Ancient Church of the East

At the beginning of the 1960s, the Church of the East was under patriarch Mar Eshai Shimun XXIII, who had been exiled from Iraq in 1933 and forced to relocate to the United States in 1940. Around 1962, the church hierarchy consisted of two metropolitans and four bishops, all based in the Middle East and Asia, along with the patriarch who resided in the United States.

Mar Thoma Darmo, was the metropolitan of the archdiocese of India which is known as Chaldean Syrian Church in India from the time of his ordination in 1952 by patriarch Mar Eshai Shimun XXIII. An article posted in the United Kingdom in 1955 regarding hereditary succession caught the attention of Mar Thoma Darmo in 1960, and as a response, he published a book speaking against the practice of hereditary succession as un-canonical. Hereditary succession, although un-canonical and forbidden in the synodal canons of the Church of the East, was in effect in the Church of the East since the 15th century. Mar Thoma Darmo's attitude regarding hereditary succession frustrated the Patriarch, and the relations between the two broke down. Mar Eshai Shimun XXIII visited the diocese in India during 1961-62, but the situation only deteriorated when after his visit concluded, Shimun XXI Eshai appointed an advisory board which consisted of members hostile to the metropolitan. The decision was not enacted, and a decree in 1963 appointing Rev. Anthony Chackola, a local priest, as the administrator of the diocese also did not materialise. Mar Eshai Shimun XXIII ordered Mar Thoma Darmo to appear before the patriarch in San Francisco, California, who was not able to due to the fact that Mar Thoma Darmo had renounced his original Syrian citizenship in order to obtain Indian citizenship. The patriarch, in mind of the previous developments, viewed this an act of continued disobedience on part of Mar Thoma Darmo and suspended him in January 1964. The majority of the clergy and faithful of the Chaldean Syrian Church ignored the suspension order and continued to adhere to Mar Thoma Darmo, and they were known as the 'Metropolitan Group.' A smaller faction obeyed the patriarchal decree, and were known as the 'Patriarchal Group,' under Rev. Anthony Chackola, who acted as the patriarchal administrator.

In early 1964, metropolitan Mar Yosip Khnanisho visited the United States for surgical treatment and met with Mar Eshai Shimun XXIII in San Francisco, California. As the patriarch was unable to visit his prelates based in the Middle East, the two were able to discuss church related matters in person. It was agreed to adopt the Gregorian calendar in its entirety. The decision was enacted in the patriarchal epistle dated for Easter 1964, to take effect for Advent later that year. A number of clergy and faithful in Iraq and Syria disapproved of the decision and looked for other means. As the decree was enacted after the suspension of Mar Thoma Darmo in January 1964, it had no effect on the 'Metropolitan Group' in India, and they continued to use the Julian calendar.

The situation only worsened, and by 1965, the Old Calendarists in Iraq placed themselves under the leadership of Rev. Isaac Enwia, a priest based in Baghdad. In Khabour, Syria several priests continued to use the Julian calendar. Several prominent laity also supported the efforts of the Old Calendarists to organise themselves, and by 1967, plans were made to bring Mar Thoma Darmo to Iraq in order to organise the Old Calendarists in Iraq and Syria. At that point, the relationship between the patriarch and metropolitan was beyond reconciliation.

The Ancient Church of the East recognizes the following nine positions in its hierarchy:

1. Patriarch
2. Metropolitan (Archbishop)
3. Bishop
4. Archdeacon
5. Chorbishop
6. Priest
7. Deacon
8. Subdeacon
9. Reader

The Patriarch is the supreme head of the church, and oversees all dioceses of the church. The church has an episcopal polity, meaning it is organized into dioceses, each headed by a bishop. Dioceses are organized into Ecclesiastical provinces under the authority of a Metropolitan. Each diocese is made up of several parish communities. The individual parishes are staffed by at least one priest. Priests are assisted by Deacons, Subdeacons, and Readers. All members of the clergy may preach, baptize, witness marriages, and conduct funeral liturgies, though Deacons, Subdeacons, and Readers assume an assistant's role. Only those ranking above a deacon can celebrate the sacraments of the Eucharist, though others may be ministers of Holy Communion. Administering the sacrament of holy orders (ordaining someone into the clergy) is limited to bishops, metropolitans, and the Patriarch.

