Church of the East
Major Eastern Christian branch, once spanning Asia from Mesopotamia to China.
The Church of the East, also known as the East Syriac Church, is one of three major branches of Eastern Nicene Christianity that emerged from the Christological controversies of the 5th and 6th centuries. Originating in Mesopotamia during the Parthian Empire, it developed its own unique theology and liturgy, and for centuries was a major Christian presence across Asia, from the Mediterranean to China.
- field
- Eastern Nicene Christianity
- known_for
- Largest Christian denomination by geographical extent between the 9th and 14th centuries; dyophysite Christology; East Syrian rite
- headquarters
- Originally Seleucia-Ctesiphon
- liturgical_rite
- East Syrian rite (Liturgy of Addai and Mari)
Lore & Background
In 424, it declared independence from the state church of the Roman Empire, which it called the 'Church of the West'. It was headed by the Catholicos-Patriarch of the East, a line traditionally traced back to Thomas the Apostle. The church refused to condemn Nestorius after the Council of Ephesus in 431, leading to its being labeled 'Nestorian' by opponents, a term later called a 'lamentable misnomer' by scholars. Theologically, the church adopted the dyophysite doctrine of Theodore of Mopsuestia, emphasizing the distinctiveness of the divine and human natures of Jesus. The church declined rapidly in the 14th century, with active dioceses shrinking from over sixty in the early 11th century to only seven. The rise of Buddhist and Islamic Mongol leadership, the Ming dynasty's expulsion of foreign influences, and the campaigns of Timur nearly eradicated Christian communities in the Middle East. The church faced a major schism in 1552, leading to the formation of the Chaldean Catholic Church, and further splits in the 20th century produced the Assyrian Church of the East and the Ancient Church of the East.
Reader's Guide
The Church of the East is significant as one of the three major branches of Eastern Nicene Christianity, alongside Miaphysitism and Chalcedonian Christianity. Its geographical extent from the 9th to 14th centuries made it the world's largest Christian denomination by area, with communities stretching from the Mediterranean to China and India. Its dyophysite Christology, often mislabeled Nestorian, represents a distinct theological tradition rooted in the School of Antioch. The church's survival as a dhimmi community under Islamic rule and its role in the Mongol court illustrate its adaptability. The schisms of 1552 and 1968 produced the modern Chaldean Catholic Church, Assyrian Church of the East, and Ancient Church of the East, each claiming the heritage of the mother church. The church's legacy includes the East Syrian rite, the Liturgy of Addai and Mari, and the preservation of Syriac Christian traditions among Assyrian communities and the Saint Thomas Syrian Christians of India.
Did You Know?
- The Church of the East declared itself independent of the Roman Empire's church in 424, seven years before the Council of Ephesus condemned Nestorius.
- Between the 9th and 14th centuries, it was the world's largest Christian denomination in terms of geographical extent.
- The church's active dioceses shrank from over sixty in the early 11th century to only seven in the 14th century.
- The Chaldean Catholic Church and the Syro-Malabar Church are Eastern Catholic churches that claim the heritage of the Church of the East.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Church of the East?
It is a major branch of Eastern Nicene Christianity that took root in Mesopotamia during the Parthian period and grew its own distinct theology and worship life. It is also widely called the East Syriac Church.
How geographically large was the Church of the East at its height?
From roughly the 9th through the 14th century it was the single widest-spreading Christian denomination on the planet, with communities ranging from the Mediterranean coast all the way to China.
What Christological position did the Church of the East hold?
It maintained a dyophysite Christology, affirming two natures in Christ, a stance that crystallized during the 5th- and 6th-century controversies that split Eastern Christianity into its three great branches.
What liturgical tradition defined its worship?
The Church followed the East Syrian rite, anchored by the Liturgy of Addai and Mari, which gave its services a character clearly distinct from other Syriac and Greek traditions.
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