Assyrian Church of the East facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East
The Patriarchal see of the Assyrian Church of the East in Ankawa, Iraq
Abbreviation	ACOE
Classification	Eastern Christian
Orientation	Syriac Christian
Theology	East Syriac theology
Catholicos-Patriarch	Mar Awa III
Region	Central Middle East, India; diaspora
Language	Syriac, Aramaic
Liturgy	East Syriac Rite
Headquarters	Ankawa, Erbil, Iraq
Absorbed	Chaldean Syrian Church (1907)
Separations	Chaldean Catholic Church (1830) (Eliya Line) Ancient Church of the East (1968)
Members	400,000+ (2021)

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The Assyrian Church of the East (often called ACOE) is an ancient Christian church. It is officially known as the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East. This church is part of Eastern Christianity and follows the old traditions of the historical Church of the East.

It uses the Divine Liturgy of Saints Addai and Mari. The main language for its church services is Classical Syriac. Most of its followers are Assyrian people.

The church has a special area in India called the Chaldean Syrian Church of India. The main office of the Assyrian Church of the East is in Erbil, Iraq. This area is in northern Iraq. Its original lands also included parts of Turkey, Syria, and Iran.

The current leader is Mar Awa III. He became the Catholicos-Patriarch in September 2021.

The Assyrian Church of the East believes it continues the original Church of the East. It is not connected to the Oriental Orthodox Churches or the Eastern Orthodox Church. Another church, the Chaldean Catholic Church, is in full agreement with the Holy See in Rome.

In 1994, the Assyrian Church of the East and the Catholic Church signed an important agreement. This led to guidelines in 2001. These guidelines allow members of the Chaldean Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East to share in the Eucharist.

The church has a traditional structure with leaders called metropolitan bishops and diocesan bishops. Below them are priests and deacons. They serve in churches across the Middle East, India, North America, Oceania, and Europe.

History of the Assyrian Church

A 6th-century Nestorian church, St. John the Arab, in the Assyrian village of Geramon.

The Assyrian Church of the East sees itself as a continuation of the early Church of the East. This church began with the Assyrians in the first century AD. It started in areas like Assyria, Upper Mesopotamia, and western Persia.

This church was founded by Thomas the Apostle, Addai of Edessa, and Bartholomew the Apostle.

The Assyrian Church of the East became distinct over time. This happened because of many changes and events from the mid-1500s to the early 1800s. During this time, there were several splits and mergers.

A big question was whether to unite with the Catholic Church. Eventually, the groups that joined the Catholic Church became the Chaldean Catholic Church. The groups that kept their old traditions became the Assyrian Church of the East.

Church Splits and New Branches

During the time of Patriarch Shemon VII Ishoyahb (1539–1558), some disagreements arose. People argued about whether the church leader should be chosen by family or elected. They also debated joining the Catholic Church.

In 1552, a group in Mosul chose a priest named Shimun VIII Yohannan Sulaqa. He traveled to Rome and was confirmed by Pope Julius III in 1553. The Pope believed the old Patriarch had died.

Yohannan Sulaqa became "Patriarch of Babylon" and took the name Shimun. He then appointed new bishops to lead the pro-Catholic group.

The Eliya Line of Alqosh

Mar Toma church near Urmia, Iran.

The original Patriarch, Shemon VII Ishoyahb, and his followers did not agree with joining Rome. They stayed in the Rabban Hormizd Monastery. His nephew, Eliya VI, became the next Patriarch.

This line of leaders, called the Eliya line, kept their traditional beliefs. They also kept their church independent. Later leaders like Eliya VII and Eliya VIII talked with the Catholic Church but did not join.

Patriarch Eliya IX was also a strong supporter of the traditional faith. The Eliya line continued through the 1700s. They lived in the Rabban Hormizd Monastery.

The monastery was attacked and looted in 1743 during a war. Christians in this area faced many dangers. Local warlords often attacked Christian communities. The Eliya line of traditional Patriarchs ended in 1804 with the death of Eliya XII.

