Difference between revisions of "Church of Antioch"

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Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East
Founder(s)	Apostles Peter and Paul
Autocephaly/Autonomy declared	Traditional
Autocephaly/Autonomy recognized	Traditional
Current primate	John X (Yazigi)
Headquarters	Damascus, Syria
Primary territory	Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, parts of Turkey
Possessions abroad	United States, Canada, Central America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, Great Britain, Western Europe
Liturgical language(s)	Arabic, Greek, English
Musical tradition	Byzantine Chant
Calendar	Revised Julian
Population estimate	2 million
Official website	Church of Antioch

The Church of Antioch is one of the five patriarchates (i.e., the Pentarchy) that constituted the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church before the schism between Rome and Antioch in 1098 and between Rome and the other patriarchates at around the same general period. Today it is one of the autocephalous Orthodox churches. In English translations of official documents, the Church of Antioch refers to itself as the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East. The literal translation into English of the Arabic name is "Roman" (in Arabic, Rüm) Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East." However, the literal name "Rüm" does not actually mean Roman but Greek. The Arabs and the Turks refer to the Christians who belong to the Greek Orthodox Church (both Arabs and Greeks) as Rüm because the Byzantine Greek-speaking Orthodox have historically referred to themselves as Romioi.The Arabic word "Rum" derives from the Greek word "Romioi". This is one of the reasons why the Church of Antioch refers to itself as Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East. The other reason is because it belongs to the family of the Greek Orthodox Churches which are: the Church of Constantinople (patriarchate), the Church of Antioch (patriarchate), the Church of Jerusalem (patriarchate), the Church of Alexandria (patriarchate), the Church of Cyprus, the Church of Sinai, the Church of Greece, and the Church of Albania.

Our Lady of Balamand Monastery

The Church of Antioch is the continuation of the Christian community founded in Antioch by the Apostles Peter (who served as its first bishop) and Paul, who are its patron saints. In terms of hierarchical order of precedence, it currently ranks third among the world's Orthodox churches, behind Constantinople and Alexandria.

The seat of the patriarchate was formerly Antioch (Antakya), in what is now Turkey. Now it is in Damascus, Syria, located on the "street called Straight." The current Patriarch of Antioch is His Beatitude, [John X (Yazigi), who was elected on December 17, 2012.

History

Early years

The early history of the Church of Antioch is detailed in the Acts of the Apostles, where in Acts 11:26 the Apostle Luke records that it was in that city that the disciples of Christ were first called Christians. Due to the importance of Antioch as a major center in the ancient Roman Empire, many of the missionary efforts of the apostles were launched from that city. In the early centuries of the Church's history, it was natural that the Church sojourning in Antioch would come to be traditionally regarded as one of the centers of world Christianity. The territory that came to be associated with the bishop of Antioch was that of the Roman Diocese of the East (a diocese was originally an imperial governmental division before it became an ecclesiastical one).

The Antiochian school

During the pre-Nicene period and that of the Ecumenical Councils, Christian theology centered in Antioch tended to emphasize the literal, historical facts of the life of Jesus Christ over philosophical or allegorical interpretations of Holy Scripture, contrasted with the more mystical and figurative theology coming from Alexandria. Antiochian theology, though stressing the "earthier" side of interpretation, nevertheless did not neglect the importance of insight into the deeper, spiritual meaning of the Scriptures. These two viewpoints came to be known respectively as the Antiochian school and the Alexandrian school, represented by major catechetical institutions at both places.

Major figures associated with the origin of the Antiochian school include Lucian of Antioch and Paul of Samosata, but its real formation was found with writers such as Diodore of Tarsus, John Chrysostom, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Nestorius, and Theodoret of Cyrrhus. At times, this difference in emphasis caused conflicts within the Church as the tension between the two approaches came to a head, especially regarding the doctrinal disputes over Arianism and Nestorianism. Saints such as John Chrysostom are somewhat regarded as synthesizers of the Antiochian and Alexandrian approaches to theology, and the Antiochian school of theology, whose more deviant proponents produced Arianism and Nestorianism, also enabled the Orthodox fight against the Alexandrian school's deviances, namely Apollinarianism and Eutychianism.

Schism over Chalcedon

The Church of the Entrance of the Theotokos in Hama, Syria

Disputes over the Christology of the Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon—the Monophysite controversy— in 451 led to a schism within the Church of Antioch, which at that same council was elevated to the status of a patriarchate. The larger group at the time repudiated the council and became the Syriac Orthodox Church (also called the "Jacobites" for Jacob Baradeus, an early bishop of theirs who did extensive missionary work in the region). They currently constitute part of the Oriental Orthodox communion and maintain a Christology somewhat different in language from that of Chalcedon.

The remainder of the Church of Antioch, primarily local Greeks or Hellenized sections of the indigenous population, remained in communion with Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, and Jerusalem. This is the current Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East which is considered by the other bishops of the Orthodox Church to be the sole legitimate heir to the see of Antioch.

The schism greatly weakened the Antiochian church, and in 637 when Antioch fell to the Muslim Arabs, the "Greek" church was perceived by the invaders as allied to the Romano-Byzantine enemies of the Arabs. During the subsequent period, Antiochian Orthodox Christians underwent a lengthy period of persecution, and there were multiple periods of either vacancy or non-residence on the Antiochian patriarchal throne during the 7th and 8th centuries. In 969, the Roman Empire regained control of Antioch, and the church there prospered again until 1085, when the Seljuk Turks took the city. During this period of more than a hundred years, the traditional West Syrian liturgy of the church was gradually replaced by that of the tradition of the Great Church, Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. This process was completed sometime in the 12th century.

