The Syriac Orthodox Church[a] (Classical Syriac: ܥܺܕܬܳܐ ܣܽܘܪܝܳܝܬܳܐ ܬܪܺܝܨܰܬ݂ ܫܽܘܒܚܳܐ, romanized: ʿIdto Sūryoyto Trīṣath Shubḥo), [15] informally known as the Jacobite Church[16] is an Oriental Orthodox church that developed from the Church of Antioch.

In India, indigenous Eastern Christians (Saint Thomas Christians) of both liturgical traditions (East and West Syriac) are called Syrian Christians. The traditional East Syriac community is represented by the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church and the Chaldean Syrian Church of India.

Most Syrians are members of either the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch (700,000), or the Syriac Orthodox Church. The vast majority of Catholics belong to the Melkite Greek Catholic Church.

Since the 17th century, when a minority of the West Syrians were united with Rome and became the Syrian Catholic Church, the rest have been known as Syrian Orthodox, although they remained distinct from the Chalcedonian “Greek Orthodox” Christians of the area.

The Syriac Orthodox Church stands as a window into the faith and practice of one of the oldest Christian communities, originating in the environs of Antioch. Holding fast to its Syriac language, robust liturgical tradition, and thoroughly Scriptural theology, it embodies centuries of devotion that trace back to the earliest followers of Christ.

Feb 14, 2025 · The Syriac Orthodox Church stands as a beacon of ancient Christian faith and culture, with a history that spans over two millennia. Its distinct theological beliefs, rich liturgical practices, and vibrant cultural heritage contribute to the diversity of the global Christian tradition.

The Syrian Orthodox Church is deeply rooted in early Christian history, and can readily trace the origins of its patriarchate back to A.D. 37. As Acts 11:26 recounts, “it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians.’”

Syriac Christianity (Mšiḥāyuṯā Suryāyṯā; مسيحية سريانية ‎, masīḥiyyat suryāniyya) represents a distinctive branch of Eastern Christianity, whose formative theological writings and traditional liturgies are expressed in Classical Syriac language, a variation of Aramaic language.

Mar 23, 2002 · The Syriac Orthodox Church is one of the most ancient Christian Churches tracing its roots to the Church of Antioch. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts of the Apostles 11:26).

The presence of Syrian Orthodox faithful in America dates back to the late Nineteenth Century, when religious persecution forced immigration from Ottoman Turkey to the United States and Canada.