The Assyrian Church of the East is a Christian denominational body that traces its origins to the See of Babylon, said to be founded by Saint Thomas the Apostle. It sometimes calls itself the Assyrian Orthodox Church, but should not be confused with the distinct Syrian Orthodox Church, which is an Oriental Orthodox body. In India, it is known as the Chaldean Syrian Church of the East. In the West it is often known, inaccurately, as the Nestorian Church. Assyria in earliest historical times referred to a region on the Upper Tigris river, named for its original capital, the city of Asshur (or Ashshur). ... The term Eastern can have multiple meanings depending on its context. ... Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life, teachings, death by crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament writings of his early followers. ... A denomination in the Christian sense is an identifiable religious body, organization under a common name, structure, and/or doctrine. ... A see (from the Latin word sedem, meaning seat) is the throne (cathedra) of a bishop. ... Babylon Confusion is a later name given to the city of Babel. ... Thomas was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. ... The Syriac Orthodox Church is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church based in the Middle East with members spread throughout the world. ... The term Oriental Orthodoxy refers to the churches of Eastern Christian traditions that keep the faith of only the first three ecumenical councils of the undivided Church - the First Council of Nicaea, the First Council of Constantinople and the Council of Ephesus - and rejected the dogmatic definitions of the Council... Chaldea was a nation in the southern portion of Babylonia, Lower Mesopotamia, lying chiefly on the right bank of the Euphrates, but commonly used to refer to the whole of the Mesopotamian plain. ... For alternative meanings for The West in the United States, see the U.S. West and American West. ... The term Nestorianism is eponymous, even though the person who lent his name to it always denied the associated belief. ...

The Assyrian Church is the original Christian church in what was once Parthia; today Iraq and western Iran. Geographically it stretched in the medieval period to China and India: a monument found in Xi'an (Hsi-an), the Tang-period capital of China, in Chinese and Syriac described the activities of the church in the 7th and 8th century, while half a millennium later a Chinese monk went from Beijing to Paris and Rome to call for a crusade with the Mongols against the Mamelukes; prior to the Portuguese arrival in India in 1498, it provided "East Syrian" bishops to the Saint Thomas Christians. Parthian Empire at its greatest extent The Parthian Empire was the dominating force on the Iranian plateau beginning in the late 3rd century BCE, and intermittently controlled Mesopotamia between ca 190 BCE and 224 CE. Parthia was the arch-enemy of the Roman Empire in the East and it limited... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... City nickname: Changan Image:Map of city xian. ... The Tang Dynasty (唐朝 pinyin: tángcháo; 618–907) followed the Sui Dynasty and preceded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China. ... In politics a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative meaning of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ... Syriac is an Eastern Aramaic language that was once spoken across much of the Fertile Crescent. ... (6th century - 7th century - 8th century - other centuries) Events Islam starts in Arabia, the Quran is written, and Arabs subjugate Syria, Iraq, Persia, Egypt, North Africa and Central Asia to Islam. ... (7th century — 8th century — 9th century — other centuries) Events The Iberian peninsula is taken by Arab and Berber Muslims, thus ending the Visigothic rule, and starting almost 8 centuries of Muslim presence there. ... A millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years. ... A Roman Catholic monk A monk is a person who practices monasticism, adopting a strict religious and ascetic lifestyle, usually in community with others following the same path. ... Beijing   listen? (Chinese: 北京; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Pei-ching; Postal System Pinyin: Peking) is the capital city of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ... The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR (The Senate and the People of Rome) Founded 21 April 753 BC mythical, 1st millennium BC Region Latium Mayor Walter Veltroni (Democratici di Sinistra) Area  - City Proper  1290 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 2,546,807 almost 4,000,000 1... This article is about the medieval Crusades . ... Honorary guard of Mongolia. ... An Ottoman Mamluk, from 1810 Mamluks (or Mameluks) (the Arabic word usually translates as owned, singular: مملوك plural: مماليك) comprised slave soldiers used by the Muslim Caliphs and the Ottoman Empire, and who on more than one occasion seized power for themselves. ... Events Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama visits Quelimane and Moçambique in southeastern Africa. ... Main article: Nasrani This article deals with Saint Thomas Christian churches and denominations of the Nasrani people St. ...

