Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East

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

When Peter left Antioch, to go to Rome (where he would establish the Church of Rome and later be martyred), he appointed Evodius as bishop. Evodius was succeeded by Ignatius, and so on.

During the Synod of Nicaea, the Bishop of Antioch became one of the Patriarchates (along with Alexandria and Rome). In the aftermath of the controversial Council at Chalcedon, which overruled Ephesus II Christianity split into Chalcedonian and Oriental Orthodox, thus splitting the church. The Patriarch of Antioch (Severus) and Patriarch of Alexandria(Dioscorus) led the Oriental Orthodox Church, which followed a miaphysite view of Christology and the Patriarch of Rome led the Chalcedonian Church(which later split into the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches) which followed a dyophysite view on Christology.

Severus, the Patriarch of Antioch, was exiled to Egypt by Byzantine Emperor, Justinian I for his miaphysite Christology. The Pope of Rome and the Emperor appointed Paul the Jew as the rival Patriarch in 518. The Syriac Orthodox Church, or the Oriental Orthodox faction of the Church of Antioch, continued to accept Severus as Patriarch until his death in AD 538.[4][5]

In AD 518, after Mor Severus was exiled, the Patriarchate was forced to flee from Antioch and move from place to place until it settled in Dayro d-Mor Hananyo (Kurkmo Dayro, or Deir az-Za'faran), in Mardin, Turkey[6] in 1106.

In AD 544, a priest named Jacob traveled to Constantinople to ask Empress Theodora, the wife of Justinian (who was a Miaphysite herself), the daughter of a Syriac Orthodox priest, protection to be ordained as a bishop. He was ordained as Jacob Baradeus (Mor Ya'qub Burdono ܝܥܩܘܒ ܒܘܪܕܥܝܐ), by 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 Sergius of Tella as the Patriarch of Antioch in 544. The term "Jacobite" was used as a derogatory term for the miaphysites of the Church of Antioch, but was later embraced, and this is where the Syriac Orthodox Church in India gets the name "Jacobite" (Jacobite Syrian Christian Church)[5]

In 1662, the vacant patriarchate was filled by individuals who aligned themselves with the Catholic Church. Andrew Akijan was elected in that year, and was succeeded by another Catholic in Gregory Peter VI Shahbaddin. The non-Catholic Syriac party elected the rival Abdul Masih I, Shahbaddin's uncle, as a competing patriarch. Upon Shahbaddin's death in 1702, the Catholic line died out for several decades until the Holy Synod in 1782 elected Michael III Jarweh, who again aligned the Syriacs with the pope. Following a period of violence and intrigue, the non-Catholic party was again recognized with their own patriarch and the Catholic line continued independently as the Syriac Catholic Church.

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 rest of the Oriental Orthodox Church, is now in sacramental cooperation with the Catholic Church, and is in dialogues with the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church.

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

The Patriarch is considered the legitimate successor of Peter the Apostle, on the Holy Throne of Antioch.[2]

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 (also known as 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 a 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 chrism.

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 caretakers.

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 modern times, the patriarch is 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 canceled.
• Patriarch-elect has to be of Middle-Eastern origin, because he is the bishop of Antioch.[7]
• 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 there is an emergency.
• During a Holy Synod meeting, the patriarch must inform the Holy Synod about everything he has accomplished since their last meeting.