The Shimun Line of Qochanis

After Shimun VIII Yohannan Sulaqa died in 1555, his followers continued to lead the pro-Catholic movement. Abdisho IV Maron became the next leader and stayed connected to the Catholic Church.

Later, Yahballaha IV did not seek confirmation from the Pope. But his successor, Shimun IX Dinkha, restored ties with Rome. After Shimun IX, the position of Patriarch became hereditary in this line.

Rome did not like hereditary succession. Under Shimun X Eliyah, ties with the Catholic Church weakened again. Later, Shimun XI Eshuyow restored communion with Rome.

However, many in the Shimun line wanted to return to the traditional faith. When Shimun XII Yoalaha tried to send his faith statement to the Pope, his bishops removed him.

Finally, Shimun XIII Dinkha (1662–1700) completely broke ties with the Catholic Church. He moved his church seat from Amid to Qochanis. After this, there were two independent traditional Patriarch lines: the Eliya line in Alqosh and the Shimun line in Qochanis.

This division was also due to the way Assyrian communities were organized. They were often tribal groups led by local lords. These lords were under the Patriarch, who helped them deal with Ottoman authorities.

Bringing Branches Together

Mar Elias (Eliya), the Nestorian bishop of the Urmia Plain village of Geogtapa, about 1831.

In 1780, a group from the Eliya line joined the Catholic Church. They chose Yohannan VIII Hormizd as their leader. He was recognized as the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch by the Pope in 1830. This brought together different groups that wanted to unite with the Catholic Church. This formed the modern Chaldean Catholic Church.

At the same time, the two traditional lines, Eliya and Shimun, came together. In 1804, the last Eliya line Patriarch, Eliya XII, died. His branch did not elect a new Patriarch. This allowed Shimun XVI Yohannan of the Shimun line to become the sole leader of both traditional Assyrian branches.

After 1804, this reunited church became known as the "Assyrian Church of the East." Its base remained in Qodchanis. However, the ancient Rabban Hormizd Monastery went to the Chaldean Catholics around 1808.

The next Patriarch, Shimun XVII Abraham (1820–1861), also led from Qodshanis. He tried to keep good relations with the Ottoman authorities. In 1843, Kurdish warlords attacked Christian villages. They killed many Christians and took women and children. The Patriarch had to flee to Mosul.

Shimun XVIII Rubil (1861–1903) followed him. He also lived in Qodshanis. In 1869, he was invited to visit the Vatican but did not go. He also refused other offers to unite with the Catholic Church.

By the late 1800s, the Assyrian Church of the East was the main church for traditional Assyrians. It had some independence within the Ottoman Empire. Some of its communities joined Protestantism or Eastern Orthodoxy.

The 20th Century

St. Mary Assyrian Church in Moscow. The Assyrian Church of the East has survived into the 21st century despite many challenges.

The Assyrian genocide was a terrible event for the church. In 1915, the Young Turks invaded the Hakkari mountains, where the church was based. They feared an Assyrian independence movement.

Assyrians of all Christian groups fought against the Ottomans and their allies. They fought for three years in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. But their allies, Russia and Armenia, left the war. This left the Assyrians outnumbered and without supplies.

Their church seat at Qodchanis was destroyed. Many Assyrians in the Hakkari Mountains were killed. Survivors fled to Iran, but they were still pursued. In 1918, their leader, Patriarch Shimun XIX Benyamin, was killed during a meeting.

Most survivors then fled by train to what would become Iraq. They sought protection under the British mandate. They joined other Assyrian communities in northern Iraq, forming new groups in Baghdad and Basra.

Patriarch Shimun XXI Eshai

After World War I, Patriarch Shimun XXI Eshai wanted an independent Assyrian state. After the British mandate ended in 1933, there was a massacre of Assyrian civilians. The Patriarch had to go to Cyprus.

