- Nov 22, 2019
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Historical Christianity East of Mesopotamia
Prior to 1552, there was one church hierarchy that used the East Syriac Rite in Syria, Iraq, Iran, Central Asia, and India.
Prior to 1599, the same was true of the Christian community in India that was part of that East Syriac Rite hierarchy, but semi-independent.
Over the past 450+ years, these groups have broken into many factions with different affiliations:
East Syriac Rite Hierarchies in the Mideast (divisions the old Church of the East)
Indian Christian Communities (Saint Thomas Christians)
While I can reasonably guess differences between the Catholic and Orthodox churches on the one hand and the Reformed and Evangelical church on the other, I don't know very much about the differences among the Catholic, Orthodox, and independent "Church of the East" church communions.
What are the differences among the three modern divisions of the Church of the East? Do they have substantially different theologies or ecclesiologies? What keep them separate?
Same type of questions for the Catholic, Orthodox, and Church of the East churches in India. Why are there two Oriental Orthodox churches in India? Do the Catholic, Orthodox, and Church of the East churches in India have theologies and traditions that match up exactly with their worldwide communions?
Prior to 1552, there was one church hierarchy that used the East Syriac Rite in Syria, Iraq, Iran, Central Asia, and India.
Prior to 1599, the same was true of the Christian community in India that was part of that East Syriac Rite hierarchy, but semi-independent.
Over the past 450+ years, these groups have broken into many factions with different affiliations:
East Syriac Rite Hierarchies in the Mideast (divisions the old Church of the East)
- Chaldean Catholic Church (in communion with Roman Catholic Church)
- Assyrian Church of the East (independent)
- Ancient Church of the East (independent)
Indian Christian Communities (Saint Thomas Christians)
- Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (in communion with Roman Catholic Church)
- Syro-Malankara Catholic Church (in communion with Roman Catholic Church)
- Jacobite Syrian Church (in communion with the Oriental Orthodox, i.e. Copts, Syriac Orthodox)
- Chaldean Syrian Church (part of the Assyrian Church of the East)
- Malankara Orthodox Church (in communion with the Oriental Orthodox, i.e. Copts, Syriac Orthodox)
- Malabar Independent Syrian Church (independent, Oriental Orthodox traditions)
- Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church (independent, Reformed, Anglican-leaning)
- St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India (independent, Evangelical)
While I can reasonably guess differences between the Catholic and Orthodox churches on the one hand and the Reformed and Evangelical church on the other, I don't know very much about the differences among the Catholic, Orthodox, and independent "Church of the East" church communions.
What are the differences among the three modern divisions of the Church of the East? Do they have substantially different theologies or ecclesiologies? What keep them separate?
Same type of questions for the Catholic, Orthodox, and Church of the East churches in India. Why are there two Oriental Orthodox churches in India? Do the Catholic, Orthodox, and Church of the East churches in India have theologies and traditions that match up exactly with their worldwide communions?