How Syriac Christians almost Conquered Rome
Father Dale A. Johnson
In a brief span of 54 years bridging the 7th-8th centuries five Syrian Popes ruled Rome. How did men of Syrian origin from an oriental environment and heritage find their way to Rome? These were not western men of Italy, Gaul, or Germany. They brought with them Syriac liturgical traditions and prayers such as the Agnus Dei which was completely unknown to Roman Christianity. Processions to the churches, a practice embedded in the traditions of Syriac speaking Christians in Jerusalem and Antioch, appeared in Rome with the arrival of these Syrian Popes.
The Historical Mission of Pantenus in South India
Dn. Prince Paulose Mannathoor
The origin of Christianity in Malankara is closely connected with the evangelization of India by St.Thomas. According to the Apostle Thomas landed on the Malabar Coast in A.D. 52, preached the Holy Gospel and he established Christian communities in India. Before the end of the second century, these Christians came into closer contacts with Alexandria(1). The main after effects of this contact, the Alexandrian Church sent a missionary to India for Pastoral care and spiritual guidance. That missionary, Pantenus came to India and he gave the spiritual knowledge to the Malankara people. We have only a few historical documents to get information about the works of Pantenus.
Dreams Come True
Shinosh Geevarghese Philip
Visiting nations and communicating with people, has been a desire that I cherish. Being a member of the Syriac Orthodox Church, to be able to meet with the Spiritual Head of the Church, had been my dream. Ever since childhood, my desire to meet with HH, deepened. During the Apostolic visit of His Holiness 1982, I was not born. Nevertheless, as and when I listened to my mother’s narrations and read souvenirs published on HH’s historic visit, I used to wish and wistfully pray that our Holy Father might visit Malankara once again to bless his spiritual children. In 2000, when HH visited Malankara to attend to the Bishopric Golden Jubilee of the Chief Metropolitan of the East, for me it was a dream come true.
FROM PREVIOUS EDITION
Stone-Cold
Evidence for Syriac Christians in China in the First Century?
Father Dale A. Johnson
In 303 AD, Arnobius, in "Adversus Gentes", speaks of the Seres as among the nations reached by "that new power which has arisen from the works done by the Lord and his Apostles. Arnobius speaks of the Chinese as "united in the faith of Christ." Earlier Christian traditions suggested that either Saints Thomas or Bartholomew first visited China.
King David - Psalm 71
Rev. Samuel Issa
The three first verses in this Psalm can possibly originate from the Psalm 31.[9] In a closer look at the meaning of”taking refuge” or “seeking refuge in the Lord”; many scholars suggest that there was an old custom, that if you where condemned for any religious or moral reasons you could seek asylum in the sanctuary to be forgiven and let off. This is can be clearly viewed in I Kings 1:50, which state: Adonijah, fearing Solomon, got up and went to grasp the horns of the altar and was forgiven.
Resurrection
Message
H.H. Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch
At this blessed season of resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we have great joy in reaching you all through this message. St. Paul the blessed apostle, praising the resurrection of Lord, proclaims: "Death is swolled up in victory" (I Cor. 15:54).