He asked the League of Nations for help but did not get much. He was not allowed back into Syria or Iraq. He moved to Chicago in 1940 to join the growing Assyrian community there.

The church was very disorganized after the wars. Patriarch Shimun XXI Eshai worked to rebuild its structure in the United States. He moved his home to San Francisco in 1954. He also traveled to Iran, Lebanon, Kuwait, and India to strengthen the church.

In 1964, the Patriarch made some changes to church practices. These included changes to services and adopting the Gregorian calendar. These changes, and his long absence from Iraq, caused a split. In 1968, some traditionalists chose Thoma Darmo as a rival Patriarch. They formed the independent Ancient Church of the East in Baghdad.

In 1972, Shimun decided to step down. The next year, he got married, which was against church custom. This led to a meeting in 1973. They decided to end the practice of hereditary succession for Patriarchs. They also decided that Shimun should be reinstated. However, Shimun was killed in November 1975 before this could happen.

Patriarch Dinkha IV

Mar Gewargis Assyrian Cathedral in Chicago: Former Patriarchal See.

Almost a year after Shimun's death, Mar Khnanya Dinkha became the new Patriarch. He was elected in England in October 1976. He was consecrated as Dinkha IV at St Barnabas Church in Ealing.

Dinkha was 33 years old. He led the church from Tehran until the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988). Then he moved to the United States and transferred the Patriarchal See to Chicago. He focused on helping Assyrians living outside their homeland and improving relations with other churches.

Dinkha IV died in the United States on March 26, 2015. The church then had no leader until September 18, 2015.

Patriarch Gewargis III

On September 18, 2015, the church leaders elected Warda Sliwa to be the next Patriarch. He was the Metropolitan of Iraq, Jordan, and Russia. On September 27, 2015, he was consecrated as Gewargis III in Erbil, Iraq.

Mar Narsai Church in Nohadra.

Church leaders suggested moving the Patriarchal See from Chicago back to Erbil.

There have also been talks about reuniting the church. In 1994, the Assyrian Church of the East and the Catholic Church recognized each other's titles for Mary.

In 2005, the Assyrian Church of the East had about 380,000 members. Most lived in the United States, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.

Patriarch Awa III

On September 6, 2021, Mar Gewargis III stepped down as Patriarch. On September 8, 2021, the church leaders elected Mar Awa Royel to be the 122nd Patriarch. He was the Bishop of California.

He was consecrated and enthroned on September 13, 2021, in Erbil, Iraq. He took the name Mar Awa III.

Church Beliefs

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The Assyrian Church of the East follows the old beliefs of the Church of the East. It accepts the first two major church councils: the First Council of Nicaea (325) and the First Council of Constantinople (381). The church believes in the Trinity (God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). It also believes the Holy Spirit comes from the Father.

Christology (Beliefs about Christ)

The Assyrian Church does not accept the decisions made at the Council of Ephesus (431) and the Council of Chalcedon (451). It keeps the traditional beliefs about Christ from the Church of the East. These beliefs are often called "Nestorian."

The term "Nestorian" has caused many debates. The Assyrian Church of the East believes its teachings are truly Orthodox. They also agree that more talks with other Christian churches are needed to understand different terms.

The "Nestorian" nature of Assyrian Christianity is still debated. Patriarch Dinkha IV rejected parts of Nestorian doctrine when he became leader in 1976.

The church's beliefs about Christ come from the Antiochene way of thinking in the early church. Key thinkers were Diodorus of Tarsus and Theodore of Mopsuestia. Antiochene theology focuses on Christ's human side and the choices he made.

To protect the idea that Christ's Divine Nature cannot suffer, his unity is defined more loosely. The main belief about Christ in the Church of the East was written by Babai the Great (died 628). He taught that Christ has two qnome (natures), which are not mixed but are always united in one prosopon (person).

