On the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Antiochian C

Hi, to my knowledge the Syriac orthodox church have the same beliefs as the other Oriental Orthodox churches. Their relationship with the Coptic Church is much the same as the Antiochian relationship with the Greek Patriarchate of Alexandria, so a simple matter of jurisdiction.

There are differences in some liturgical aspects and language but their theology is identical.

Here is an interesting article on the relationship and development in the Syriac and Coptic Churches in case you are interested in further reading.

www.bethmardutho.org/images/hugoye/volume11/hv11n1farag.pdf

Some of the main points to take from it are that:

1) Many of the most celebrated (Post-Chalcedon) Coptic Saints are Syriac and vice versa, due to the connections formed after the schism from the other Patriarchates (Especially Rome and Constantinople, since Jerusalem commonly switched between C and Non-C, as well as continuing to have a large number of Non-C Monks and Monasteries in the years following the Council fo Chalcedon.)

2) They have a long shared relationship of being seperated from other Churches due to the Arab and Ottoman invasions, leading them to a relationship of shared litrtature and development, especially as both adopted Arabic as a spoken language. This also meant that many terms in Coptic and Syriac were translated in a mutual way, forming a single word for both Churches to use. This differs from the traditional Pre-Chalcedonian view of the School of Alexandria vs. the School of Antioch.

3) Three Coptic Popes were Ethnically Syriac. This brought many Syriac traditions and practices to the Egyptian Churches through their writings and sermons.

4) Many Coptic Popes came from El-Souriani (The Syrian) Monastery in Egypt, including most recently Pope Shenouda (On a personal note, the Archbishop of Glastonbury and head of the British Orthodox Church is also from this Monastery.) ;D

5) Many Coptic Liturgical and Theological terms come from Syriac and Syriac thought, incorporated and adapted again due to the cultural transmission. One of these is 'Deir' for Monastery which also appeared in the irish language because of the transmission of the Monastc tradition in the 4th and 5th centuries to southern Ireland.

Hope this helps also.

I pray that the beautiful tradition and culture of Syriac Orthodox Christians is preserved in this difficult time for them

As far as I know there is unofficial intercommunion on a laity level, as the 1991 Pastoral agreement, though no official intermarriage agreement, unlike Alexandria which has this. The thing with Antioch is that it has 7 Patriarchates including the Melkites and Maronites also, so there are some very obscure agreements such as the communing of Maronites too in certain situations.

The 1991 agreement does have some good breakthroughs in EO/OO relations though:
In localities where there is only one priest, from either Church, he will celebrate services for the faithful of both Churches, including the Divien Liturgy, pastoral duties, and holy matrimony. He will keep an independent record for each Church and transmit that of the sister Church to its authorities. So they can intercommune in some circumstances, as I know from some Syriac Tumblr members who live in the US with only EO parishes around.

Another interresting detail is that if two priests of the two Churches happen to be in a locality where there is only one Church, they take turns in making use of its facilities. So they can share altars, unlike in many cases.

A third noteworthy detail is that Godfathers, godmothers (in baptism) and witnesses in holy matrimony can be chosen from the members of the sister Church, which is usually a no-go in interorthodox relations as the 'Sponsor' or Godparent needs to be from the same communion.

They also share in a lot of social institutions, though most of the time also with the Maronite and Melkite communities.

One tragic thing is that a vital part of the agreement is ignored, particularly in the diaspora, which is that "Both Churches shall refrain from accepting any faithful from accepting any faithful from one Church into the membership of the other, irrespective of all motivations or reasons. " The agreement states that they should not attempt to convert Syrian EO/OO to the other but attend to their sacramental needs such as communion without expecting it, though many ignore for the sake of numbers.

Doesn't Antioch have 5 Patriarchates? Syriac Orthodox, Syriac Catholic, Maronite, Melkite Orthodox, Melkite Catholic?