REESH CHURCH (VALIYA PALLY)
To recognize the prominence of Kuwait’s St. George Universal Syrian Orthodox Church as the first Syrian Orthodox Church in Kuwait and its steadfast allegiance to the holy Patriarchal Throne of Antioch and All the East, the church was blessed and elevated to the status of “Reesh Church” (Valiya Palli) by H.H. Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East. The public declaration took place on 3 December 2010 at NECK with great solemnity.
St. George Universal Syrian Orthodox Church, Kuwait—established in 1973—is the mother church of the two other Syrian Orthodox Churches in Kuwait. It was founded with the blessings of His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Yacoub III, the Patriarch of Antioch & All the East, under the auspices of H.G. (late lamented) Dr. Paulose Mor Athanasius (Kadavil).
As part of the official declaration of the blessed Kalpana, the church organized a Holy Tri-Mass with H.B. Baselious Thomas I Catholicos as the chief celebrant, assisted by H.G. Mathews Mor Theodosius Metropolitan (Patriarchal Vicar for Kuwait Parishes) and H.G. Mathews Mor Aprem Metropolitan, at NECK at 6 AM, followed by a public meeting at 7 PM. Distinguished dignitaries and religious leaders attended the function.
Patriarchal Vicar H.G. Mor Theodosius Mathews Metropolitan and H.E. Mor Mathews Aprem Metropolitan were also present during the press meet to brief the public about the “Reesh Church” declaration. St. George Universal Syrian Orthodox Church, Kuwait, began in 1973 with 13 Jacobite Malayalee families who professed allegiance to the Patriarch of Antioch for worship and spiritual nourishment.
Today, the church has 800 families with around 3,000 members.
Our Faith
The faith of the Syrian Orthodox Church includes belief in the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation of the Son of God, the divine origin of Holy Scripture and apostolic traditions, the Nicene Creed, the seven sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation/Mooron, Holy Eucharist, Penance, Ordination, Matrimony, Unction of the Sick), the intercession of St. Mary and the Saints, prayer for the departed, prayer, fasting, lent, and the Apostolic succession of St. Peter through the Throne of Antioch.
The Church recognizes the first three Ecumenical Councils—Nicea, Constantinople, and Ephesus. The Nicene Creed remains the official creed of the Church.
The Holy Qurbana (Eucharist) is regarded as the queen of all sacraments in the Syrian Orthodox tradition. For the administration of the sacraments, the Church uses fixed written prayers and symbolic signs. These prayers and all other liturgies are fully based on the Holy Bible and are rich in theological meaning.
Syrian Orthodox Church
The Syrian Orthodox Church is the Church of Antioch, whose origins trace back to the dawn of Christianity, when Antioch was the capital of Syria and one of the three major cities of the Roman Empire. The Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch is believed to be the first Christian church established by the Apostle St. Peter in 37 A.D.
After establishing the church in Jerusalem, St. Peter came to Antioch, set his throne there, and built churches. It was in Antioch that the followers of Jesus were first called Christians: “The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). From Antioch, St. Peter travelled to Tyre, Sidon, Caesarea, Beirut, Tripoli, Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Bithynia, and Asia to preach the Gospel. Before beginning his missionary travels, he consecrated Evodius and Ignatius as his successors in Antioch.
February 22 is observed as the date of the establishment of the Throne of St. Peter at Antioch.
The Syrian Orthodox Church has preserved the ancient culture and language of Syria along with the valuable literature and liturgies of the Apostolic Church of Antioch. The Church enjoys great prestige in Christian history, with a rich liturgical and musical heritage, and a profound theological and missionary legacy. The Church still uses Syriac-Aramaic, the language spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ. Over the centuries, it suffered hardships, persecution, and displacement, including repeated relocations of the Patriarchate, until it finally settled in Damascus, Syria.
The supreme head of the Syrian Orthodox Church is the Patriarch of Antioch & All the East, who presides over the Holy Synod, the assembly of bishops. The present Patriarch (since 2014) is His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, who resides in Lebanon. The Church has about 26 archdioceses and 11 Patriarchal Vicariates, with the majority of members in India and the rest across Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Europe, the Americas, and Australia.
Since 1293, the Patriarchs of Antioch have adopted the name Ignatius in honor of St. Ignatius the Illuminator.
The See of Antioch continues to flourish with His Holiness Ignatius Aphrem II as the 123rd Patriarch in the legitimate apostolic succession.
History of Indian Christianity
St. Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Christ, founded the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church in Kerala, India. It is believed that St. Thomas came to India, preached the Gospel, established the Church, and was martyred there. He arrived in Cranganore (Kodungalloor) in 52 A.D., founded churches at seven locations—Cranganore, Palur, Paraur, Gokkamangalam, Niranam, Chayal, and Quilon—and ordained prelates and priests from four Brahmin families: Pakalomattom, Sankarapuri, Kali, and Kalikavu.
Later, he travelled to the east coast of South India and then to China and Malacca. On his return, he was martyred at St. Thomas Mount in Chennai and was buried in Mylapore. In the 4th century, his relics were transferred to Edessa (Urha) by order of the Patriarch of Antioch. The transfer of relics on 3 July is celebrated as St. Thomas Day by Syrian Christians in India.
In the following centuries, the Christian communities founded by the Apostle declined in number due to the absence of regular ecclesiastical connection with the Church in the Middle East. A major revival occurred in A.D. 345 when a large Christian group from the Syrian province of the Roman Empire migrated to Malankara under the leadership of Knai Thoma. This group included Metropolitan Joseph of Edessa and several priests who helped strengthen the episcopacy of the Malankara Church.
As a result of this migration, the whole Christian community in Kerala came to be known as Syrian Christians, adopting the rituals and liturgies of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch. The migrants were known as Knanaya Syrian Christians, and the native Christians were called Malankara Syrian Christians.
The local head of the Church in Malankara (India) is the Catholicose of the East, who remains under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Antioch. The Catholicose is consecrated by the Patriarch and presides over the Malankara Holy Synod.
The current Catholicose of the East is His Beatitude Aboon Mor Baselios Joseph.