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

Part of a series on
Oriental Orthodoxy
Oriental Orthodox churches
Coptic Orthodox Tewahedo Ethiopian Eritrean Armenian Cilicia Syriac Indian
Subdivisions Autonomous churches grouped by tradition: Armenian: Constantinople, Jerusalem Syriac: Malankara Jacobite
Independent churches Independent churches grouped by tradition: Coptic: British Syriac: Malabar Independent
History and theology Coptic history Tewahedo history Syriac history Saint Thomas Christians Ecumenical Councils: First Second Third Historical topics and events: Peshitta Tur Abdin Miaphysitism 2nd Council of Ephesus 3rd Council of Ephesus 1st Council of Dvin 2nd Council of Dvin 3rd Council of Dvin Council of Manzikert Council of Capharthutha Coonan Cross Oath
Liturgy and practices Apostolic Church-Ordinance Armenian calendar Coptic calendar Ethiopian calendar Coptic fasting Coptic monasticism Coptic saints Debtera Ethiopian chant Fast of Nineveh Holy Qurbana Tabot Tewahedo fasting Timkat
Major figures Abgar V Nine Saints of Ethiopia Gregory the Illuminator Tiridates III Mar Awgin Athanasius of Alexandria Ephrem the Syrian Ezana of Axum Frumentius Shenoute Mesrop Mashtots Cyril of Alexandria Dioscorus of Alexandria Severus of Antioch Abraham of Farshut Yared Simon the Tanner Gregory of Narek Nerses IV Michael the Syrian Bar Hebraeus Tekle Haymanot Giyorgis of Segla Mar Thoma I Gregorios Abdal Jaleel Geevarghese Gregorios
Related topics Abuna Catholicos Coptic cross Cross of St. Thomas Ethiopian cross Ethiopian titles Maphrian Tewahedo biblical canon
Christianity portal

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:

• His Holiness (Syriac: ܩܕܝܫܘܬܗ Qaddišuṯeh)
• Thriced Blessed "Thrice Blessed" (Syriac: ܬܠܝܬܝ̈ ܛܘܒܐ̈ Tlithoy Ṭuḇe) (Not commonly used for modern Patriarchs)[8]
• Mor Ignatius (ܐܝܓܢܐܛܝܘ)[9]
• Prince Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
• Moran (Syriac: ܡܪܢ) (Literally translates to My Lord) (title is usually reserved for Jesus Christ, but sometimes (not traditionally) used for the Patriarch)
• Mor (Syriac: ܡܪܝ)(Literally translates to Lord)(used in the title of all Syriac Orthodox Bishops)
• Aboon(ܐܒܘܢ) (Translates to Our Father) (used by most clergy in the Syriac Orthodox Church) (used in the title of the Maphrian as Aboon Mor ܐܒܘܢ ܡܪܝ, or Our Father, Lord)
• Moran Mor[10] (Syriac: ܡܪܢ ܡܪܝ) (Literally translates to My Lord, Lord)
• First Among the Equals
• Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church (Syriac: ܪܝܫܐ ܓܘܢܝܐ ܕܥܺܕܬܳܐ ܣܽܘ̣ܪܝܳܝܬܳܐ ܬܪܺܝܨܰܬ ܫܽܘ̣ܒ̣ܚܳܐ Rišo Gawonoyo ḏ-Idto Suryoyto Triṣaṯ Šuḇḥo)
• Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church (Syriac: ܪܝܫܐ ܓܘܢܝܐ ܕܥܕܬܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܬܐ ܬܪܝܨܬ ܫܘܒܚܐ ܒܟܠܗ̇ ܬܐܒܠ Rišo Gawonoyo ḏ-ʿItto Suryoyto Triṣaṯ Šuḇḥo ḇ-Kuloh Tiḇel)
• Successor of Saint Peter
• Pontiff (from Latin pontifex) (used by all Patriarchs in the Pentarchy)
• Patriarch of Antioch (Syriac: ܦܛܪܝܪܟܐ ܕܐܢܛܝܘܟܝܐ Paṭriarḵo ḏ-Anṭiuḵia)
• Bishop of Antioch
• Patriarch of Antioch and All the East[9][8] (Syriac: ܦܛܪܝܪܟܐ ܕܐܢܛܝܘܟܝܐ ܘܕܟܠܗ̇ ܡܕܢܚܐ Paṭriarḵo ḏ-Anṭiuḵia waḏ-Kuloh)
• Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church[8] (Syriac: ܦܛܪܝܪܟܐ ܕܥܺܕܬܳܐ ܣܽܘ̣ܪܝܳܝܬܳܐ ܬܪܺܝܨܰܬ ܫܽܘ̣ܒ̣ܚܳܐ Paṭriarḵo ḏ-Idto Suryoyto Triṣaṯ Šuḇḥo)

• Gregorios, Paulos (1999). Introducing the Orthodox Churches. Delhi: Mar Gregorios Foundation of Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam and Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. ISBN 978-81-7214-487-6. OCLC 42764031.