The foundations of Assyrian theology are Diodorus of Tarsus and Theodore of Mopsuestia, who taught at Antioch. The normative Christology of the Assyrian church was written by Babai the Great (551-628) and is clearly different from the dualism that Nestorius was accused of: his main christological work is strikingly called the 'Book of the Union', and in it Babai teaches that the two qnome (essence) are unmingled but everlastingly united in the one parsopa (personality) of Christ. After the early School of Antioch came into decline, the presbyter Diodore of Tarsus re-founded it in the middle of the fourth century as a semi-monastic community. ... Theodore (c. ... The city of Antioch-on-the-Orontes (modern Antakya; Greek Αντιόχεια) is located in what is now Turkey. ... Christology is that part of Christian theology that studies and defines who Jesus Christ was and is. ... Babai the Great (c. ... Events Jordanes publishes The Origin and Deeds of the Goths. ... Events Khusro II of Persia overthrown Pippin of Landen becomes Mayor of the Palace Brahmagupta writes the Brahmasphutasiddhanta Births Deaths Empress Suiko of Japan Theodelinda, queen of the Lombards Categories: 628 ... The term dualism is the state of being dual, or having a twofold division. ... Nestorius (c. ... Alternate use: essence (Shadowrun role-playing game) In philosophy, essence is the attribute (or set of attributes) that make an object or substance what it fundamentally is. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... This 11th-century portrait is one of many images of Jesus in which a halo with a cross is used. ...

Early history

The Schism

Although the Assyrian Church split from the western churches in the course of the Nestorian schism, the theology of the Assyrian church can not be defined as Nestorianism. Nestorius, a pupil of Theodore of Mopsuestia and bishop of Constantinople, was condemned because he refused to call the Virgin Mary 'mother of God'. He would only call her 'mother of Christ'. His opponent Cyril of Alexandria accused him of dividing Christ into two persons, which he clearly denied. The affair was complicated by the unclear arguments of Cyril, which soon after provoked the Monophysite schism. The word schism, from the Greek σχισμα, schisma (from σχιζω, schizo, to split), means a division or a split, usually in an organization. ... Western Christianity refers to Catholicism, Protestantism, and Anglicanism. ... The Nestorian Schism was the split between the Byzantine church of the West and the Assyrian church of the East in the 5th century. ... The term Nestorianism is eponymous, even though the person who lent his name to it always denied the associated belief. ... The human eye The pupil is the central transparent area (showing as black). ... A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who, in certain Christian churches, holds a position of authority. ... Map of Constantinople. ... In Christianity and Islam, Mary (Judæo-Aramaic מרים Maryām Bitter; Septuagint Greek Μαριαμ, Mariam, Μαρια, Maria; Arabic: Maryem, مريم) is the mother of Jesus and the betrothed of Joseph. ... Russian Orthodox Icon of the Theotokos Theotokos is a Greek word that means God-bearer or Mother of God. It is a title assigned by the early Christian Church to Mary, the mother of Jesus, at the Third Ecumenical Council held at Ephesus in 431. ... Cyril I (376 – June 27, 444), surnamed The Pillar of Faith, was Pope of Alexandria. ... In colloquial English, person is often synonymous with human. ... Monophysitism (from the Greek monos meaning one and physis meaning nature) is the christological position that Christ has only one nature, as opposed to the Chalcedonian position which holds that Christ has two natures, one divine and one human. ...