Crusader and Muslim conquests

In 1098, Crusaders took the city and set up a Latin Patriarchate of Antioch to adorn its Latin Kingdom of Syria, while a Greek patriarchate continued in exile in Constantinople. After nearly two centuries of Crusader rule, the Egyptian Mamelukes seized Antioch in 1268, and the Orthodox patriarch, Theodosius IV, was able to return to the region. By this point, Antioch itself had been reduced to a smaller town, and so in the 14th century Ignatius II transferred the seat of the patriarchate to Damascus, where it remains to this day, though the patriarch retains the Antiochian title.

The Ottoman Turks conquered the city in 1517, under whose control it remained until the breakup of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I. During this period, in 1724, the Church of Antioch was again weakened by schism, as a major portion of its faithful came into submission to the Roman Catholic Church. The resultant Uniate body is known as the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, which in the current day maintains close ties with the Orthodox and is currently holding ongoing talks about healing the schism and returning the Melkites to Orthodoxy.

Fearing for the preservation of the Orthodoxy of the Antiochian see, parishioners and bishops requested the ecumenical Patriarchate to send them a Greek patriarch. The Greek presence on the Antiochian see lasted from 1724 to 1898 until Malathius I (Doumani) the Damascene, an Arab patriarch, was appointed. A renewal movement, involving Orthodox youth in particular, has been under way since the 1940s.

The Antiochian church today

Patriarch John X (Yazigi) of Antioch

The St. John of Damascus Patriarchal Institute of Theology (Tripoli, Lebanon) was established by the patriarchate in 1970, and in 1988 it was fully incorporated into the University of Balamand. The Institute functions as the primary seminary for theological schooling for the patriarchate's clergy and lay leaders.

The Holy Synod of Antioch includes the patriarch and all the ruling bishops. Meetings are held each year in Spring and Autumn at the patriarchate to consider church-wide issues, and to elect the patriarch and other bishops as needed. The patriarch and holy synod govern the Church of Antioch to preserve the true faith, to maintain ecclesiastical order, and to carry out the commandments of Christ. In addition to the synod itself, a general conciliar body meets twice a year to see to the financial, educational, judicial, and administrative matters of the patriarchate. It is composed of members of the synod and of lay representatives. When a new patriarch is to be elected, this body selects three candidates from whom the holy synod chooses the new patriarch.

The most recent patriarch was His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatius IV (Hazim) of Antioch and all the East, elected in 1979. Patriarch Ignatius was particularly active in strengthening ties with other Christian communions, but particularly with those whose roots are in Antioch. His Beatitude and the holy synod of Antioch were enthusiastic for the Church of Antioch to participate in general talks between representatives of all the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches.

At Anba Bishoy in Egypt and at Chambesy in Switzerland, plenary talks were held resulting in agreements in 1989, 1990 and 1993. All official representatives of the Eastern Orthodox and the Oriental Orthodox there present reached agreement in these dialogues that the Christological differences between the two communions are more a matter of emphasis than of substance. Although elements in a number of the Eastern Orthodox Churches have criticized the apparent consensus reached by the representatives at Anba Bishoy and Chambesy, the patriarch and holy synod of the Antiochian Orthodox Church welcomed the agreements as positive moves towards a sharing in the Love of God, and a rejection of the hatred of insubstantial division.

As recommended in the Agreement of 1990, the Antiochian (Eastern) Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius IV formally met with the Syriac (Oriental) Orthodox Patriarch, Ignatius Zakka I, on July 22, 1991. At that formal meeting, the two patriarchs signed a pastoral agreement which called for "complete and mutual respect between the two churches." It also prohibited the passing of faithful from one church to the other, envisaged joint meetings of the two holy synods when appropriate, and provided for future guidelines for intercommunion of the faithful and Eucharistic concelebration by the clergy of the two churches. The Church of Antioch expects these guidelines to be issued when the faithful of both churches are ready, but not before.

Patriarch Ignatius also oversaw participation in a bilateral commission with the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, which is exploring ways of healing the 18th century schism between the Melkite Catholics and the Antiochian Orthodox. In an unprecedented event, Melkite Patriarch Maximos V addressed a meeting of the Orthodox holy synod in October 1996.

The members of the holy synod of Antioch continue to explore greater communication and more friendly meetings with their Syriac, Melkite, and Maronite brothers and sisters, who all share a common heritage.

With the onset of the civil war in Syria in 2010, the situation of Christians in Syria has worsened. Several churches have attacked and destroyed, and many Christians have been expelled by rebels and become refugees.

Patriarch Ignatius remained on the Patriarchal throne until his death in 2012. The Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch then elected the former Antiochian Metropolitan for Europe, John Yazigi to the patriarchal throne of Antioch on December 17, 2012, with the title of His Beatitude John X of Antioch and all the East.

Expansion abroad

New Antiochian bishops with the patriarch
Left to Right: Bp. Mark (Maymon) of Toledo, Patr. Ignatius IV (Hazim) of Antioch, Bp. Thomas (Joseph) of Oakland, Bp. Alexander (Mufarrij) of Ottawa

Extensive 20th and 21st century Arab immigration to the New World has further increased the size, vigor and influence of the Church of Antioch, and the majority of Antiochian faithful now reside outside the Middle East and include numerous non-Arabic converts to the Orthodox Christian faith. As a result, besides its Middle Eastern territories in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, the Arabian Peninsular, and parts of Turkey, the Church of Antioch also includes missionary dioceses in Central, North, and South America, in Europe, and in Australia and the Pacific. The archdiocese with the largest population is North America. It is also the only one with internal dioceses. The archdiocese with the largest area is Australia and New Zealand. Estimates of the membership of the patriarchate range from 750,000 to over 1,000,000 in Syria alone.

