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St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Syrian Mission Parish in Spokane, Washington, is a church of South and West Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India (a.k.a. Indian Orthodoxy) — a branch of Oriental Orthodox Christianity. Oriental Orthodoxy is one of the earliest forms of Christianity, preserved in the churches of North Africa, the Middle East, and India. Despite many hardships and persecutions, Orthodox Christians have maintained the original practices and ancient faith taught by our Lord Jesus Christ through the past 2,000 years. |
Our History
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After the day of Pentecost, the apostles began to carry the gospel beyond their homeland as commissioned by Our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:16–20). While St. Paul brought the faith to the Greeks and Rome, the other apostles and disciples began to move beyond the boundaries of the Roman Empire. St. Peter, before traveling to Rome, went first to Babylon (in modern Iraq), and then to Antioch, while St. Thomas carried the new faith to Persia (Iran) and India, in 52 CE. St. Simon (Mar Shimun Knanaya), St. Thaddeus (Mar Addai) and St. Bartholomew preached in Armenia and parts of Persia. St. Mark brought the faith to Egypt, and St. Matthew to the area of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Where the apostles and disciples went, they established Churches, ordaining bishops, priests, and deacons by the laying on of hands. They imparted the faith they had learned from our Lord, and entrusted their followers with the apostolic traditions still preserved by the Oriental Orthodox Churches — the celebration of the Holy Eucharist (called “Qurbana,” literally meaning “gift, offering or oblation” originating from Mark 7:11), and the other sacraments of the Church. Long before all the books of the New Testament were written and gathered, Christianity had found a home among people of many ethnic groups and nations around the world.
The name “Orthodox” means “right worship” and was adopted by Christians in the early centuries outside of Europe and used it to contend with the many heresies the early church faced such as Gnosticism and Arianism. Likewise, in 1054 after the Great Schism, the Christian church of the West started using the term “Catholic,” referring to the universality of the faith.
The faith of Oriental Orthodoxy centers on the Bible and traditions established by the three Ecumenical Councils of Nicea (A.D. 325), Constantinople (A.D. 381) and Ephesus (A.D. 431). Oriental Orthodox Christianity is often coined as “sister church” to the larger Eastern Orthodox counterpart. The Indian Orthodox churches are in communion with the other Oriental Orthodox Churches namely, the Syriac, Alexandrian, Armenian, Eritrean and Ethiopian Orthodox Churches. Additionally, it also shares partial Communion with some Eastern Orthodox Churches, and partial Communion with Roman and Eastern Catholic Churches. Partial Communion is allowed for pastoral care and includes the sharing of Holy Baptism, Holy Chrismation (Confirmation), Holy Eucharist (Communion), Holy Confession, and Holy Unction (Anointing of the Sick).
Over 60 million people are members of Oriental Orthodox Churches, and their numbers are increasing in the US and Canada. If you are interested in leading a life of holiness, in following our Lord in the path of peace and charity, you may be interested in joining the Oriental Orthodox faith.
Where the apostles and disciples went, they established Churches, ordaining bishops, priests, and deacons by the laying on of hands. They imparted the faith they had learned from our Lord, and entrusted their followers with the apostolic traditions still preserved by the Oriental Orthodox Churches — the celebration of the Holy Eucharist (called “Qurbana,” literally meaning “gift, offering or oblation” originating from Mark 7:11), and the other sacraments of the Church. Long before all the books of the New Testament were written and gathered, Christianity had found a home among people of many ethnic groups and nations around the world.
The name “Orthodox” means “right worship” and was adopted by Christians in the early centuries outside of Europe and used it to contend with the many heresies the early church faced such as Gnosticism and Arianism. Likewise, in 1054 after the Great Schism, the Christian church of the West started using the term “Catholic,” referring to the universality of the faith.
The faith of Oriental Orthodoxy centers on the Bible and traditions established by the three Ecumenical Councils of Nicea (A.D. 325), Constantinople (A.D. 381) and Ephesus (A.D. 431). Oriental Orthodox Christianity is often coined as “sister church” to the larger Eastern Orthodox counterpart. The Indian Orthodox churches are in communion with the other Oriental Orthodox Churches namely, the Syriac, Alexandrian, Armenian, Eritrean and Ethiopian Orthodox Churches. Additionally, it also shares partial Communion with some Eastern Orthodox Churches, and partial Communion with Roman and Eastern Catholic Churches. Partial Communion is allowed for pastoral care and includes the sharing of Holy Baptism, Holy Chrismation (Confirmation), Holy Eucharist (Communion), Holy Confession, and Holy Unction (Anointing of the Sick).
Over 60 million people are members of Oriental Orthodox Churches, and their numbers are increasing in the US and Canada. If you are interested in leading a life of holiness, in following our Lord in the path of peace and charity, you may be interested in joining the Oriental Orthodox faith.