Cyril of Alexandria worked hard to remove Nestorius and his supporters and followers from power. But in the Syriac-speaking world Theodore of Mopsuestia was held in very high esteem, and the condemnation of his pupil Nestorius was not received well. His followers were given refuge. The Persian kings, who were at constant war with Byzantium, saw the opportunity to assure the loyalty of their Christian subjects and supported the Nestorian schism: Antiquity and modernity stand cheek-by-jowl in Egypts chief Mediterranean seaport Located on the Mediterranean Sea coast, Alexandria (in Arabic, الإسكندرية — al-Iskandariyah) is the chief seaport in Egypt, and that countrys second largest city, and the capital of the Al Iskandariyah governate. ... Persia and Persian can refer to: the Western name for Iran. ... Byzantium was the original name of the modern city of Istanbul. ...

• They granted protection to Nestorians (462).
• They executed the pro-Byzantine Catholicos Babowai who was then replaced by the Nestorian Bishop of Nisibis Bar Sauma (484).
• They allowed the transfer of the school of Edessa to the Persian city Nisibis when the Byzantine emperor closed it for its Nestorian tendencies (489).

Events Statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, destroyed by fire after being moved to Constantinople. ... Nisibis (Nusaybin, province Mardin, south-eastern Turkey) is the ancient Mesopotamian city, which Alexanders successors refounded as Antiochia Mygdonia and is mentioned for the first time in Polybius description of the march of Antiochus against the Molon (Polybius, V, 51). ... Bar Sauma was a teacher at the School of Edessa in the 5th century, but had to flee to Persia because of his Nestorian views. ... Events December 28 - Alaric II succeeds Euric as king of the Visigoths. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Events Theoderic, king of the Italy with the approval of the eastern emperor Zeno. ...

The consolidation of the Church

The Christian communities of Mesopotamia had renounced all subjection to Antioch and the "Western" bishops already at the Council of Seleucia in 410, and the Bishop of Ctesiphon assumed the rank of Catholicos. At the time of the arrival of the Nestorian refugees from Edessa, the prelate was Babaeus or Babowai (sometimes also called 'Babai', not to be confused with 'Babai the Great') (457-484), who appears to have received them with open arms. But Bar Sauma, having become Bishop of Nisibis, the nearest important city to Edessa, broke with the weak Catholicos, whom he had deposed at a the Synod of Beth Lapat in April, 484. In the same year Babowai was accused before the king of conspiring with Constantinople and cruelly put to death. Mesopotamia (Greek: Μεσοποταμία, translated from Old Persian Miyanrudan the Land between the Rivers or the Aramaic name Beth-Nahrin House of Two Rivers) is a region of Southwest Asia. ... Events Alaric I deposes Priscus Attalus as Roman Emperor. ... Taq-i-Kasra, Ctesiphon, today. ... Catholicos (plural: Catholicoi) is a title used by the head bishop of any of certain Eastern churches. ... Events February 7 - Leo I becomes East Roman emperor. ... Events December 28 - Alaric II succeeds Euric as king of the Visigoths. ... Bar Sauma was a teacher at the School of Edessa in the 5th century, but had to flee to Persia because of his Nestorian views. ... In 484, at the Syond of Beth Lapat, the Assyrian Church of the East under the leadership of the Catholicos Bar Sauma declared the teaching of Nestorius the official doctrine, and also decided that all monks church dignitaries should marry. ... Events December 28 - Alaric II succeeds Euric as king of the Visigoths. ...

