The Syriac Orthodox Heritage

The Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch

The Syriac Orthodox Church is the church of Antioch, whose foundation goes back to the very dawn of Christianity. The believers were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts of Apostles 11:26). Antioch was the capital of Syria and one of the three capital cities in the Roman Empire. The gospel was first carried to Antioch by some of Christ’s disciples who fled Jerusalem because of the Jewish persecution after the martyrdom of Deacon Stephen about AD 34. Peter the Apostle 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 his martyrdom St. Peter was succeeded by St. Ephodius and St. Ignatius the Illuminator. The two were spiritually united in the year AD 68 under the auspices of St. Ignatius. Reliable historians have unanimously commented on St. Peter’s efforts in Antioch, where he established the Apostolic See. The historian Eusebius of Caesarea  says: “ In the fourth year after the ascension of Jesus Christ, St. Peter  proclaimed the word of God is Antioch, the great Capital, and became its first bishop.” We can, therefore, trace the present Patriarch Mor Ignatius Zakka the first was the successor to St. Peter. He is the 122^nd in this rank. Until 528 Antioch was the site of the see of Antioch. On account of many hardships the church went through it was transferred to different monasteries in Mesopotamia and Asia Minor until it settled in Damascus, Syria in 1959. The language of the church is Syriac (Aramaic) spoken by the Lord Jesus. The first Liturgy was written in Syriac by St. James the Lord’s brother. This Liturgy is used now in the Syriac orthodox Church all over the world, although it is been translated to different languages.

  After the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70 A.D., it was from Antioch that the disciples went to the known parts of the world then spreading the Gospel and establishing churches, monasteries and schools which produced many illustrious scholars who enlightened the world with their religious and scientific achievements.

  The church played a significant role in the early history of Christianity. It played a prominent role in the first three synods held at Nicea 325 A.D. shaping the formulation and early interpretation of Christian doctrines.

The History of the Syriac church is characterized by adversity. Persecutions and hardships took a great big toll on her since the sixth century by the Byzantinian oppression until the twentieth century by the Ottoman Sultanate. The church lost about 250,000 during the horrible genocide in South East Turkey 1914-1918, which it is called Safar Barleck. The Syriac Orthodox Church is known all over the world by her members who migrated from the Middle East to different parts of the world, Europe, North and South America, Australia, India and the Far East. There are three Archdioceses in North America today: 1. Canada whose primate is Mor Timothaos  Aphrem Aboodi. 2. Eastern U.S.A. whose primate is Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim, and 3. Western U.S.A. whose primate is Mor Clemis Eugine Kaplan.

  Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Southfield, Michigan are one of thirty-two parishes in North America.

  To learn more about the Syriac Orthodox Church contact Father Edward Hanna (248) 355-1656 or visit us at http://sor.cua.edu/history/index.html.