Notable Antiochian saints

Over the centuries, the Church of Antioch has been associated with many saints on the Church's calendar. These include the following:

Synaxis of the Great Saints of the Holy Church of Antioch

Column of St. Symeon the Stylite, Syria

The Episcopacy

The Holy Synod

His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of the Great City of God of Antioch, Syria, Arabia, Cilicia, Iberia, Mesopotamia and All the East
His Eminence Elias, Metropolitan of Beirut and Coastal Phoenicia
His Eminence Elias, Metropolitan of Tyre-Sydon and Coastal Phoenicia
His Eminence George, Metropolitan of Emesa and Lebanese Phoenicia
His Eminence Sergios, Metropolitan of Santiago and Chile
His Eminence Damaskinos, Metropolitan of São Paulo and All Brazil
His Eminence Basilios, Metropolitan of Arcadia and Mount Lebanon
His Eminence Savvas, Metropolitan of Bostra and All Arabia Petrea
His Eminence Ghattas, Metropolitan of Baghdad-Kuwait and All Mesopotamia
His Eminence Paul, Metropolitan of Amida and All Mesopotamia and Armenia Quarta
His Eminence Silouan, Metropolitan of Byblos-Botrys and Mount Lebanon
His Eminence Ephraim, Metropolitan of Tripolis-Koura and Coastal Phoenicia
His Eminence Isaac, Metropolitan of Germany and Central Europe
His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Epiphania and Syria Secunda
His Eminence Ignatios, Metropolitan of Mexico and All Central America
His Eminence Athanasios, Metropolitan of Laodicea and All Theodorias
His Eminence Ignatios, Metropolitan of France and Western and Southern Europe
His Eminence Ephraim, Metropolitan of Beroea-Alexandretta and Syria Prima
His Eminence Silouan, Metropolitan of Britain-Ireland
His Eminence Anthony, Metropolitan of Heliopolis-Seleucia and Syria Secunda
His Eminence Basilios, Metropolitan of Australia-New Zealand and All Oceania
His Eminence James, Metropolitan of Buenos Aires and All Argentina

Auxiliary Metropolitans

His Eminence Niphon, Metropolitan of Philippopolis

Titular Bishops

His Grace Moses, Bishop of Darayya
His Grace Dimitrios, Bishop of Paneas
His Grace Elias, Bishop of Arethusa
His Grace Constantine, Bishop of Chrysopolis
His Grace John, Bishop of Palmyra
His Grace Gregory, Bishop of the Emirates
His Grace Qais, Bishop of Theodosiopolis
His Grace John, Bishop of Sergiopolis
His Grace Theodore, Bishop of Apamea
His Grace Arsenios, Bishop of Hierapolis
His Grace Moses, Bishop of Larissa

Autonomous Archdiocese of North America

His Eminence Joseph, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of North America
His Grace Basil, Bishop of Wichita and Middle America
His Grace Thomas, Bishop of Charleston-Oakland and Middle Atlantic
His Grace Alexander, Bishop of Ottawa and Eastern Canada and Upstate New York
His Grace John, Bishop of Worcester and New England
His Grace Anthony, Bishop of Toledo and Midwestern America
His Grace Nicholas, Bishop of Miami and Southeast America

Retired Bishops

His Eminence George, Metropolitan of Byblos-Botrys and Mount Lebanon
His Grace Dimitrios, Bishop of Gabala

Structure

The Antiochian Patriarchate consists of nineteen archdioceses, each ruled by a Metropolitan Archbishop. Of these, only the Archdiocese of North America has constituent dioceses.

Only those dioceses with OrthodoxWiki articles are listed.

Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Santiago and All Chile
Archdiocese of Europe
Metropolis of Damascus: Patriarchal diocese
Metropolis of Beroea (Aleppo) and Alexandretta: Paul Yazigi (2000–present)
Metropolis of Beirut and Exarchate of Phoenicia: Elias Audi (1980–present)
Metropolis of Bosra, Hauran and Jabal al-Druze: Sawa Esber (1999–present)
Metropolis of Emesa (Homs): George Abu Zaham (1999–present)
Metropolis of Epiphania (Hama) and Exarchate of North Syria: Elias Saliba (1984–present)
Metropolis of Latakia and Exarchate of Theodorias: John Mansur (1979–present)
Metropolis of Baghdad, Kuwait and All Mesopotamia: Constantinos Papastefanou (1969–present)
Metropolis of Akkar: Basilios Nassur (2008–present)
Metropolis of Mount Lebanon, Byblos and Botrys: George Khodr (1970–present)
Metropolis of Seleucia (Zahle) and Heliopolis (Baalbek): Spyridon Khoury (1966–2019)
Metropolis of Tripoli and Al-Koura: Ephraim Kyriakos (2009–present)
Metropolis of Tyre and Sidon: Elias Kfoury (1995–present)
Metropolis of Tarsos and Adana: vacant
Metropolis of Amida:(Diyarbakır) vacant
Metropolis of Theodosioupolis(Erzurum): vacant

Autocephalous and Autonomous Churches of Orthodoxy

Autocephalous Churches

Four Ancient Patriarchates: Constantinople · Alexandria · Antioch · Jerusalem
Russia · Serbia · Romania · Bulgaria · Georgia · Cyprus · Greece · Poland · Albania · Czech Lands and Slovakia · OCA* · Ukraine*

Autonomous Churches

Sinai · Finland · Estonia* · Japan* · China* · Ukraine*

The * designates a church whose autocephaly or autonomy is not universally recognized.

