Church of Antioch

The Church of Antioch (Arabic: كنيسة أنطاكية‎) was one of the five major churches of the pentarchy in Christianity before the East–West Schism in 1054, with its primary seat in the ancient Greek city of Antioch (present-day Antakya, Turkey).

For other uses, see Church of Antioch (disambiguation).

History

The Church was formed and founded on Pentecost in Jerusalem. Followers of Jesus as the Messiah (Ha Maschiach), trace the origin of becoming known to the world as 'Christians' to the community founded in Antioch: "Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: and when he found him he brought him to Antioch." For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples, whose origins began in the dispersion resulting from persecution in Jerusalem, were "first called Christians at Antioch." Known by a variety of names, including "Followers of the Way." Later recognized by the Apostles in Jerusalem, one of its leading members was Barnabas, who was sent to organize the new church (see Acts 11:19-26) (see Early centers of Christianity). It later became the Patriarchate of Antioch as one of the five major patriarchates – that is the Pentarchy – Pentarchy is a model of Church organization historically championed in the Eastern Orthodox Church. It found its fullest expression in the laws of Emperor Justinian I of the Byzantine Empire.

According to Acts 11:19-26, the Christian community at Antioch began when Christians who were scattered from Jerusalem because of persecution fled to Antioch. They were joined by Christians from Cyprus and Cyrene who migrated to Antioch. It was in Antioch that the followers of Jesus were first referred to as Christians.

A main point of interest, however, is connected with the progress of Christianity among the non-Jewish believers. Tradition holds that the first Gentile church was founded in Antioch, Acts 11:20-21, where it is recorded that the disciples of Jesus Christ were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). It was from Antioch that St. Paul started on his missionary journeys.[1]

In the dispersion of the original Church at Jerusalem, during the troubles ensuing on the bold action of Stephen, certain Cypriote and Cyrenaic Jews, who had been brought up in Greek communities and who had different perspectives on the world than the Palestinian Jews, came to Antioch. There they made the "innovation" of addressing not merely Jews but also Greeks (see Godfearers for the historical background). We may understand here (1) that the words used imply successful preaching and the admission of Greeks to the Christian congregation, and (2) that such an innovation took place by slow degrees, and began in the synagogue, where Greek proselytes heard the word.[2]

Antioch is intimately connected with the early history of the gospel. It was the great central point from where missionaries to the Gentiles were sent (presumably following the Great Commission). It was the birthplace of the famous Christian father Chrysostom, who died A.D. 407.[3]

Nicolas the deacon of the Seven Deacons was a proselyte of Antioch. The Christians dispersed by Stephen's martyrdom preached at Antioch to idolatrous Greeks, not "Grecians" or Greek-speaking Jews, according to the Alexandrine manuscript Acts 11:20-26, whence a church having been formed under Barnabas and Paul's care. From Antioch their charity was sent by the hands of Barnabas and Saul to the brethren at Jerusalem suffering in the famine.[4]

Paul began his ministry systematically here. At Antioch Judaizers from Jerusalem disturbed the church Acts 15:1. Here Paul rebuked Peter for dissimulation (Galatians 2:11-12, the Incident at Antioch). From Antioch Paul started on his first missionary journey Acts 13:1-3, and returned to it Acts 14:26. He began, after the Jerusalem decree, addressed to the Gentile converts at Antioch, and ended, his second missionary journey there Acts 15:36,18:22-23. His third journey also began there. Ignatius was subsequently bishop there for forty years, down to his martyrdom A. D. 107.[5]

The seat of the patriarchate was formerly Antioch, in what is now Turkey. However, in the 15th century, it was moved to Syria in response to the Ottoman invasion.

Some Grecian "ancient synagogal" priestly rites and hymns have survived partially to the present, notably in the distinct church services of the Melkite and Greek Orthodox communities of the Hatay Province of Southern Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Northern Israel. Members of these communities still call themselves Rûm which literally means "Eastern Roman" or Byzantine in Turkish, Persian and Arabic. The term "Rum" is used in preference to "Ionani" which means Greek or "Ionian"

Successive branches

Catholic

• Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East
• Patriarchate of Antioch and of All the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
• Syriac Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch

These are in full communion with the Catholic Church and thus recognise each other's claims. The Catholic Church also appointed a Latin Patriarch of Antioch in 1098 by Bohemond, founder of the Principality of Antioch, one of the crusader states. After the Crusades, this office lasted as titular for many centuries until it was renounced in 1964.

Eastern Orthodox

• Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East

Oriental Orthodox

• Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East

References

1. Smith's Bible Dictionary
2. St. Paul the Traveler and the Roman Citizen by W.M. Ramsay, Chapter 3, The Church in Antioch
3. Easton's Bible Dictionary
4. Faussett's Bible Dictionary
5. Faussett's Bible Dictionary