The exact teachings of Nestorius are not fully clear. He rejected the idea of a "hypostatic union" (a single union of natures). He suggested a looser "prosopic union" (union of persons). "Nestorianism" has come to mean that Christ's two natures are always separate. However, it is not certain if Nestorius actually taught this.

Nestorius did not use the term Theotokos ('God-bearer' or 'Mother of God'). This was seen as proof that he believed in two persons in Jesus Christ. But there is no clear evidence that Nestorius denied Christ's oneness. After the Council of Ephesus, the term "Nestorian" was used for all teachings that strongly followed Antiochene Christology. Because of this, the Church of the East was called Nestorian. However, its official Christology was defined by Babai the Great in 612.

Church Services

The church uses the Syriac dialect of Eastern Aramaic in its services. This is called the East Syriac Rite. It includes three main prayers for the Eucharist. These prayers are linked to Addai of Edessa and Mari, Theodore of Mopsuestia, and later also Nestorius.

Icons and Art

In their homes, Assyrian Church of the East Christians hang a Christian cross (without a figure of Jesus) on the eastern wall.

The Assyrian Church of the East does not currently use icons (religious images). The inside of their churches is simple. However, icons were used in the Church of the East in the past. Over time, opposition to religious images became common. This was partly due to the spread of Islam, which often forbids images of saints and prophets. So, the church had to remove its icons.

An old Gospel book from the 13th century shows that the church used images back then. This book is now in the State Library of Berlin. Another old manuscript, the Nestorian Evangelion, has an image of Jesus Christ.

Other old Syriac manuscripts from the early 1800s also contain illustrations. These show that images were used continuously. Also, a life-size statue was found in a church from the late 6th century. This proves that the Church of the East also used figures.

Feast of the Discovery of the True Cross, from a 13th-century Nestorian Peshitta Gospel book.
An angel announces the resurrection of Christ to Mary and Mary Magdalene, from the Nestorian Peshitta Gospel.
The twelve apostles are gathered around Peter at Pentecost, from the Nestorian Peshitta Gospel.
Illustration from the Nestorian Evangelion, a Syriac gospel manuscript.

How the Church is Organized

Saint Mary Church: an ancient Assyrian church in Urmia, Iran.

The Assyrian Church of the East is led by bishops, like other old Christian churches. It has churches in different areas, organized into dioceses and archdioceses. The Catholicos-Patriarch is the head of the church.

The church's council is made up of bishops. They oversee individual dioceses. Metropolitans oversee groups of dioceses in their area.

The Chaldean Syrian Church in India is the largest diocese. Its history goes back to the Church of the East in Kerala. The two groups had little contact for centuries. Regular contact began when the Portuguese arrived in India around 1500. This church is part of the Assyrian Church of the East.

The church has about 385,000 members. Some sources say it could be as high as 500,000. About 19% of Assyrian people belong to this church. In Iraq, about 20% of Christians are part of the Assyrian Church of the East.

Church Leadership Locations

Residence of the Patriarch in Qudshanis, Ottoman Empire (1692–1918).

The Patriarch's main office has moved many times. Until 1804, the Eliya line Patriarchs lived in the Rabban Hormizd Monastery. The Shimun line Patriarchs lived in Qudshanis in the Hakkari Mountains. They stayed there until World War I.

After 1915, the Patriarchs lived between Urmia and Salmas. After 1918, they lived in Mosul.

After the Simele massacre in 1933, Patriarch Shimun XXI Eshai was sent to Cyprus. In 1940, he moved to Chicago in the United States. He led the church in the US and Canada from there. The Patriarchate then moved to Modesto, California in 1954, and to San Francisco in 1958.

After the Patriarch was killed and Dinkha IV was elected in 1976, the Patriarchate was in Tehran. This is where the new Patriarch lived.

After the Iran–Iraq War and the Iranian Revolution, the Patriarchate returned to Chicago. It stayed there until 2015. Then it moved back to the Middle East, to Ankawa in Erbil, Iraq. This happened after Gewargis III became Patriarch.

