What We Believe
The Syriac Orthodox Faith
A faith in accordance with the Nicene Creed — Semitic in culture, ancient in liturgy, and apostolic in origin.
A unique tradition
Why the Syriac Orthodox Church is unique
01
Semitic in nature
It presents a form of Christianity that is Semitic in nature, with a culture not far from the one Christ himself experienced.
02
The language of Christ
It employs in its liturgy the Syriac language, an Aramaic dialect akin to the Aramaic spoken by Christ and the Apostles.
03
An ancient liturgy
Its liturgy is one of the most ancient, handed down faithfully from one generation to the next.
04
One body of Christ
It demonstrates the unity of the body of Christ through the multi-ethnic nature of its faithful across the world.
Faith & Doctrine
In accordance with the Nicene Creed
The faith of the Syriac Orthodox Church is in accordance with the Nicene Creed. It believes in the Trinity — one God subsisting in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The three, being of one Essence and one Godhead, have one Will, one Work and one Lordship.
The Church believes in the mystery of the Incarnation: the Only Son of God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, took to himself a body and became man. At the Annunciation, the Holy Spirit came upon the Virgin Mary, and the Only Son of God entered her immaculate womb and took to himself a body through her, becoming a perfect Man with a perfect Soul. His true Godhead and true Manhood were essentially united — one Lord, one Son, one Nature Incarnate, one Person, one Will, one Work.
The Church calls Mary Yoldath Aloho, 'Bearer of God', because she gave birth to Christ, God truly incarnate. It believes that by his death for us, Christ conferred upon us salvation from eternal death and reconciliation with his Heavenly Father, and that the Holy Spirit — the Spirit of Truth proceeding from the Father — is equal with the Father and the Son.
The Holy Sacraments
Tangible signs designated by the Lord Christ to proclaim divine grace for our sanctification:
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Repentance
- Priesthood
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage
The Three Ecumenical Councils
Conforming to the early Church
The Syriac Orthodox Church conforms to the teachings of the three Ecumenical Councils and rejects the Council of Chalcedon (A.D. 451).
Nicaea
A.D. 325
Constantinople
A.D. 381
Ephesus
A.D. 431