The Oriental Orthodox churches are ancient churches which were founded in apostolic times, by apostles or by the apostles' earliest disciples. Their doctrinal position is based on the teachings of the first three ecumenical councils Nicea , Constantinople and Ephesus The Alexandrian school of thought has guided and shaped their theological reflection. The teachings of Saint Cyril the Great constitute the foundation of their Christology.
They are firmly attached to the Cyrilian formula of "One nature of the Word Incarnate". Their theology is biblical, liturgical and patristic, and is embodied in mysticism and spirituality.
The Oriental Orthodox churches, along with those of the Byzantine tradition or Eastern Orthodox, belong to the larger family of the Orthodox churches. The two groups are not in communion with each other.
The breach, which occurred in , marking the first ecclesial division in church history, was about the Christological teaching of the Council of Chalcedon. Through the centuries confrontation and estrangement, but also dialogue and rapprochement have characterized the relations between the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox churches. In , after two decades of unofficial meetings, the two groups engaged in an official theological dialogue, which has resulted in Christological agreements.
The main remaining question is the reception of the agreements in the churches. The history and life of the Oriental Orthodox churches has been marked by ceaseless persecution and massacres under the Byzantine, Persian, Muslim and Ottoman powers.
The sufferings have had a profound impact on their life, witness, theology and spirituality. Yet this life of the cross has not led them to become entirely isolated and introverted. A chief strength was its continuing the great ascetic-monastic traditions that originated in the Egyptian deserts. The Syrian Orthodox Church, which traces its origins to A.
The church suffered severe persecution during the struggle against Hellenistic domination at the time of the council of Chalcedon and later through Mongol invasions and Turkish rule. The patriarchate had to be moved several times, finally being established in Damascus only in the 20th century.
Syrian liturgical and theological life flourished until the 13th century but steadily declined afterwards. In the Antiochian church came into contact with the ancient church of St Thomas Christians in India, which led to the West Syrian liturgy being introduced to the Christians in South India.
Though the Syrian church is vastly reduced in number because of Muslim domination, it has a considerable diaspora in the US, Australia and Europe. In Armenia became the first nation to make Christianity its official religion. Victims of terrible persecution through the centuries, Armenian Christians heroically preserved their apostolic faith. The catholicos of All Armenians resides in Etchmiadzin, Armenia.
There are three ecclesiastical centres within the church apart from Etchmiadzin: the catholicate of Cilicia Antelias, Lebanon , the patriarchate of Jerusalem and the patriarchate of Constantinople. From OrthodoxWiki. Jump to: navigation , search.
Oriental Orthodox Churches. Categories : Jurisdictions Oriental Orthodox. Navigation menu Personal tools Log in Request account. Namespaces Page Discussion. Views Read View source View history. This page was last edited on September 4, , at This page has been accessed , times.
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