At the synod of Beth Lapat it was also decided that monks and all church dignitaries should marry. This led to apostasy and a weakening of spiritual life, and already by 544 some of the reforms had been reverted. The counter reforms reached their zenith in 571 when Abraham the Great of Kashkar founded a new monastery on Mt. Izla above Nisibis to revive the strict monastic movement, and Henana of Adiabene became head of the school of Nisibis. Henana then broke with the Antiochene tradition of Theodore and openly followed the teaching of Origen. Attempts by the Bishops to censor and condemn Henana failed because of his protection by the royal court and he remained head of the school, even though almost all the students left. Apostasy (Greek απο, apo, away, apart, στασις, stasis, standing) is the formal renunciation of ones religion. ... Events Belisarius is sent back to Italy to once more fight the Ostrogoths who have been making reconquests in the area. ... Reform can refer to: Reform (think tank) Reform, Alabama Reform Judaism Reform movement Reform Party (disambiguation page) See also: Reformation, Reformed This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Events The Monophysites again reject the Council of Chalcedon, causing another schism. ... Abraham the Great of Kashkar was the father of the Assyrian monastic revival in the 6th century. ... Buddhist monastery near Tibet A monastery is the habitation of monks. ... Henana of Adiabene was headmaster of the School of Nisibis, the theological center of the Assyrian Church of the East, from 571 to about 610. ... Origen was a Christian scholar and theologian and one of the most distinguished of the Fathers of the early Christian Church. ...

The wars of 610--628 between the Persian and Byzantine empires weakened the political standing of the Assyrian church and several sees and villages were lost to the Monophysites. The Assyrian church was not allowed to choose a new Catholicos, and its theological tradition was undermined by Henana. Babai the Great together with Archdeacon Mar Aba administered the church without the authority vested in the position of the Catholicos. But in his official position as 'visitor of the monasteries of the north' Babai had the authority to investigate the orthodoxy of the monks and monasteries of northern Mesopotamia and to enforce discipline. In particular, he drove out married monks. Events October 4 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas and becomes Emperor. ... Events Khusro II of Persia overthrown Pippin of Landen becomes Mayor of the Palace Brahmagupta writes the Brahmasphutasiddhanta Births Deaths Empress Suiko of Japan Theodelinda, queen of the Lombards Categories: 628 ... Babai the Great (c. ... The word orthodoxy, from the Greek ortho (right, correct) and doxa (thought, teaching), is typically used to refer to the correct theological or doctrinal observance of religion, as determined by some overseeing body. ...

Babai the Great and his co-religionists worked hard to defend the legacy of Theodore: rival schools were set up in Nisibis and Balad, and the monastery of Mar Abraham, headed by Babai, took in a number of students from the school of Nisibis. Babai himself wrote a great number of commentaries and hagiographies to defeat the Monophysites and the Origenist Henana, and developed the only systematic Assyrian Christology. He taught that the two qnome (essence) are unmingled but everlastingly united in the one parsopa (personality) of Christ. Hagiography is the study of saints. ...

The defenders were successful: at the episcopal gathering of 612 the teachings of Theodore were canonized. Soon Babai's writings and Christology became normative, and the writings of Henana were doomed to oblivion. Assyrian monasticism was purged and gathered momentum. The church proved to be well organized during the Arab conquest that followed the Byzantine-Persian wars, and flourished for many centuries after. Episcopalian government in the church is rule by a hierarchy of bishops (Greek: episcopoi). ... Events Saint Columbanus moves to Italy to establish the monastery of Bobbio (approximate date). ... Canonization is the process of making someone into a saint and involves proving that a candidate has lived in such a way that he or she is worthy of sainthood. ... The Arabs (Arabic: عرب ʻarab) Are Originally Inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula, and This term also applies towards those who speak arabic, Or any Arabic derived languages (Re: Tebedawi,Tabadawi,Socotri and Naubtanean) // Who is an Arab? The definition of who an Arab is has three main aspects: Political: whether they...

