An Introduction to Early Syriac Christianity & Syrian Monastic Spirituality
Christianity is like a three-legged stool that requires three legs to stand firm.
There are Eastern Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, Protestant Churches, and Syrian Christianity.
Most of Jesus' disciples, except Apostle Paul, went to the East and witnessed and martyred there according to traditions. They covered vast territories and intermingled with different cultures, languages, and ethnicities, yet they remained distinctively Eastern and Syriac.
In order to understand the whole counsel of God, one needs to revisit Syrian Christianity, which began in the first century that moved to the East and beyond. It had over 1000 years of spreading, maintaining, and prospering churches, schools, and monastic communities and martyrs. Her missionary activities cover Asia Minor, Armenia, Iraq, Central Asia, India, and China. She also produced many theologians, spiritual writers, mystics, monuments, and architecture.
But with the rise of Islam and the invasion of Mongols, along with other factors, Syrian Christianity began to decline and almost threatened her existence. Syrian Christian Orthodox Church's headquarter is located in Damascus, Syria. Thanks to their migrations to Europe, the U.S.A, and other parts of the world, they began settling and flourishing again. There are many Syrian Christianity churches throughout North America.
This seminar will focus on her beginning, theology, spirituality, missionary activities, and future.
Lecturer: Dr. Alexander T Pak
Seminar Fee: TBA
Date: TBA
Lecture note only: 9.99