Many church members now live in Western countries. This is because of the difficult situation in the Middle East. Churches and dioceses have been set up across Europe, America, and Oceania. The largest group of church members outside the Middle East is in the United States, especially in Illinois and California.

Archdioceses (Major Church Areas)

Archdiocese of India – This area includes Thrissur and nearby places in Kerala.
Archdiocese of Iraq – This covers the church's original lands in Iraq. It includes Baghdad, Basra, Kirkuk, and Mosul.
Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon – This was set up in October 1984.

Dioceses (Smaller Church Areas)

An ancient Assyrian church in Urmia, Iran.

Saint Kirill Assyrian church in Dimitrov, Armenia.

Saint Hurmizd cathedral in Greenfield Park, Sydney.

Diocese of Syria – This covers all of Syria, especially al-Hasakah Governorate. Most members live in al-Hasakah, Qamishli, and villages along the Khabur River. There are also small groups in Damascus and Aleppo.
Diocese of Iran – This area includes Tehran, Urmia, and Salmas.
Diocese of Nohadra and Russia – Set up in 1999. It includes Dohuk, Russia, and former Soviet states like Armenia.
Diocese of Scandinavia and Germany – This area is in western Europe. It includes Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Finland, and Norway.
Diocese of Eastern USA – This was the Patriarch's main area from 1994 to 2012. It includes the large community in Illinois, and smaller churches in Michigan, New England, and New York.
Diocese of California – This includes churches in Western US and northern California. Some cities are San Francisco, San Jose, Modesto, Turlock, Ceres, Seattle, and Sacramento.
Diocese of Western USA-South – This includes churches in Arizona and southern California.
Diocese of Canada – This includes Toronto, Windsor, Hamilton, and all of Canada.
Diocese of Erbil
Diocese of Victoria and New Zealand – This includes Melbourne and New Zealand.
Diocese of Western Europe – This area is in Western Europe. It includes the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, the Netherlands, and Greece.
Diocese of Bagdad, Ukraine and Georgia.

Members of the Holy Synod (Church Council)

As of September 2021:

Mar Awa III: The 122nd Catholicos-Patriarch
Mar Awgin Kuriakose: Metropolitan of Malabar and India
Meelis Zaia: Metropolitan of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon
Aprim Khamis: Bishop of Western United States
Emmanual Yousip: Bishop of Canada
Odisho Awraham: Bishop of Scandinavia and Germany
Aprem Natniel: Bishop of Syria
Mar Iskhaq Yosip: Bishop of Dohuk (Northern Iraq) and Russia
Yohannan Yoseph: Bishop in India
Narsai Benyamin: Bishop of Iran
Paulus Benjamin: Bishop of the Eastern United States
Abris Awshalem: Bishop of Kirkuk and Diana
Benyamin Elya: Bishop of Victoria & New Zealand
Awraham Youkhanis: Bishop of Western Europe
Elia Tamras: Bishop of Baghdad, Ukraine and Georgia.

Retired Leaders:

Aprem Mooken: Metropolitan Emeritus of Malabar and India
Sargis Yosip: Bishop Emeritus of Baghdad (living in Modesto, California)

Relations with Other Churches

On November 11, 1994, Patriarch Dinkha IV met Pope John Paul II in Rome. They signed a document called "Common Christological Declaration Between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East". This meeting helped improve the relationship between the Assyrian Church of the East and the Chaldean Catholic Church.

Since 1995, the Assyrian Church of the East has been a full member of the Middle East Council of Churches.

Some Western Christians, especially Roman Catholics, questioned the validity of the Anaphora of Addai and Mari. This prayer is used by the Assyrian Church of the East to consecrate the eucharistic elements. In 2001, after studying the issue, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (who later became Pope Benedict XVI) declared that this prayer is valid. This opened the way for members of the Chaldean Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East to share in the Eucharist.