External links

Patriarchate of Antioch (Official Website)(Arabic and English)
Eastern Christian Churches: The Patriarchate of Antioch, a scholarly text by Ronald Roberson, CSP, a Roman Catholic priest and Eastern Christianity scholar
The Spiritual Tradition of the Antioch Patriarchate, by Prof. Constantine Scouteris
'Antioch': A Centre for Antiochian Orthodox Christian Studies and Research (Oxford, UK)
Photos of patriarchal sites

Archdioceses and dioceses

Monasteries

Hymn Book

The Syriac Hymnal, Syriac Music Institute, 2019. The “first official and complete hymnal” according to the rite of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch. An Audio CD of 384 hymns from the book is also available.

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 independence=Traditional|
 recognition= Traditional |
-primate=[[Ignatius IV (Hazim) of Antioch|Patriarch Ignatius IV]]|
+primate=[[John X (Yazigi) of Antioch|John X (Yazigi)]]|
 hq=Damascus, Syria|
 territory=Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, parts of Turkey|
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 website=[http://www.antiochpat.org Church of Antioch]
 }}
-The '''Church of Antioch''' is one of the five [[patriarchate]]s (i.e., the [[Pentarchy]]) that constituted the [[One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church|one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church]] before the [[Great Schism|schism]] between Rome and Antioch in 1098 and between Rome and the other patriarchates at around the same general period. Today it is one of the [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] Orthodox churches. In English translations of official documents, the Church of Antioch refers to itself as the '''Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East'''. The literal translation into English of the Arabic name is "Roman" (in Arabic, ''Rum'') Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East." However, the literal name "Rum" does not actually mean Roman but Greek. The Arabs and the Turks refer to the Christians who belong to the Greek Orthodox Church (both Arabs and Greeks) as Rüm because the Byzantine Greek-speaking Orthodox have historically referred to themselves as Romioi.The Arabic word "Rum" derives from the Greek word "Romioi". This is one of the reasons why the Church of Antioch refers to itself as '''Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East'''. The other reason is because it belongs to the family of the Greek Orthodox Churches which are: the [[Church of Constantinople]] (patriarchate), the '''Church of Antioch''' (patriarchate), the [[Church of Jerusalem]] (patriarchate), the [[Church of Alexandria]] (patriarchate), the [[Church of Cyprus]], the [[Church of Sinai]], the [[Church of Greece]], and the [[Church of Albania]].
+The '''Church of Antioch''' is one of the five [[patriarchate]]s (i.e., the [[Pentarchy]]) that constituted the [[One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church|one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church]] before the [[Great Schism|schism]] between Rome and Antioch in 1098 and between Rome and the other patriarchates at around the same general period. Today it is one of the [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] Orthodox churches. In English translations of official documents, the Church of Antioch refers to itself as the '''Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East'''. The literal translation into English of the Arabic name is "Roman" (in Arabic, ''[[Rüm]]'') Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East." However, the literal name "Rüm" does not actually mean Roman but Greek. The Arabs and the Turks refer to the Christians who belong to the Greek Orthodox Church (both Arabs and Greeks) as Rüm because the Byzantine Greek-speaking Orthodox have historically referred to themselves as Romioi.The Arabic word "Rum" derives from the Greek word "Romioi". This is one of the reasons why the Church of Antioch refers to itself as '''Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East'''. The other reason is because it belongs to the family of the Greek Orthodox Churches which are: the [[Church of Constantinople]] (patriarchate), the '''Church of Antioch''' (patriarchate), the [[Church of Jerusalem]] (patriarchate), the [[Church of Alexandria]] (patriarchate), the [[Church of Cyprus]], the [[Church of Sinai]], the [[Church of Greece]], and the [[Church of Albania]].
 [[Image:Balamand.jpg|left|thumb|250px|[[Our Lady of Balamand Monastery (Tripoli, Lebanon)|Our Lady of Balamand Monastery]]]]
 The Church of Antioch is the continuation of the Christian community founded in Antioch by the [[Apostles]] [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] (who served as its first bishop) and [[Apostle Paul|Paul]], who are its [[patron saint]]s. In terms of hierarchical order of precedence, it currently ranks third among the world's Orthodox churches, behind [[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]] and [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria]].
-The seat of the patriarchate was formerly Antioch (Antakya), in what is now Turkey. Now it is in Damascus, Syria, located on the "street called Straight." The current patriarch is His Beatitude Patriarch [[Ignatius IV (Hazim) of Antioch]] and all the East.
+The seat of the patriarchate was formerly Antioch (Antakya), in what is now Turkey. Now it is in Damascus, Syria, located on the "street called Straight." The current Patriarch of Antioch is His Beatitude, [[John X (Yazigi) of Antioch|[John X (Yazigi)]], who was elected on December 17, 2012.
