West and East Syriac: Differences?

[Madaglan]

I still have a lot to learn about the Churches of the far east. I know there is a distinction between ths West Syriac Liturgical traditions and the East Syriac Liturgical traditions. The question I have is, what are the differences between the two, and which Churches (Catholic and Orthodox) belong to which group? The Melkites and Maronites belong to West Syriac, right?

Thanks.

 

[Isa_Almisry]

I still have a lot to learn about the Churches of the far east. I know there is a distinction between ths West Syriac Liturgical traditions and the East Syriac Liturgical traditions. The question I have is, what are the differences between the two, and which Churches (Catholic and Orthodox) belong to which group? The Melkites and Maronites belong to West Syriac, right?

Thanks.

The West Syriac are the OO, the East Assyrian/Nestorian.

This goes on to the St Thomas Christians, Malankara OO, Malabar Assyrian/Nestorian.

The Melkites and Maronites are West Syriac, but the Melkites have had their native rites suppressed by Constantinople and Maronites independent (had been Monothelites).

Btw there are dialect diffences. West o, East aa; W ay, E aay; W aw, E aaw; W H, E Kh; W f E p; W b E v.

 

[Hesychios]

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I see Isa has pretty much laid it out already. I might muse a little bit on this.

I still have a lot to learn about the Churches of the far east. I know there is a distinction between ths West Syriac Liturgical traditions and the East Syriac Liturgical traditions. The question I have is, what are the differences between the two, and which Churches (Catholic and Orthodox) belong to which group? The Melkites and Maronites belong to West Syriac, right?

Thanks.

I find the Melkites interesting because their roots are in the West Syrian tradition, which may be reflected in their spirituality and hymnography. Likewise for the Antiochian Orthodox (Melkite Orthodox). Perhaps Isa can share a bit more about that.

As the question concerns liturgy only, the Melkite church and the Antiochian Orthodox church are to be listed as Byzantine tradition churches (which BTW, although it ‘came together’ at the Great church and monasteries of Constantinople, derives from Antioch as well, and it’s Typicon can show influence from the Palestinian monastery of St Sabbas). Prior to that they would have used the liturgy of St James as the other Antiochian bodies.

As stated, the Maronites, Jacobites and Syriac Catholics are of (and continue) the West Syrian liturgical tradition.

The Assyrian Church of the East and the Chaldean church are East Syrian liturgical tradition. The Syro-Malabar in India church derives from this, being possibly the largest remnant of the once enormous Church of the East which spread from Mesopotamia across the belly of Asia and into China. These are Saint Thomas Christians, in that they point to the roots of their church in the evangelizing work of Saint Thomas the Apostle in India.

There is also a large Jacobite church in India, as well as the Syro-Malankara Catholic church which separated from it.

Their story (the Jacobites) is interesting in that they were originally rooted in the East Syrian Saint Thomas church. Once the Portuguese arrived they were incorporated into the Roman Catholic church as a rite. In reaction to some heavy handedness by the Portuguese Jesuits, a popular revolt broke out and many thousands separated themselves from the latinizing Syro-Malabar rite of the Roman Catholic church (see “Coonan Cross Incident”).

Apparently a lot of priests left with their parishes, but the Roman Catholic church was able to reclaim a great number of these parishes through the efforts of Italian Carmelites who replaced the Jesuits (various Carmelite orders are huge in southern India to this day).

The faction that separated did not have bishops, and efforts to reconnect with the Assyrian Patriarch came to nothing, so they affiliated with the Jacobite Patriarch of Antioch (being happy to accomodate them) and essentially went from being in the East Syrian tradition to the West Syrian tradition! (Not only that, this move required them to make a great backflip to the Council of Ephesus, rejecting every Roman Catholic or Orthodox endorsed Council from Trent to Chalcedon, and changed their Christology from Diaphysite to Monophysite.)

The Syro-Malankara church derives from this, when about 1930 Mar Ivanios left the Jacobite church with some followers for submission to Rome, but did not return to the Syro-Malabar church (I suppose they would have loved to get him). They were allowed by the Pope to keep their familiar West Syrian liturgical practices and a separate hierarchy.

Michael

 

[jimmy]

I still have a lot to learn about the Churches of the far east. I know there is a distinction between ths West Syriac Liturgical traditions and the East Syriac Liturgical traditions. The question I have is, what are the differences between the two, and which Churches (Catholic and Orthodox) belong to which group? The Melkites and Maronites belong to West Syriac, right?

Thanks.

The Maronites belong to the west syriac heritage. This corresponds to the Syrian Orthodox. The Syrian Catholics I believe would be east syriac. The Church of the East is east syrian. I believe the Melkites are west syrian but they have been heavily byzantinized and now use the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. They still hold onto a large amount of Syrian heritage I believe though.

 

[jimmy]

There is a great deal of variety in eastern Christianity and it is very interesting. You should check out the knanaya Catholics. They are interesting.

 

[bpbasilphx]

The Eucharistic Liturgies of the Syriac Orthodox Church (west syrian)

sor.cua.edu/Liturgy/Anaphora/Eucharist.html

and Assyrian Church of the East (east syrian–former nestorian) are on line:

cired.org/liturgy/apostles.html

The forms used by their Catholic counterparts–Syriac Catholics and Chaldean Catholics will be somewhat different. The Assyrian Liturgy of Ss. Addai and Mari (the principal one) is unusual in that it lacks the Words of Institution.

 

[bpbasilphx]

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They are west Syrian–sometimes called “Jacobite” or “Monophysite” but this last may be inaccurate; they themselves repudiate it.

 

[Manofvirtue]

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