Eastern expansion

The Assyrian Church was the first Christian tradition to reach China (in 635), and about the same time penetrated into Mongolia, and its relics can still be seen in Chinese cities such as Xi'an. An inscribed stone, set up in February, 781 at Chou-Chih, fifty miles south-west of Sai-an Fu, at the time the capital of China, describes the introduction of Christianity into China from Persia in the reign of Tang Taizong. However when Tang Wu Zong decided to suppress all foreign religions; Christianity largely ceased to exist in China. In 2003, it was discovered that a single church body of the Assyrian Church still existed, cut off from any contact with its Patriarch for centuries. Events Saint Aidan founds Lindisfarne in Northumbria, England Nestorian China Births Pippin of Herstal, Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia (approximate date) 23 May - Chan Bahlum II, king of Palenque Deaths Categories: 635 ... The Nestorian Stele, Nestorian Stone, formally the Memorial of the Propagation in China of the Luminous Religion from Daqin (大秦景教流行中國碑 Pinyin: Dàqín Jǐngjiào liúxíng Zhōngguó béi, abbreviated 大秦景教碑) is a Tang Chinese stele erected in 781 which celebrates the accomplishments of the Assyrian Church of the East in China, which... Events Emperor Kammu succeeds Emperor Konin as emperor of Japan. ... Emperor Taizong of Tang China (January 23, 599–July 10, 649), born Li Shimin, was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China from 626 to 649. ... Emperor Tang Wuzong (武宗 814-846), born Li Yan, was a later emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Modern times

In the 15th century, the church decreed that the title of Patriarch could pass only to relatives of then-patriarch Mar Shimun IV. This upset many in the church's hierarchy, and in 1552 a rival Patriarch, Mar Yohanan Soulaqa VIII was elected. This rival Patriarch met with the Pope and entered into communion with the Roman Catholic Church. The Assyrian Church now had two rival leaders, a hereditary patriarch in Alqosh (in modern-day northern Iraq), and a Papal-appointed patriarch in Diyarbakir (in modern-day eastern Turkey). This situation lasted until 1662 when the Patriarch in Diyarbakir, Mar Shimun XIII Denha, broke communion with Rome, and moved his seat to the village of Qochanis in the Turkish mountains. The Vatican responded by appointing a new patriarch to Diyarbakir to govern the Assyrians who stayed loyal to the Holy See. This became known as the Chaldean Catholic Church. In 1804 the hereditary line of Patriarchs in Alqosh died out, and that church's hierarchy decided to accept the authority of the Chaldean patriarchs. (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... Events April - War between Henry II of France and Emperor Charles V. Henry invades Lorraine and captures Toul, Metz, and Verdun. ... The Pope is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of Rome, and head of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches. ... The Roman Catholic Church is the largest denomination of Christianity with over 1. ... Alqosh is one of the most famous Christian villages in Iraq. ... Diyarbakir (Syriac: ܐܡܝܕ; Zazaki and Kurdish: Amed; Turkish spelling: Diyarbakır) is a city in Turkey, situated on the banks of the River Tigris. ... Events March 18 – Short-timed experiment of the first public buses holding 8 passengers begins in Paris May 3/May 2 - Catherine of Braganza marries Charles II of England – as part of the dowry, Portugal cedes Bombay and Tangier to England May 9 - Samuel Pepys witnessed a Punch and Judy... The Chaldean Catholic Church is an Eastern Rite church, retaining autonomy and distinct identity within the Catholic Communion while remaining in full communion with the Pope in Rome. ... 1804 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Assyrians faced reprisals under the Hashemite monarchy for co-operating with the British, and most fled to the West. The Patriarch of Babylon is currently based in Chicago, Illinois, and less than 100,000 of the world's 3.3 million Assyrians remain in Iraq. Hashemite traditionally refers to those belonging to the Banu Hashim, or clan of Hashim, a clan within the larger Quraish tribe. ... Chicago, Illinois — officially the City of Chicago and colloquially known as Chicago, the Second City and the Windy City — is the third largest city of the United States after New York City and Los Angeles and is the largest inland city of the nation. ...