 <!-- [[Image:St George Beirut.jpg|right|thumb|450px|The Church of St. George in Beirut]] -->
@@ Line 26: / Line 27: @@
 ===The Antiochian school===
-During the pre-Nicene period and that of the [[Ecumenical Councils]], Christian theology centered in Antioch tended to emphasize the literal, historical facts of the life of [[Jesus Christ]] over philosophical or allegorical [[hermeneutics|interpretations]] of [[Holy Scripture]], contrasted with the more mystical and figurative theology coming from [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria]]. Antiochian theology, though stressing the "earthier" side of interpretation, nevertheless did not neglect the importance of insight into the deeper, spiritual meaning of the Scriptures. These two viewpoints came to be known respectively as the [[Antiochian school]] and the [[Alexandrian school]], represented by major catechetical institutions at both places.
+During the pre-Nicene period and that of the [[Ecumenical Councils]], Christian theology centered in Antioch tended to emphasize the literal, historical facts of the life of [[Jesus Christ]] over philosophical or allegorical [[hermeneutics|interpretations]] of [[Holy Scripture]], contrasted with the more mystical and figurative theology coming from [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria]]. Antiochian theology, though stressing the "earthier" side of interpretation, nevertheless did not neglect the importance of insight into the deeper, spiritual meaning of the Scriptures. These two viewpoints came to be known respectively as the [[Antiochian school]] and the [[Catechetical School of Alexandria|Alexandrian school]], represented by major catechetical institutions at both places.
 Major figures associated with the origin of the Antiochian school include [[Lucian of Antioch]] and [[Paul of Samosata]], but its real formation was found with writers such as [[Diodore of Tarsus]], [[John Chrysostom]], [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Nestorius]], and [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]]. At times, this difference in emphasis caused conflicts within the Church as the tension between the two approaches came to a head, especially regarding the doctrinal disputes over [[Arianism]] and [[Nestorianism]]. Saints such as [[John Chrysostom]] are somewhat regarded as synthesizers of the Antiochian and Alexandrian approaches to theology, and the Antiochian school of theology, whose more deviant proponents produced [[Arianism]] and [[Nestorianism]], also enabled the Orthodox fight against the Alexandrian school's deviances, namely [[Apollinarianism]] and [[Eutychianism]].
@@ Line 32: / Line 33: @@
 ===Schism over Chalcedon===
 [[Image:Hama church.jpg|left|thumb|200px|The Church of the Entrance of the Theotokos in Hama, Syria]]
-Disputes over the [[Christology]] of the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] at Chalcedon&mdash;the [[Monophysitism|Monophysite]] controversy&mdash; in 451 led to a [[schism]] within the Church of Antioch, which at that same council was elevated to the status of a [[patriarchate]]. The larger group at the time repudiated the council and became the [[Church of Antioch (Jacobite)|Syriac Orthodox Church]] (also called the "Jacobites" for [[Jacob Baradeus]], an early bishop of theirs who did extensive missionary work in the region). They currently constitute part of the [[Oriental Orthodox]] communion and maintain a Christology somewhat different in language from that of [[Chalcedon]].
+Disputes over the [[Christology]] of the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] at Chalcedon&mdash;the [[Monophysitism|Monophysite]] controversy&mdash; in 451 led to a [[schism]] within the Church of Antioch, which at that same council was elevated to the status of a [[patriarchate]]. The larger group at the time repudiated the council and became the [[Church of Antioch (Jacobite)|Syriac Orthodox Church]] (also called the "Jacobites" for [[Jacob Baradeus]], an early bishop of theirs who did extensive missionary work in the region). They currently constitute part of the [[Oriental Orthodox]] communion and maintain a [[Christology]] somewhat different in language from that of [[Chalcedon]].
 The remainder of the Church of Antioch, primarily local Greeks or Hellenized sections of the indigenous population, remained in communion with Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, and Jerusalem. This is the current ''Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East'' which is considered by the other bishops of the Orthodox Church to be the sole legitimate heir to the [[see]] of Antioch.
@@ Line 46: / Line 47: @@
 ===The Antiochian church today===
-[[Image:Ignatius Hazim.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Ignatius IV (Hazim) of Antioch|Patriarch Ignatius IV of Antioch]]]]
+[[Image:John Yazigi.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[John X (Yazigi) of Antioch|Patriarch John X (Yazigi) of Antioch]]]]
 The [[St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology (Tripoli, Lebanon)|St. John of Damascus Patriarchal Institute of Theology (Tripoli, Lebanon)]] was established by the patriarchate in 1970, and in 1988 it was fully incorporated into the University of Balamand. The Institute functions as the primary [[seminary]] for theological schooling for the patriarchate's [[clergy]] and [[laity|lay]] leaders.
