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Miscenlanous:Churches of the Coptic Communion
The Oriental Orthodox, or Miaphysite (sometimes called also Monophysite by their Chalcedonian opponents) are in many ways a negation of Nestorianism. Not merely in the the Christological doctrine (with the Oriental Orthodox claiming that the human nature of Christ practically dissolved in the divine), but also in terms of canonical jurisdiction. In contrast to the unified Church of the East, the Miaphysite communion is a fellowship of separate national churches, led by the Coptic Pope, who is however a primus inter pares.
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The Oriental Orthodox tradition is strong in the Middle East, especially among the speakers of Afro-Asiatic languages. The most senior is of course the Coptic Orthodox Church based in Kashromi, Egypt. Under its jurisdiction is basically the entire Nile Valley, with Coptic being the main liturgical language, but Geez and Nubian have also been elevated to the languages of liturgy in Ethiopia and Nubia respectively. Ethiopia´s position within the organization of the church is rather specific, with Ethiopian demands to be granted full autocephaly. To make matters even more interesting, the Coptic Church also claims the Somali coast as its own canonical territory, due it being on the African continent.
The Coptic Orthodox Church has a very strong monastic tradition, and has also quite a few elements derived from Jewish tradition.
The Syriac Orthodox Church, also known sometimes as the Jacobite Church, is the largest of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in terms of geographic extent. Originally formed as a parallel institution to the Melkite Patriarchate of Antioch, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs are now based in Damascus. The liturgical language of the Church is classical Syriac. However, relations with the Church of the East (Nestorianism) are openly hostile (1). Throughout the centuries, it has created two autocephalous bodies: the Maphrianate of the East (blue), based in Tagrit, to encompass Mesopotamia, Persia and Central Asia; and the Maphrianate of the South to encompass the lands of Yemen and Himyar, Hijaz and the Somali coast. Both the regions of Hejaz and Najd are disputed between Damascus and the southern Maphrians; due to the political weakening of the Syriac Orthodox Church (being ruled by Nestorian Seljuqs), it appears that the Yemen Maphrianate has now the upper hand in the bargaining. Moreover, the populace speaks Arabic, not Aramaic in the areas.
Armenian Apostolic Church was one of the first national churches to gain autocephaly, and is very specifiically tied to Armenian national identity. The Church has to deal with the heresy of Paulicianism, but also with a growing number of converts to Rhomaic Orthodoxy, especially in the areas controlled by the Rhomaic Empire.
Etchmiadzin, the seat of the Catholikos of Armenia
Detatched from it is the Church of Aghbania, covering the lower Kura and Araxes valleys, plus the Steppe lands north of the Caucasus, between the Pontic and the Caspian Seas
(1) Perhaps a parallel to the Sunni-Shia relations?
View attachment 500154
The Oriental Orthodox tradition is strong in the Middle East, especially among the speakers of Afro-Asiatic languages. The most senior is of course the Coptic Orthodox Church based in Kashromi, Egypt. Under its jurisdiction is basically the entire Nile Valley, with Coptic being the main liturgical language, but Geez and Nubian have also been elevated to the languages of liturgy in Ethiopia and Nubia respectively. Ethiopia´s position within the organization of the church is rather specific, with Ethiopian demands to be granted full autocephaly. To make matters even more interesting, the Coptic Church also claims the Somali coast as its own canonical territory, due it being on the African continent.
The Coptic Orthodox Church has a very strong monastic tradition, and has also quite a few elements derived from Jewish tradition.
The Syriac Orthodox Church, also known sometimes as the Jacobite Church, is the largest of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in terms of geographic extent. Originally formed as a parallel institution to the Melkite Patriarchate of Antioch, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs are now based in Damascus. The liturgical language of the Church is classical Syriac. However, relations with the Church of the East (Nestorianism) are openly hostile (1). Throughout the centuries, it has created two autocephalous bodies: the Maphrianate of the East (blue), based in Tagrit, to encompass Mesopotamia, Persia and Central Asia; and the Maphrianate of the South to encompass the lands of Yemen and Himyar, Hijaz and the Somali coast. Both the regions of Hejaz and Najd are disputed between Damascus and the southern Maphrians; due to the political weakening of the Syriac Orthodox Church (being ruled by Nestorian Seljuqs), it appears that the Yemen Maphrianate has now the upper hand in the bargaining. Moreover, the populace speaks Arabic, not Aramaic in the areas.
Armenian Apostolic Church was one of the first national churches to gain autocephaly, and is very specifiically tied to Armenian national identity. The Church has to deal with the heresy of Paulicianism, but also with a growing number of converts to Rhomaic Orthodoxy, especially in the areas controlled by the Rhomaic Empire.
Etchmiadzin, the seat of the Catholikos of Armenia
Detatched from it is the Church of Aghbania, covering the lower Kura and Araxes valleys, plus the Steppe lands north of the Caucasus, between the Pontic and the Caspian Seas
(1) Perhaps a parallel to the Sunni-Shia relations?
- Tomislav Addai
- Word Count: 480