Patriarch of Antioch

[abicathen]

I was just going through many historical events and documents on Syriac churches. What I could see is that syrian orthodox church is a church which flourished under Abbassid Caliphate which then had around 20 metropolitan sees and 100s of bishops in and around AD 900.
I could see the following events:

In and around AD 758, George I was selected as Patriarch of Antioch. He was not recognised by a section of bsihops. Caliph Al Mansoor selected David of Dara as Patriarch. George was imprisoned. Later Caliph, Al Mahdi killed David of Dara.

In and around 1222, Ignatius III David was selected as Patriarch of Antioch. But another section of bishops selected Dyonicous Angur as patriarch. In 1261, Patriarch Angur was murdered violently or is assasinated. Only then, Ignatius David could assume his patriachal duties.

In 1484, Ignatius John Shayallah was selected patrairch of Antioch. He was a companion of previous patriarch Khalaf. Before Maphrian reached at Mardin, he secured his election. It is said that later Patriarch, Ignatiu Yeshu (1509-1510) poisoned Patriarch Ignatius Shyallah to death in 1493.

When Ignatius George II was the patriach (1687), there were 5 counter patriarchs.

How can we justify these events? How these events happen in a church where bishops and patriarchs are completely ascetic in nature. I am asking these questions because, these days syrian orthodox church is under study by major scholars and Pope Francis is inviting the patriarch for major events and giving him the prominent position as the church also claims primacy.

 

[Alexandria2020]

How can we justify these events? How these events happen in a church where bishops and patriarchs are completely ascetic in nature. I am asking these questions because, these days syrian orthodox church is under study by major scholars and Pope Francis is inviting the patriarch for major events and giving him the prominent position as the church also claims primacy.

I can’t say much about the history and stuff. But even going by their recent history- it seems like the Muslim leaders always had an influence in selecting/removing the head of their church ( Ignatius Abded Mshiho II’s deposition in 1903 for example).

But the Catholic Church shares a good relationship with the Syriac Orthodox Church. I think there’s an inter-marriage agreement between the Catholic and Syriac Orthodox churches. The Indian faction of this Syriac Orthodox Church - a small part of it united with Rome in 1930 to form the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church.

 

[Margaret_Ann]

@Elvis_George had a series of posts on the history of the Syro-Malabar Church iirc. @Elvis_George, can you please help the OP?

 

[poche]

You are talking about events that happened many years ago. Obviously there is no justification for murder and intrigue. Who knows where those men are today. That is why we pray for the poor souls in Purgatory.

 

[Elvis_George]

What you have stated has occurred in all Churches…plus, a lot of those are allegations, especially the story of the poisoning. For some weird reason, factionalism is a major problem in the Syriac Churches, especially in West Syriac Churches in India, in the past, the Syriac Orthodox Church,and to a lesser degree, to the Syro Malabar church. We can’t justify any actions, but nor can we accuse them because the same thing has happened in the Roman Catholic Church (the Papal Schism.) And the Syriac Orthodox Church these days,are probably being studied by because it is a very ancient church that has not changed much and unlike the other Orthodox churches, support ecumenicalism to the core, even allowing us Catholics in receiving their Sacraments and such…i