 The [[Holy Synod]] of Antioch includes the [[patriarch]] and all the ruling [[bishop]]s. Meetings are held each year in Spring and Autumn at the patriarchate to consider church-wide issues, and to elect the patriarch and other bishops as needed. The patriarch and holy synod govern the Church of Antioch to preserve the true faith, to maintain ecclesiastical order, and to carry out the commandments of Christ. In addition to the synod itself, a general conciliar body meets twice a year to see to the financial, educational, judicial, and administrative matters of the patriarchate. It is composed of members of the synod and of lay representatives. When a new patriarch is to be elected, this body selects three candidates from whom the holy synod chooses the new patriarch.
-The current [[patriarch]] is His Beatitude Patriarch [[Ignatius IV (Hazim) of Antioch]] and all the East, elected in 1979. Patriarch Ignatius has been particularly active in strengthening ties with other Christian communions, but particularly with those whose roots are in Antioch. His Beatitude and the [[holy synod]] of Antioch were enthusiastic for the Church of Antioch to participate in general talks between representatives of all the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches.
+The most recent [[patriarch]] was His Beatitude Patriarch [[Ignatius IV (Hazim) of Antioch]] and all the East, elected in 1979. Patriarch Ignatius was particularly active in strengthening ties with other Christian communions, but particularly with those whose roots are in Antioch. His Beatitude and the [[holy synod]] of Antioch were enthusiastic for the Church of Antioch to participate in general talks between representatives of all the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches.
 At Anba Bishoy in Egypt and at Chambesy in Switzerland, plenary talks were held resulting in [http://www.antiochian.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&id=106&sectionid=24&Itemid=63 agreements] in 1989, 1990 and 1993. All official representatives of the Eastern Orthodox and the Oriental Orthodox there present reached agreement in these dialogues that the Christological differences between the two communions are more a matter of emphasis than of substance. Although elements in a number of the Eastern Orthodox Churches have criticized the apparent consensus reached by the representatives at Anba Bishoy and Chambesy, the patriarch and holy synod of the Antiochian Orthodox Church welcomed the agreements as positive moves towards a sharing in the Love of God, and a rejection of the hatred of insubstantial division.
@@ Line 57: / Line 58: @@
 As recommended in the Agreement of 1990, the Antiochian (Eastern) Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius IV formally met with the Syriac (Oriental) Orthodox Patriarch, Ignatius Zakka I, on [[July 22]], 1991. At that formal meeting, the two patriarchs signed a [http://www.antiochian.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&id=106&sectionid=24&Itemid=63 pastoral agreement] which called for "complete and mutual respect between the two churches." It also prohibited the passing of faithful from one church to the other, envisaged joint meetings of the two holy synods when appropriate, and provided for future guidelines for intercommunion of the faithful and [[Eucharist]]ic [[concelebration]] by the [[clergy]] of the two churches. The Church of Antioch expects these guidelines to be issued when the faithful of both churches are ready, but not before.
-Patriarch Ignatius has also overseen participation in a bilateral commission with the [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church]], which is exploring ways of healing the 18th century schism between the Melkite Catholics and the Antiochian Orthodox. In an unprecedented event, Melkite Patriarch Maximos V addressed a meeting of the Orthodox holy synod in October 1996.
+Patriarch Ignatius also oversaw participation in a bilateral commission with the [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church]], which is exploring ways of healing the 18th century schism between the Melkite Catholics and the Antiochian Orthodox. In an unprecedented event, [[Melkite]] Patriarch Maximos V addressed a meeting of the Orthodox holy synod in October 1996.
 The members of the holy synod of Antioch continue to explore greater communication and more friendly meetings with their Syriac, Melkite, and Maronite brothers and sisters, who all share a common heritage.
-In May of 1997, the holy synod met and declared that the whole [[Pascha]]ltide period is to be observed festally, thus balancing the lengthy fasting of [[Great Lent]] with an equal feasting period in celebration of the Resurrection of [[Jesus Christ]].
+With the onset of the civil war in Syria in 2010, the situation of Christians in Syria has worsened. Several churches have attacked and destroyed, and many Christians have been expelled by rebels and become refugees.
-This decision, the diplomatic activities, and other moves by Patriarch Ignatius and the holy synod, have drawn criticism from some elements within the mainstream Eastern Orthodox Church and particularly from "resistance" groups who have walled themselves off from communion with most of world Orthodoxy.
+Patriarch Ignatius remained on the Patriarchal throne until his death in 2012. The Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch then elected the former Antiochian Metropolitan for Europe, John Yazigi to the patriarchal throne of Antioch on [[December 17]], 2012, with the title of His Beatitude [[John X (Yazigi) of Antioch|John X of Antioch]] and all the East.
-Of the churches receiving opprobrium for "[[ecumenism]]", Antioch probably has received the greatest amount.
 ===Expansion abroad===
@@ Line 71: / Line 70: @@
