Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East بطريركيّة أنطاكية وسائر المشرق للروم الأرثوذكس
Mariamite Cathedral, Damascus, Syria, headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch since 1342 AD, with the 'Umariyya Minaret at the front, to the right
Type	Antiochian
Classification	Eastern Orthodox
Orientation	Greek Orthodox
Scripture	Septuagint, New Testament
Theology	Eastern Orthodox theology
Polity	Episcopal
Primate	John X (Yazigi), Patriarch of Antioch and All the East (since December 17, 2012)
Language	Koine Greek, Aramaic (Classical Syriac & Syro-Palestinian) (historical), Arabic (official), Turkish (in Turkey), English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and other languages (extended)
Headquarters	Mariamite Cathedral, Damascus, Syria Traditionally: Church of Cassian, Antioch, Byzantine Empire Monastic residence: Balamand Monastery, Koura, Lebanon
Territory	Primary: Syria, Lebanon, part of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia (formerly also Cyprus, Georgia and parts of the Central Caucasus area) Extended: North America, Central America, South America, Western, Southern and Central Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines
Founder	Apostles Peter and Paul
Independence	A.D. 519
Recognition	Orthodox
Branched from	Church of Antioch
Separations	Maronite Church - 685 Georgian Orthodox Church - 1010 Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch - 1724
Members	Approx. 4.3 million (2012)

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch is also known as the Antiochian Orthodox Church. It is an important part of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. This church began in the ancient city of Antioch. It sees itself as the church started by the Apostles Peter and Paul. Today, it is one of the largest Christian groups in the Middle East.

Its followers are called Antiochian Christians. They are a group of Christians from the Middle East. Many now live in other parts of the world. About 4.3 million Antiochian Greek Christians are estimated to exist.

About the Antiochian Church

Patriarchatus Antiocheni, a map from 1640 by Melchior Tavernier.

The main office of the Patriarchate used to be in Antioch, which is now in Turkey. But in the 1300s, it moved to Damascus, in modern-day Syria. The church's traditional area includes Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Kuwait, and parts of Turkey. It also covers Arab countries in the Persian Gulf.

The Antiochian Church in North America is self-governing. However, its main bishop is chosen by the Holy Synod of Antioch. The Holy Synod picks from a list of three candidates. The church's branch in Australia and Oceania is the largest by land area. This is because Australia is a big continent.

The leader of the Antiochian Orthodox Church is called the Patriarch. The current Patriarch is John X (Yazigi). He was elected on December 17, 2012. He leads the church from the Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus in Damascus.

The Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch is one of several churches that claim to be the true successor to the ancient church in Antioch. Other churches, like the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Maronite Church, also make this claim.

History and Culture

Early Christian Roots

The Church of Saint Peter in Antioch.

The city of Antioch was very important for early Christianity. The Bible says that followers of Jesus were first called "Christians" in Antioch.

The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Peter and Paul are seen as the founders of the Antiochian Patriarchate. Peter was its first bishop. After Peter left, Evodios and Ignatius led the church. Both died as martyrs, meaning they were killed for their faith.

The early church in Antioch was influenced by Hellenistic Judaism. This was a form of Judaism that used Greek culture and language. This mix of Greek and Jewish ideas helped shape the Antiochian Greek Orthodox traditions.

Many historians believe that many Greek-speaking Jewish communities became Christians in Antioch. Also, many Greek settlers in Southern Turkey and Syria/Lebanon converted.

As Jewish Christianity originated at Jerusalem, so Gentile Christianity started at Antioch, then the leading center of the Hellenistic East, with Peter and Paul as its apostles. From Antioch it spread to the various cities and provinces of Syria, among the Hellenistic Syrians as well as among the Hellenistic Jews who, as a result of the great rebellions against the Romans in A.D. 70 and 130, were driven out from Jerusalem and Palestine into Syria.

There were some differences between Jewish Christians who spoke Aramaic and those who spoke Greek. The Greek-speaking Jewish Christians were called "Hellenists."

The 'Hebrews' were Jewish Christians who spoke almost exclusively Aramaic, and the 'Hellenists' were also Jewish Christians whose mother tongue was Greek. They were Greek-speaking Jews of the Diaspora, who returned to settle in Jerusalem. To identify them, Luke uses the term Hellenistai. When he had in mind Greeks, gentiles, non-Jews who spoke Greek and lived according to the Greek fashion, then he used the word Hellenes (Acts 21.28). As the very context of Acts 6 makes clear, the Hellenistai are not Hellenes.

