Shroro

The Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest - February, 2005

Establishment of the Holy See of St. Peter the Apostle at Antioch

by David Schneider

Antioch is most famous for being the place where the followers of Christ were first called "Christians" (Acts 11:26). The Christian church of Antioch was established during Saint Peter's ministry in A.D.34. This early Christian community, consisted of converted Arameans and other gentiles, much like its sister church in Jerusalem. The disciples and their early successors spoke Syriac (Aramaic), and it followed that the church of Antioch used Syriac as a liturgical language. Peter was either followed or joined by the Apostles Paul and Barnabas who preached there to both Gentiles and to Jews. Other leaders of the time included Euodius (who served the Greek population) and Ignatius (who served the Semitic population). After spending about seven years in Antioch, Peter left for Rome. To succeed him as bishop (episkopos) of Antioch he appointed Euodius, the first successor to the Antiochian seat of Peter.

The See of Antioch is home to numerous people of the Faith. Saint Ignatius of Antioch, the second successor to Peter, after Euodius, is revered as both a victorious martyr during the reign of Emperor Trajan (early second century) and as a reliable historical source for the character of early Church life.

Ignatius' writings bear witness to the unbroken continuity of Orthodox belief in Apostolic Succession, the Eucharist, and other essential facets of the Christian Faith. Saint John Chrysostom, called the "Golden-mouthed" for his power in oratory, was another great figure from the Antiochian Church during the late 300's. After serving as a priest in Antioch, he was elected and ordained as Patriarch of Constantinople, where he continued to preach moral purity and self-denial amidst the wealth and pleasure of richest city in the world.

The Two Halves of Antioch

In 451 A.D., after the Council of Chalcedon, Antioch split into two groups over a disagreement regarding the nature of Christ: the Byzantine (or "Antiochian") half of Antioch became known as the "Chalcedonians" and the Syrian half known as the "non-Chalceonians". Secular politics also played an influential role in the split. Although the Byzantine half of Antioch was known as “Greek”, it has also used Syriac and Arabic throughout her history.

Within the past several years there has been a strong interest on both sides to re-unite the two halves of Orthodox Antioch. Historical research and theological discussion by both Churches have shown that the disagreements were largely a matter of linguistic differences. For the most part, both the Syrian Orthodox and Antiochian Orthodox consider the other fully Orthodox in belief and practice.