 Extensive 20th and 21st century Arab immigration to the New World has further increased the size, vigor and influence of the Church of Antioch, and the majority of Antiochian faithful now reside outside the Middle East and include numerous non-Arabic converts to the Orthodox Christian faith. As a result, besides its Middle Eastern territories in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, the Arabian Peninsular, and parts of Turkey, the Church of Antioch also includes missionary dioceses in Central, North, and South America, in Europe, and in Australia and the Pacific. The archdiocese with the largest population is [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America|North America]]. It is also the only one with internal [[diocese]]s. The archdiocese with the largest area is [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand|Australia and New Zealand]]. Estimates of the membership of the patriarchate range from 750,000 to over 1,000,000 in Syria alone.
-==Antiochian saints==
+==Notable Antiochian saints==
 Over the centuries, the Church of Antioch has been associated with many [[saint]]s on the Church's calendar. These include the following:
 [[Image:Antiochian saints.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Synaxis]] of the Great [[Saint]]s of the Holy Church of Antioch]]
@@ Line 102: / Line 101: @@
 *[[Symeon the Stylite]]
 *[[Thekla the Protomartyr]]
+== The Episcopacy ==
+=== The Holy Synod ===
+* His Beatitude [[John X (Yazigi) of Antioch|John X]], Patriarch of the Great City of God of Antioch, Syria, Arabia, Cilicia, Iberia, Mesopotamia and All the East
+* His Eminence [[Elias (Audi) of Beirut|Elias]], Metropolitan of Beirut and Coastal Phoenicia
+* His Eminence Elias, Metropolitan of Tyre-Sydon and Coastal Phoenicia
+* His Eminence George, Metropolitan of Emesa and Lebanese Phoenicia
+* His Eminence [[Sergios (Abad) of Santiago|Sergios]], Metropolitan of Santiago and Chile
+* His Eminence Damaskinos, Metropolitan of São Paulo and All Brazil
+* His Eminence Basilios, Metropolitan of Arcadia and Mount Lebanon
+* His Eminence Savvas, Metropolitan of Bostra and All Arabia Petrea
+* His Eminence Ghattas, Metropolitan of Baghdad-Kuwait and All Mesopotamia
+* His Eminence Paul, Metropolitan of Amida and All Mesopotamia and Armenia Quarta
+* His Eminence Silouan, Metropolitan of Byblos-Botrys and Mount Lebanon
+* His Eminence [[Ephraim (Kyriakos) of Tripoli|Ephraim]], Metropolitan of Tripolis-Koura and Coastal Phoenicia
+* His Eminence Isaac, Metropolitan of Germany and Central Europe
+* His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Epiphania and Syria Secunda
+* His Eminence Ignatios, Metropolitan of Mexico and All Central America
+* His Eminence Athanasios, Metropolitan of Laodicea and All Theodorias
+* His Eminence Ignatios, Metropolitan of France and Western and Southern Europe
+* His Eminence Ephraim, Metropolitan of Beroea-Alexandretta and Syria Prima
+* His Eminence Silouan, Metropolitan of Britain-Ireland
+* His Eminence Anthony, Metropolitan of Heliopolis-Seleucia and Syria Secunda
+* His Eminence [[Basilios (Kodseie) of Australia|Basilios]], Metropolitan of Australia-New Zealand and All Oceania
+* His Eminence James, Metropolitan of Buenos Aires and All Argentina
+=== Auxiliary Metropolitans ===
+* His Eminence Niphon, Metropolitan of Philippopolis
+=== Titular Bishops ===
+* His Grace Moses, Bishop of Darayya
+* His Grace Dimitrios, Bishop of Paneas
+* His Grace Elias, Bishop of Arethusa
+* His Grace Constantine, Bishop of Chrysopolis
+* His Grace John, Bishop of Palmyra
+* His Grace Gregory, Bishop of the Emirates
+* His Grace Qais, Bishop of Theodosiopolis
+* His Grace John, Bishop of Sergiopolis
+* His Grace Theodore, Bishop of Apamea
+* His Grace Arsenios, Bishop of Hierapolis
+* His Grace Moses, Bishop of Larissa
+=== Autonomous Archdiocese of North America ===
+* His Eminence [[Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui) of New York|Joseph]], Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of North America
+* His Grace [[Basil (Essey) of Wichita|Basil]], Bishop of Wichita and Middle America
+* His Grace [[Thomas (Joseph) of Charleston and Oakland|Thomas]], Bishop of Charleston-Oakland and Middle Atlantic
+* His Grace [[Alexander (Mufarrij) of Ottawa|Alexander]], Bishop of Ottawa and Eastern Canada and Upstate New York
+* His Grace [[John (Abdalah) of Worcester|John]], Bishop of Worcester and New England
+* His Grace [[Anthony (Michaels) of Toledo|Anthony]], Bishop of Toledo and Midwestern America
+* His Grace [[Nicholas (Ozone) of Brooklyn|Nicholas]], Bishop of Miami and Southeast America
+=== Retired Bishops ===
+* His Eminence [[George (Khodr) of Mount Lebanon|George]], Metropolitan of Byblos-Botrys and Mount Lebanon
+* His Grace Dimitrios, Bishop of Gabala
 ==Structure==
@@ Line 110: / Line 163: @@
 *[[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand|Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and All Oceania]]
 *[[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America|Archdiocese of North America]]
-*[[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Western and Central Europe|Archdiocese of Western and Central Europe]]
+:*[[Diocese of New York and Washington, DC (Antiochian)]]
-*[[Archdiocese of Beirut]]
+:*[[Diocese of Los Angeles and the West (Antiochian)]]
-*[[Archdiocese of Byblos and Botris (Mount Lebanon)]]
+:*[[Diocese of Charleston, Oakland, and the Mid-Atlantic (Antiochian)]]
+:*[[Diocese of Eagle River and the Northwest (Antiochian)]]
+:*[[Diocese of Miami and the Southeast (Antiochian)]]
+:*[[Diocese of Ottawa, Eastern Canada and Upstate New York (Antiochian)]]
+:*[[Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest (Antiochian)]]
+:*[[Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America (Antiochian)]]
+:*[[Diocese of Worcester and New England (Antiochian)]]
