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Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East

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This article is about the office. For a list of holders, see List of Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs of Antioch.
Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East
Holy See of Antioch
Location
CountrySyria
HeadquartersDamascus, Syria
Information
First holderSt. Peter the Apostle
DenominationSyriac Orthodox Church
RiteWest Syriac Rite
EstablishedAD 32 at Antioch
CathedralPatriarchal Cathedral of Saint George
LanguageSyriac
PatriarchIgnatius Aphrem II (since 2014)

The Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch ܦܛܪܝܪܟܐ ܕܐܢܛܝܘܟܝܐ is the head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch (Syriac: ܥܺܕܬܳܐ ܣܽܘ̣ܪܝܳܝܬܳܐ ܬܪܺܝܨܰܬ ܫܽܘ̣ܒ̣ܚܳܐ). He is the Head of the Holy Synod of the Syriac Orthodox Church, the highest authority of Syriac Orthodox Church.

The position of the Patriarch of Antioch was established and first held by St. Peter the Apostle(Syriac: ܫܸܡܥܘܿܢ ܟܹ݁ܐܦ݂ܵܐ Šemʿōn Kēp̄ā).[1][2] The Patriarch sits on the Holy Apostolic See at Antioch. The Patriarchate of Antioch is part of the Pentarchy of the Christian Church. He is the Bishop of Antioch, and considered as Primus Inter Pares or First Among the Equals/Bishops.

History of the Patriarchate

The Church of Antioch was established by St. Peter in AD 32.[3]

When St. Peter left Antioch, to go to Rome (where he would establish the Church of Rome and later die), he appointed St. Evodius as the Patriarch. St. Evodius was succeeded by St. Ignatius, who was the first to describe the church as "Catholic" meaning "Universal".

During the Synod of Nicaea, the Bishop of Antioch became one of the Patriarchs of the Pentarchy(along with fellow Patriarchate of Alexandria). After the Council at Chalcedon, Christianity split into the Catholics and the Oriental Orthodox, thus splitting the Church of Antioch. The Patriarch of Antioch and Pope of Alexandria were leading the Oriental Orthodox, and the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Pope of Rome were leading the Catholic Church.

St. Severus, the Patriarch of Antioch, was exiled to Egypt by the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire for following the Oriental Orthodox Church. The Catholic group of the Church of Antioch(later Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch), accepted the new Patriarch, appointed by the Pope of Rome, as their new Patriarch, after the exile of St. Severus. The Syriac Orthodox Church, or the Oriental Orthodox group of the Church of Antioch, continued to accept St. Severus as the Patriarch until his death in AD 538.[4][5] In AD 518 the Patriarchate was forced to flee from Antioch and it continues move from place to place until it moved to Dayro d-Mor Hanayo(Kurkmo Dayro, or Deir az-Za'faran), in Mardin, Turkey[6] in 1106.

By AD 544, the Syriac Orthodox Church had only three bishops remaining. During this time, Fr. Jacob a priest, traveled to Constantinople, to ask Empress Theodora's(who was a Miaphisite herself), the Daughter of a Syriac Orthodox priest, consent to be ordained as a bishop. He was ordained as Mor Jacob Baradeus (Mor Ya'qub Burdono ܝܥܩܘܒ ܒܘܪܕܥܝܐ), by Pope Theodosius I, Pope of Alexandria and he traveled to many places to revive the Syriac Orthodox Church. He managed to consecrate 27 bishops, and hundreds of priests and deacons for the church.[5] He led the consecration of Mor Segius of Tella as the Patriarch of Antioch(first Patriarch of the independent Syriac Orthodox Church) in 544. It is after this saint that the Syriac Orthodox Church in India gets the name "Jacobite"(Jacobite Syrian Christian Church)[5] He revived the Miaphisite belief in the Church of Antioch throughout persecution.

The Syriac Orthodox Church continued to be persecuted under the Arabs, Mongols, Crusaders, Mamluks, and Ottomans.

During 1915 (known as the Sayfo/ܣܝܦ or "the year of the sword" in Syriac), more than 250,000 Syriac Orthodox Christians in the Middle East were wiped out by the Ottoman Empire. Many Syriac Orthodox Villages were emptied, and historical monasteries and churches were destroyed.

During World War I, the Patriarchate was again forced to flee by the Ottoman Empire and the patriarchate was forced to flee to Homs, Syria in 1953, and later, Damascus, in 1957.

The Syriac Orthodox Church continues to grow to this day under the Patriarchate. The Syriac Orthodox Church, along with the other Oriental Orthodox Churches, is now in communion with the Catholic Church, and is working on a communion with the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Authority of the Patriarch

Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II, 123rd and Current Patriarch of Antioch and All the East

The Patriarch is consider the legitimate successor of St. Peter the Apostle, on the Holy Throne of Antioch.[7]

The Patriarch, as first among the Bishops, convenes the Holy Synod of the Syriac Orthodox Church and presides over the meeting.

The Patriarch, has the authority to consecrate the Maphrian(aka the Catholicos of India) and bishops who are elected by the Holy Synod, but he has to be assisted by two other bishops(by his invitation). He is the only one authorized to conduct the consecration of Bishop. The Maphrian and other bishops can do it with the consent of the Patriarch. He is also the only one that can consecrate the Holy Chrism(Mooron).

