Both the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch are known as “Antiochian” to this day, but neither are actually based in Antioch (Antakya)-and in fact, they haven’t been for centuries!
You would expect that the Antiochian Patriarchates of all the East are based in Antioch, the cradle of Christianity-even maintaining the namesake of it, though this is not so by any means, and hasn’t been the case for a long time. But that raises the question: Why?
In short, it’s because the balance of power in the Levant shifted over the years, such that Antioch was no longer the most prosperous city, and the Antiochian Orthodox/Syriac Orthodox Churches lost their influence in Antioch proper, leading to forcible and voluntary relocation of the seat of the Patriarchate.
Let’s first consider the individual circumstances of each, so we have more context.
Antioch in 34 A.D. was the place where Jesus’ disciples were first known as Christians. The Patriarchate was set up in Antioch, and it was soon an important city in the early Roman Empire, with Antioch quickly becoming a thriving hub for early Christianity.
Apostles Paul and Barnabas were first declared as Christians in early Antioch
Missionaries who helped spread the new faith were based in Antioch, and Christian theological studies were also commonplace, with Antioch even rivaling Alexandria in their theological studies! Two schools of thought, with differing interpretations of Christianity’s theology, gradually emerged.
Early Church Battle Royale: Alexandria vs. Antioch
However, in the year 451 AD, another split occurred.
During the Fourth Ecumenical Council, a schism arose-in summary, the Council issued the Chalcedonian Definition, which distanced from the concept of a single nature in Christ, and ruled that He has two natures in one person, and hypostasis. This ruling was not accepted by many, and they broke away and formed the Oriental Orthodox Churches (the Syriac Orthodox Church is included in this), while the factions which accepted it formed the Eastern Orthodox church (which includes the Antiochian Orthodox Church.)
The Fourth Ecumenical Council in progress
The Romans generally favoured the pro-Chalcedonians (in this, case, the Eastern Orthodox Church), which considerably weakened the Syriac Orthodox Church, and by 518 AD, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, Severus of Antioch, went into exile, and did not go back.
Severus of Antioch, exiled in 518 A.D.
The Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate ended up in many different locations after this, such as Halab (Aleppo), Malatya, Diyarbakir, Mardin, and Homs. Eventually, the Patriarchate was relocated to Damascus in 1959, where it remains seated to this day, in St George’s Cathedral.
St. George’s Cathedral, Bab Tuma, Damascus, Syria
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate initially fared better in Antioch, when considering the Roman support it was receiving in contrast to the opposition the Syriac patriarchate was facing, it was doing quite well. It also remained in communion with Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, and Jerusalem, and this maintained good relations among them.
This prosperity was short-lived, though, and would lead to the Patriarchate’s downfall in Antioch.
After the Rashidun conquest of Antioch in 637 A.D, the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch was seen as being allied to the Romano-Byzantine enemies of the Arabs. Subsequently, Antiochian Orthodox Christians underwent significant persecution, and there were several periods of vacancy or non-residence of the Antiochian patriarch during the 7th and 8th centuries.
Rashidun conquest of Antioch
However, in 969 A.D, the Romans were able to retake Antioch, and accordingly, the Patriarchate revived and prospered once again, until the Seljuks took Antioch in 1085 A.D. This was quickly countered, though, with the Crusader conquest of Antioch, happening a mere 13 years later, in 1098 A.D.
Siege of Antioch, leading to a Crusader victory over the city
By the time the Crusaders took Antioch, the Patriarchate in Antioch was gradually diminishing in influence, with the liturgy having been replaced by that of the Hagia Sophia, and another Patriarch having been seated in Constantinople as well.
In 1268, the Mamluks took Antioch, and the Patriarch, Theodosius IV, returned to the city. However, Antioch had gradually lost its’ prominence over the years, having greatly diminished by this time. Therefore, in the 14th century, Patriarch Ignatius II transferred the seat of the Patriarch to the Mariamite Cathedral in Damascus, where it remains to this day.
Mariamite Cathedral, Bab Touma, Damascus, Syria
So, in essence, the wider Oriental/Eastern Orthodox split led to the exodus of both Churches, one after the other, where they both sit in Damascus today, but still retain the memory of their rich past in Antioch.