+*[[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Santiago and All Chile|Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Santiago and All Chile]]
+*[[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Europe|Archdiocese of Europe]]
+*[[Metropolis of Damascus]]: Patriarchal diocese
+*[[Archdiocese of Aleppo|Metropolis of Beroea (Aleppo) and Alexandretta]]: Paul Yazigi (2000–present)
+*[[Archdiocese of Beirut|Metropolis of Beirut and Exarchate of Phoenicia]]: [[Elias (Audi) of Beirut|Elias Audi]] (1980–present)
+*[[Archdiocese of Bosra-Hauran, Jabal al Arab and Golan|Metropolis of Bosra, Hauran and Jabal al-Druze]]: Sawa Esber (1999–present)
+*[[Metropolis of Emesa]] (Homs): George Abu Zaham (1999–present)
+*[[Metropolis of Epiphania]] (Hama) and Exarchate of North Syria: Elias Saliba (1984–present)
+*[[Metropolis of Latakia]] and Exarchate of Theodorias: John Mansur (1979–present)
+*[[Metropolis of Baghdad]], Kuwait and All Mesopotamia: Constantinos Papastefanou (1969–present)
+*[[Metropolis of Akkar]]: Basilios Nassur (2008–present)
+*[[Archdiocese of Byblos and Botris (Mount Lebanon)|Metropolis of Mount Lebanon, Byblos and Botrys]]: George Khodr (1970–present)
+*[[Metropolis of Seleucia (Zahle) and Heliopolis (Baalbek)]]: Spyridon Khoury (1966–2019)
+*[[Archdiocese of Tripoli and Al-koura|Metropolis of Tripoli and Al-Koura]]: [[Ephraim Kyriakos]] (2009–present)
+*[[Metropolis of Tyre and Sidon]]: Elias Kfoury (1995–present)
+*[[Metropolis of Tarsos and Adana]]: vacant
+*[[Metropolis of Amida]]:(Diyarbakır) vacant
+*[[Metropolis of Theodosioupolis]](Erzurum): vacant
+{{churches}}
+==See Also==
-{{churches}}
+[[List of Patriarchs of Antioch]]
 ==External links==
-* [http://www.antiochpat.org/ The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East] (Official site, Arabic and English)
+* [http://www.antiochpat.org/ Patriarchate of Antioch] (Official Website)(Arabic and English)
-* [http://www.cnewa.org/ecc-bodypg-us.aspx?eccpageID=15&IndexView=toc Eastern Christian Churches: The Patriarchate of Antioch], a scholarly text by Ronald Roberson, CSP, a Roman Catholic priest and Eastern Christianity scholar
+* [http://www.cnewa.org/default.aspx?ID=15&pagetypeID=9&sitecode=HQ&pageno=1 Eastern Christian Churches: The Patriarchate of Antioch], a scholarly text by Ronald Roberson, CSP, a Roman Catholic priest and Eastern Christianity scholar
 *[http://www.cc.uoa.gr/theology/html/english/pubs/doctrsec/scouteris/27/27.pdf The Spiritual Tradition of the Antioch Patriarchate], by Prof. [[Constantine Scouteris]]
 *[http://www.antiochcentre.net/ 'Antioch']: A Centre for Antiochian Orthodox Christian Studies and Research (Oxford, UK)
@@ Line 126: / Line 205: @@
 ===Archdioceses and dioceses===
 ====The Middle East====
-*[http://www.quartos.org.lb/ Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut] (Arabic and English)
+*[http://akkarorthodox.com/new/ Archdiocese of Akkar] (Official Website)
-*[http://www.ortmtlb.org.lb/ Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of Byblos and Botrys (Mount Lebanon)] (Arabic and English)
+*[http://www.alepporthodox.org/ Archdiocese of Aleppo] (Official Website)
-*[http://www.alepporthodox.org/ Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo] (Arabic and English)
+*[http://www.gulforthodoxchurch.org/ Archdiocese of Baghdad] (Official Website)
-*[http://www.lattakiaorth.org/ Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Lattakia] (Arabic)
+*[http://www.quartos.org.lb/ Archdiocese of Beirut] (Official Website)
+*[http://www.orthodoxhauran.org/joomla/ Archdiocese of Bosra] (Official Website)
+*[http://www.lattakiaorth.org/ Archdiocese of Lattakia] (Official Website)
+*[http://www.ortmtlb.org.lb/ Archdiocese of Mount Lebanon] (Official Website)
+*[http://www.archorthotripoli.org/ Archdiocese of Tripoli] (Official Website)
 ====North and South America====
@@ Line 140: / Line 223: @@
 ====Europe====
 *[http://www.antiocheurope.org/ Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Western and Central Europe] (Arabic, English, French, German, Italian)
-*[http://www.rum-orthodox.de/ Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch in Germany] (German)
+*[http://www.rum-orthodox.de/ Antiochian Orthodox Church in Germany] (German)
 *[http://www.antiochian-orthodox.co.uk/ Antiochian Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom and Ireland] (English)
-====The Pacific====
+====Oceania====
 *[http://www.antiochianarch.org.au/ Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines]
@@ Line 152: / Line 235: @@
 *[http://www.balamandmonastery.org.lb/MonastSaydnaya.htm Holy Patriarchal Convent of Our Lady of Saydnaya (Syria)]
+===Hymn Book===
+The [http://syriacmusicinstitute.com/projects/hymnal/ Syriac Hymnal], Syriac Music Institute, 2019. The “first official and complete hymnal” according to the rite of the [[Church of Antioch (Syriac)|Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch]]. An [http://syriacmusicinstitute.com/projects/syriac-hymnal-audio-cd-2/ Audio CD] of 384 hymns from the book is also available.
 [[Category:Featured Articles]]

Difference between revisions of "Church of Antioch"

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Contents

History

Early years

The Antiochian school

Schism over Chalcedon

Crusader and Muslim conquests

The Antiochian church today

Expansion abroad

Notable Antiochian saints

The Episcopacy

The Holy Synod

Auxiliary Metropolitans

Titular Bishops

Autonomous Archdiocese of North America

Retired Bishops

Structure

See Also

External links

Archdioceses and dioceses

The Middle East

North and South America

Europe

Oceania

Monasteries

Hymn Book

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