The Patriarch signs all documents with other denominations and he alone is in charge of external relations with other churches. The Patriarch dispatches clergy on ecclesiastical and cultural works.

When the Patriarch visits a diocese, he sits on the Cathedral seat of the church. The bishops are not allowed to carry their pastoral staff and wear their red vestment in front of the Patriarch(Bishops usually wear a red vestment while travelling in their diocese) in respect to the Apostolic See.

The Patriarch has the right to change, introduce, or abolish church rites. All Syriac Orthodox monasteries are in the hands of the Patriarch and he alone has the authority to appoint its care takers.

Requirements and Restrictions for the Patriarch

Requirements:

  • The Patriarch must be a member of the Syriac Orthodox Church.
  • The Patriarch must be over 40 years old.
  • The Patriarch can't be married.
  • Previously, the Patriarch was chosen from among the monks, and was then consecrated as a Bishop, and then elevated to the Holy See of Antioch. In recent years, the Patriarch was chosen from the Bishops and is elevated to the Holy See.
  • The Patriarch must be elected by the Holy Synod, led by the Maphrian and the Patriarchal Locum Tenens, by all the Bishops who are able to vote. If a bishop is not able to be present, he can send a vote through a letter. If he does not do this, his vote is cancelled.
  • The Bishop chosen to become the Patriarch, must except the vote.
  • The Patriarch, as the Bishop of Antioch, has to be and someone the government of the region(Currently Syria), and the people of the Diocese of Antioch approve. Therefore, most preferably is a Middle-Easterner, or someone with Middle-East origin.
  • The Patriarch must keep the Syriac Orthodox faith strong and work to preserve it.
  • The Patriarch must be elevated by the Holy Synod, led by Maphrian(Catholicos of India), or if not present, the Patriarchal Locum Tenens, along with all the bishops of the Syriac Orthodox Church that are able to be present.

Restrictions:

  • The Patriarch must give all his assets to the Syriac Orthodox Church.
  • The Holy See must not be vacant for more than 30 days unless an emergency.
  • During a Holy Synod meeting, the Patriarch must inform the Holy Synod about everything he has accomplished since their last meeting.

Titles of the Patriarch

The following are a list of titles of the Patriarch of Antioch

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The official title of the Patriarch of Antioch is:

His Holiness/Thrice Blessed Moran Mor Ignatius (Monastic Name)(Roman Numeral to distinguish from other Patriarchs of the same name) Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church.

ܩܕܝܫܘܬܗ/ ܬܠܝܬܝ̈ ܛܘܒܐ̈ ܕܡܪܢ ܡܪܝ ܐܝܓܢܛܝܘܣ ... ܦܛܪܝܪܟܐ ܕܐܢܛܝܘܟܝܐ ܘܕܟܠܗ̇ ܡܕܢܚܐ ܘܪܝܫܐ ܓܘܢܝܐ ܕܥܕܬܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܬܐ ܬܪܝܨܬ ܫܘܒܚܐ ܒܟܠܗ̇ ܬܐܒܠ

Qaddišuṯeh/Tlithoy Tube ḏ-Moran Mor Iḡnaṭius ... Paṭriarḵo ḏ-Anṭiuḵia waḏ-Kuloh Maḏĕnḥo w-Rišo Gawonoyo ḏ-ʿItto Suryoyto Triṣaṯ Šuḇḥo ḇ-Kuloh Tiḇel

Other titles for the Patriarch include:

References

  1. ^ Gregorios, Paulos (1999). Introducing the Orthodox Churches. ISPCK. ISBN 978-81-7214-487-6.
  2. ^ "Benton, William, (1 April 1900–17 March 1973), Chairman and Publisher, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., since 1943", Who Was Who, Oxford University Press, 2007-12-01, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u152251
  3. ^ Paulos Gregorios, 1922-1998. (1999). Introducing the Orthodox Churches. I.S.P.C.K. (Organization), Orthodox Theological Seminary. Mar Gregorios Foundation. Delhi: Jointly published for Mar Gregorios Foundation of Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam and Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. ISBN 81-7214-487-3. OCLC 42764031.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Patriarch, Patriarchate" (Document). doi:10.1163/2211-2685_eco_p.46. {{cite document}}: Cite document requires |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ a b c Hilliard, Alison. (1999). Living stones pilgrimage : with the Christians of the Holy Land : [a guide]. Bailey, Betty Jane. London: Cassell. ISBN 978-0-8264-2249-1. OCLC 317999284.
  6. ^ Markessini, Joan (June 2012). Around the World of Orthodox Christianity - Five Hundred Million Strong: The Unifying Aesthetic Beauty. Dorrance Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4349-1486-6.
  7. ^ "Benton, William, (1 April 1900–17 March 1973), Chairman and Publisher, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., since 1943", Who Was Who, Oxford University Press, 2007-12-01, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u152251
  8. ^ a b c suscopts.org https://suscopts.org/press/2014/mar/25/the-departure-of-the-his-holiness-mor-ignatius-zak/. Retrieved 2020-02-23. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ^ a b "Patriarch Zakka I: The SOC At a Glance". sor.cua.edu. Retrieved 2020-02-23.
  10. ^ Sebastian P. Brock (2006). An Introduction to Syriac Studies. Gorgias Press. ISBN 978-1-59333-349-2.
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