Oriental Orthodoxy in Iraq

Oriental Orthodoxy in Iraq is the majority of Christianity in Iraq. Many of them are members of the Syriac Orthodox Church. The Syriac Orthodox Church is headed by a patriarch in Damascus. There are Armenians in Iraq, who belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church. A sizable population have fled from Iraq following the US invasion and subsequent conflicts. Most Oriental Orthodox Christians are of ethnic Iraqi-Assyrian heritage, who make up about 500,000. The other significant minority of Oriental Orthodox Christians are ethnic Armenians. Christians are present in Baghdad, Basra, Mosul and northern Iraq.[1][2][3]

Not to be confused with Eastern Orthodoxy in Iraq.
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Syriac Orthodox Mar Mattai Monastery near Mosul

History
Main articles: Maphrian and Council of Capharthutha

The early history of Oriental Orthodoxy on the territory of modern-day Iraq was marked by constant Byzantine-Sasanian wars during the period between 5th and 7th century. In that period, major part of the Mesopotamia region was ruled by the Sassanian Empire (Persia). Since official Persian religion was Zoroastrianism, all Christian communities in the region were under constant pressure, and suffered occasional persecutions. Also, relations between different Christian communities was marked by frequent theological disputes and constant rivalry.[4]

During that time, Oriental Orthodox Christians in the region kept their traditional ties with the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch. In order to consolidate ecclesiastical structure of Oriental Orthodox churches within the Sassanian Empire, the Patriarchate decided to appoint theologian Marutha of Tikrit as metropolitan over all Oriental Orthodox dioceses in the Empire (629), granting him the title of maphrian.[5]

See also

References
  1. "Minorities in Iraq: EU Research Service" (PDF).
  2. "Iraqi Christians displaced by ISIL find solace in Baghdad". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
  3. "christians in baghdad - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
  4. Meyendorff 1989.
  5. Meyendorff 1989, p. 285.

Sources
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