succession beginning with Apostle Peter, which continues to this day in the Syriac Orthodox Church.

At the time of Christ, Antioch was the capital of the Roman province of Syria and an important center of commerce. As a city imbued with Hellenistic culture, Greek was the common language. However, the majority of the people in the region, especially outside the cities, spoke Syriac, the Edessene dialect of Aramaic, the language spoken by our Lord.

The disciples Addai, Mari, Aggai,and Apostle Thomas are believed to have spread the Gospel in the regions northeast of Antioch, including Edessa (Urhoy) and Nisibis, and further into the upper northern Mesopotamian plains between the Rivers Tigris and Euphrates. The Syriac Doctrine of Addai recounts how Christ sent Addai, one of the Seventy Disciples, to King Abgar of Edessa. It is believed that Apostle Thomas went further east, arriving in what is today India in AD 52. Many important and influential centers of Syriac-speaking Christians emerged in cities such as Edessa (Urhoy), Adiabene (Hadyab), and Nisibis (Nsibin). While Antioch was the seat of the bishopric, Edessa is often considered the cradle of Syriac Christianity.

The Church of Antioch played a significant role in the early history of Christianity, particularly in the first three Synods held at Nicea (325), Constantinople (381), and Ephesus (431), shaping the formulation and early interpretation of Christian doctrines. In AD 451, theCouncil of Chalcedon and its Christological position resulted in a schism that divided the faithful under the Apostolic See of Antioch into two groups—one today known as the Idto Suryoyto Treeysath Shubho (Syrian or Syriac Orthodox Church) and the other the Eastern Orthodox (or Rum Orthodox) Church of Antioch. The latter had the support of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, who convened the Council of Chalcedon. The years that followed saw a struggle over the Apostolic See, with bishops of both persuasions assuming the position of Patriarch of Antioch. In 518, Patriarch St. Severus was exiled from Antioch. The seat of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch moved to various monasteries, including Qartmin, Qenneshrin (Chalkis, near Aleppo), Malatya, and Amid (Diyarbakir), finally settling in 1293 at Dayro d-Mor Hananyo (also known as Kurkmo Dayro in Syriac and Deir Zafaran in Arabic) in Mardin. It remained at this monastery until 1933, when political circumstances forced its migration to Homs, Syria, and later to Damascus in 1959.

The Universal Syriac Orthodox Church perceives its strength and unity in His Holiness the Patriarch, the supreme head of the Church. As the Successor of St. Peter, His Holiness is the embodiment and symbol of the unity of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. This embodiment signifies two types of representative characters. Firstly, as the successor of St. Peter, the Patriarch represents him. As St. Peter is the chief shepherd and supreme head, the Patriarch, by virtue of his position, upholds the unity of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. Since the Patriarch's ordination and coronation are deemed to be through the grace of the Holy Ghost and by the will of God, the first representative character is bestowed from above and is divine. Thus, the Patriarch, as the high priest of the Universal Church, represents Jesus Christ when he celebrates the Holy Eucharist. Secondly, the Patriarch, as the chief shepherd of the Church, is the emissary of the entire body of believers. The Church is not only an invisible spiritual fellowship but also a historical reality. Therefore, all the attributes of the Church, such as One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic, must also become a historical reality. The Patriarchs, who are ordained from time to time and represent the Universal Syriac Church as the supreme heads, make the unity of the Church a reality.

The Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, an Orthodox church in Malankara (Kerala, India), is an integral part of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, with the Patriarch of Antioch, His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II Iwas, as its supreme head. The local head of the church in Malankara is the Catholicose of India, His Beatitude Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I, ordained by and accountable to the Patriarch of Antioch.

The Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church’s faith and liturgy are similar to those observed by the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, such as the belief in the Trinity, Jesus Christ’s incarnation as the Savior, Holy Cross, the Church, Holy Bible, the divinity of the traditions, the Creed of Nicea, the observations of the sacramental rites, intercession of St. Mary and saints, rites after death, prayers for the dead, daily prayers, Lent, fasting, celebrating Holy Qurbana on Sunday and other sacred days, church consecration, the three stages of priesthood which have the Apostolic succession that comes from St. Peter through the Holy Throne of Antioch, preserving the canonical laying on of hands, Baptism, the Holy Cross, the three Holy Synods, and the relics of holy fathers, etc.