The Chaldean community was less numerous at the time of the British Mandate of Palestine, and did not play a major role in the British rule of the country. However with the exodus of Assyrians, the Chaldean Catholic Church became the largest non-Muslim group in Iraq, and many later rose to power in the Ba'ath Party government, the most prominent being Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz. Map of the territory under the British Mandate of Palestine. ... For other uses of the name, see Exodus (disambiguation) Exodus is the second book of the Torah (the five books of Moses) and also the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible) and Christian Old Testament. ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... Baath Party flag The Baath Parties (also spelled Baath or Bath; Arabic: اﻟﺒﻌﺚ) comprise political parties representing the political face of the Baath movement. ... Tariq Aziz, also Tareq Aziz (Arabic طارق عزيز), born 1936, was the former Foreign Minister (1979-1991) and Deputy Prime Minister (1979-2003) of Iraq and a close advisor to President Saddam Hussein for decades. ...

In 1964, the issue of hereditary succession again caused a schism, with the election of Mar Thomas Darmo as a rival to the hereditary Mar Simon XXIII. Mar Simon resigned in 1973, and was assassinated in 1975 during negotiations over his possible reinstatement. Mar Dinkha IV was elected as Simon's successor, and announced the permanent end of the hereditary succession. While this removes the underlying dispute, the rift between the rival Patriarchs still exists, with Mar Addai as the successor to Mar Thomas Darmo. 1964 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... Saint Addai, also known as Addeus, or Thaddeus, was mentioned in the Syriac document, Doctrine of Addai, as one of the 72 disciples sent out to spread the Christian faith. ...

On November 11, 1994, an historic meeting of Mar Dinkha IV and Catholic Pope John Paul II took place in the Vatican and a Common Christological Declaration was signed. One side effect of this meeting was that the Assyrian Church's relationship to the Chaldean Catholic Church was improved. November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... The Pope is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of Rome, and head of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches. ... The Servant of God Pope John Paul II (Latin: ), born Karol Józef Wojtyła [1] (May 18, 1920 – April 2, 2005), reigned as pope of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City and of the Holy See for almost 27 years, from 16 October 1978 until his...

There are also large numbers of Assyrian congregations in Iran. In addition, a few remain in Iraq, a single parish exists in China, and the Church has its headquarters (along with four other houses of worship) in Chicago, Illinois, United States. A congregation is a group of people gathered together. ... A parish is a subdivision. ...

See also

• Assyrian Neo-Aramaic - the colloquial language of many Assyrians
• Christians in Iran
• Daqin Pagoda
• List of Patriarchs of Babylon
• Memorial of the Propagation in China of the Luminous Religion from Daqin
• Saint Thomas Christians in India
• Syriac language - the classical language of the liturgy

Assyrian Neo-Aramaic is a modern Eastern Aramaic or Syriac language. ... The Church of St Stephanus in Jolfa, Iran, said to have been erected shortly after the ascension of Jesus Christ, is considered by some historians to be the second oldest church after the Church of Bethlehem in Palestine. ... Remnants of the pagoda Daqin Pagoda (大秦塔) in Zhouzhi, Shaanxi Province, China is the remnant of the earliest surviving Christian church in China. ... The Patriarch of Babylon is the leader of the Assyrian Church of the East. ... The Nestorian Stele, Nestorian Stone, formally the Memorial of the Propagation in China of the Luminous Religion from Daqin (大秦景教流行中國碑 Pinyin: Dàqín Jǐngjiào liúxíng Zhōngguó béi, abbreviated 大秦景教碑) is a Tang Chinese stele erected in 781 which celebrates the accomplishments of the Assyrian Church of the East in China, which... Main article: Nasrani This article deals with Saint Thomas Christian churches and denominations of the Nasrani people St. ... Syriac is an Eastern Aramaic language that was once spoken across much of the Fertile Crescent. ...

External links

• Assyrian Church of the East
• Article on the Assyrian Church of the East - from the Catholic Near East Welfare Association
• The Unofficial Homepage of the Church of the East - An informational site written by an amateur church historian
• Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East - Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Education Development: Is the theology of the Church of the East Nestorian?