The Holy Synod of the Ancient Church of the East met in a council in Baghdad, Iraq in April 2009 and one of the decrees agreed at that council was to officially adopt the Gregorian calendar date for the celebration of Christmas only. The prelates present at the council were:

1. Mar Addai II, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Ancient Church of the East (based in Baghdad, Iraq)
2. Mar Narsai Toma, Metropolitan of Kirkuk
3. Mar Toma Gewargis, Metropolitan of Nineveh and Dohuk
4. Mar Yacob Daniel, Metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand
5. Timothaus Mar Shallita, Metropolitan of Europe
6. Mar Zaia Khoshaba, Patriarchal Auxiliary
7. Mar Aprem Daweed, Bishop of Dohuk and Secretary of the Holy Synod

Mar Daniel Jacobs and Mar Emmanuel Elia, two bishops residing in the United States, were absent.

Prior to this decree, there were already a few parishes in the diaspora that celebrated Christmas according to the Gregorian calendar date. After a popular vote was conducted in several parishes, the decree was accepted and enacted by the Mar Addai II in June 2010 to take effect for Christmas 2010. All of the parishes worldwide accepted this decree. Since then, the Ancient Church of the East officially conducts the entire liturgical year, feasts and commemorations according to the Julian calendar, except for Christmas day. Despite the fact that a number of the separatist parishes have emerged from the Ancient Church of the East since 2011, all of them continue to adhere to the decree of June 2010 which regulated the celebration of Christmas according to the Gregorian calendar date. Currently, there are no current or previous separatist parishes that emerged as a reaction to the decision of June 2010, despite claims made by several websites and sources.[5]

The Holy Synod of the Ancient Church of the East later met in a council in Baghdad, Iraq in May 2018 and once again passed a decree related to the celebration of Christmas. The prelates present at this council were:

1. Mar Addai II, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Ancient Church of the East (based in Baghdad, Iraq)
2. Mar Yacob Daniel, Metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand
3. Mar Aprem Daweed, Bishop of Chicago, Illinois and Secretary of the Holy Synod

Mar Zaia Khoshaba, Metropolitan of Canada and the United States, was unable to attend the council but agreed with all the decrees taken effect in the council.

In regards to the celebration of Christmas, it was decreed that clergy were allowed permission and permitted to celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar date if there were a considerable number of faithful within individual parishes who preferred this option.

At the beginning of 2011, the members of the Holy Synod consisted of the following:

1. Mar Addai II, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Ancient Church of the East (based in Baghdad, Iraq)
2. Mar Narsai Toma, Metropolitan of Kirkuk
3. Mar Toma Gewargis, Metropolitan of Nineveh and Dohuk
4. Mar Yacob Daniel, Metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand
5. Timothaus Mar Shallita, Metropolitan of Europe (who had retired in April 2009)
6. Mar Zaia Khoshaba, Patriarchal Auxiliary (residing in Baghdad, Iraq)

Mar Aprem Daweed, bishop of Dohuk and secretary of the Holy Synod, who was ordained in April 2009, had resigned in November 2009. Mar Emmanuel Elia, bishop of the United States and Canada, had been relieved of his diocese in August 2009 and later resigned in May 2011. Mar Daniel Jacobs, who had been ordained in the Assyrian Church of the East in 1973, had joined the Ancient Church of the East in 1985 for personal reasons. After his ordination in 1973 and while still in the Assyrian Church of the East he became ill and his health deteriorated over the years. As a result of his illness, since 1985, his service in the Ancient Church of the East was solely of a ceremonial role in Modesto, California, where he resided under the care of his family members. Mar Daniel Jacobs died in October 2020, not in communion with the Ancient Church of the East, and his funeral was officiated in the Assyrian Church of the East, by bishops, Mar Awa Royel and Mar Yosip Sargis.