Unity in Christ

These cultural differences were overcome by a new teaching from Paul. Paul himself was a Greek-speaking Jew. He taught that in Christ, everyone is equal, no matter their background.

There is neither Jew nor Greek: there is neither slave nor free: there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).

This teaching helped unite different groups. These included Greek-speaking Jews, non-Jewish Greeks, and others who had converted to Judaism.

"Melkites" and "Eastern Romans"

The blend of Greek, Jewish, and Roman cultures created the unique Christian traditions of Antioch.

The mixture of Roman, Greek, and Jewish elements admirably adapted Antioch for the great part it played in the early history of Christianity. The city was the cradle of the church.

Members of the Antiochian Church in Southern Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon still call themselves Rūm. This Arabic word means "Eastern Romans" or "Asian Greeks." It shows their connection to the Roman Empire and Byzantine Empire. They also call themselves "Melkites," which means "supporters of the emperor."

Modern Challenges

After the fall of the Ottoman and Russian Empires, new ideas spread. These included French colonialism, communism, and Islamism. Some Antiochian Christians chose to support secularism or Arab Nationalism. They saw these as ways to modernize their countries. They also hoped these ideas would protect Christian minorities.

This sometimes led to disagreements with other Christian groups, like the Maronite Church in Lebanon. Especially regarding Palestinian refugees in the mid-20th century. Some important thinkers with Antiochian backgrounds helped develop Baathism, a political movement. One famous example is Michel Aflaq.

Abraham Dimitri Rihbany

In the early 1900s, a Lebanese-American writer named Abraham Mitrie Rihbany became well-known. He was from a Greek-Orthodox Antiochian background. He wrote about how studying ancient Greek and Jewish cultures could help people understand the Christian Gospels. His ideas were published in a book called The Syrian Christ in 1916.

Rihbany believed that the United States should help protect Christian minorities in the Middle East. He thought this was important to counter the influence of various political movements.

Church Leadership and Structure

The Antiochian Church has a clear structure for its leadership.

The Patriarch's Role

The Patriarch is the head of the church. He is chosen by the Holy Synod, which is a council of bishops. The Patriarch leads the Holy Synod and makes sure its decisions are carried out. He also serves as the metropolitan (chief bishop) for the Archdiocese of Antioch and Damascus.

The current Patriarch is John X (Yazigi). He was elected on December 17, 2012.

Archdioceses and Metropolitans

World jurisdictions of Eastern Orthodox churches as of 2022.

The Antiochian Church has 22 archdioceses around the world. Each archdiocese is led by a metropolitan.

Here are some of the main archdioceses:

• In Western Asia:
  • Archdiocese of Antioch and Damascus (the Patriarch's own archdiocese)
  • Archdiocese of Aleppo and Alexandretta
  • Archdiocese of Beirut
  • Archdiocese of Baghdad, Kuwait and Dependencies
  • Archdiocese of Homs
• In Asia and Oceania:
  • Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines
• In Europe:
  • Archdiocese of the British Isles and Ireland
  • Archdiocese of France, Western and Southern Europe
  • Archdiocese of Germany and Central Europe
• In The Americas:
  • Archdiocese of North America (based in Englewood, New Jersey)
  • Archdiocese of Buenos Aires and All Argentina
  • Archdiocese of Mexico, Venezuela, Central America and the Caribbean
  • Archdiocese of São Paulo and All Brazil

Related Churches

The Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch has historical connections to several other Christian churches. Some of these churches were once part of the Antiochian Patriarchate or share a common history.

Orthodox Churches

• Church of Constantinople: Became a separate Patriarchate in 451 AD.
• Church of Cyprus: Became self-governing (autocephalous) by Antioch's decision in 431 AD.
• Church of Jerusalem: Became a Patriarchate in 451 AD, with land taken from Antioch.
• Church of Georgia: Became self-governing by Antioch's decision in 486 AD.

Oriental Orthodox Churches

• Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East: Formed in 518 AD after a disagreement.

Catholic Churches

These churches are in full communion with the Holy See (the Pope in Rome).

• Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East: Founded in the 5th century. It rejoined Rome in the 12th century.
• Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch: Formed in 1724 when part of the Antiochian Orthodox community joined the Catholic Church.
• Syriac Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch: Formed in 1662 when a Syrian Patriarch joined the Catholic Church.

Images for kids

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  Mariamite Cathedral in Damascus, Syria.

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  Patriarchatus Antiocheni, a map from 1640.

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  The Church of Saint Peter in Antioch.

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  World jurisdictions of Eastern Orthodox churches as of 2022.

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia ortodoxa de Antioquía para niños