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Syriac Christianity
Syriac Christianity is a Christian faith which is considered ancient and near eastern with its adherents for the most part located in the Middle East and in Kerala, India. The liturgy of the religion is Syriac which is a dialect related to the Aramaic of Jesus. Syriac culture is based on the principles of Rabbinic Judaism and the Mesopotamia culture.
Latin and Greek Christian cultures became protected by the Roman and Byzantine empires, the Syriac faith often found itself persecuted. Syrian Christians of India are amongst the oldest Christians on our globe.
The early literature of Syriac include the Diatessaron of Tatian, the Curetonian Gospels and the Syriac Sinaiticus, the Peshitta Bible, the Doctrine of Addai and the writings of Aphrahat and the hymns of Ephrem the Syrian. After the Council of Chalcedon in 451, many within the Roman Empire rebelled against its decisions. The Patriarchate of Antioch was then divided between a Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian communion. The Chalcedonians were often labelled 'Melkites' (Emperor's Party), while their opponents were labelled as Monophysites (those who believe in the one rather than two natures of Christ) and Jacobites (after Jacob Baradaeus). Early in their history Syriac adherents were involved in the mission to India, and many of the ancient churches of India are in communion with their Syriac cousins. These Indian Christians are known as Saint Thomas Christians.
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