In January 2011, two metropolitans, Timothaus Mar Shallita (residing in Wiesbaden, Germany), alongside Mar Toma Gewargis (residing in Mosul, Iraq), met in an unofficial council in Iraq and defrocked the sitting Patriarch Mar Addai II due to allegations of misconduct. None of the clergy and parishes within the respective dioceses of the two metropolitans, nor throughout the worldwide church accepted this order. Thus, it is incorrect to call this decree a schism. However, from that point on, the two metropolitans began to act separately from the remaining members of the Holy Synod of the Ancient Church of the East, without any adherents. Mar Toma Gewargis later relocated to Hamilton, Canada in 2013.

In order to respond to the actions of the two metropolitans and the accusations of misconduct, a council was convened in Baghdad, Iraq in May 2011. The Patriarch was absolved of all allegations and his leadership was affirmed by the prelates who attended the synod, these being Mar Narsai Toma, Mar Yacob Daniel and Mar Zaia Khoshaba, along with the entire clergy and parishes of the church worldwide, including the clergy of St. Mary Church in Modesto, California where Mar Daniel Jacobs served as an honorary and ceremonial bishop due to his illness. During his council, the prelates decreed to ordain Rev. Emmanuel Shlimon to the rank of bishop and was assigned to serve as a suffragan bishop within the archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand under Mar Yacob Daniel, with his see also centred in Sydney. The ordination was conduced in August 2011 in Sydney, Australia by Mar Yacob Daniel and Mar Zaia Khoshaba, the latter representing Mar Addai II. Rev. Emmanuel Shlimon adopted the episcopal name of 'Mari Emmanuel.' In July 2013, while on a visit to Australia, Mar Addai II bestowed the patriarchal confirmation upon Mar Mari Emmanuel.

The St. Mary Church congregation in Modesto, California divided into two groups in 2012 due to several disagreements between the church board and Patriarch Mar Addai II and his representative in the United States, Mar Zaia Khoshaba. The then church board and their supporters comprised the anti-patriarchal group who later placed themselves under metropolitans, Timothaus Mar Shallita and Mar Toma Gewargis, but retained their independent structure. The patriarchal group continued to recognise Mar Addai II and Mar Zaia Khoshaba as the patriarchal representative. The two groups shared the St. Mary Church for six years, until 2018, when the court awarded the church to the patriarchal group. Since then, the separatists worship as an independent parish in a number of rented premises, and continue to recite the names of the two metropolitans in their litanies. Mar Daniel Jacobs, an invalid bishop for many years and living under the care of his family due to his illness, was also a member of the anti-patriarchal group and had sided with the board when the dispute emerged in 2012 as several members of the board consisted of members of his immediate family. He died in October 2020, and his funeral was officiated in the Assyrian Church of the East, by bishops, Mar Awa Royel and Mar Yosip Sargis. This congregation celebrates Christmas according to the Gregorian calendar date in line with the patriarchal decree of June 2010.

Mar Addai II visited the parishes of the archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand in 2013, and during his visit gave Mar Mari Emmanuel the patriarchal confirmation. Mar Addai II disapproved of a number of activities related to the bishop and issued a deadline in order for these activities to be repelled. These disapprovals varied from a range of different areas such as liturgical, theological and social conduct of the bishop. The deadline expired, and Mar Addai II went ahead and suspended Mar Mari Emmanuel in July 2014 for disobedience. Mar Mari Emmanuel contested the suspension and quoted a number of synodal decrees. The suspension was briefly withdrawn in December 2014, when Mar Mari Emmanuel consented to the patriarchal decrees, however, the suspension was again enacted as the bishop expressed disapproval for the second time. Mar Mari Emmanuel continues to contest the suspension order. In January 2015, Mar Mari Emmanuel established an independent church which is currently known as 'Christ The Good Shepherd Church.' In 2016, Mar Mari Emmanuel was received into communion with metropolitan, Mar Toma Gewargis, who paid a visit to the church later that year. Since 2017, Mar Mari Emmanuel annually visits the United States and Canada where he conducts preaching ministries in several states such as Illinois, Arizona, California and Ontario. Mar Mari Emmanuel has also paid several visits to the separatist and anti-patriarchal parish in Modesto, California, and the congregation acknowledge him as a spiritual prelate alongside the two metropolitans and recite his name in their litanies. Mar Mari Emmanuel's 'Christ The Good Shepherd Church' also celebrates Christmas according to the Gregorian calendar date in line with the patriarchal decree of June 2010. After his second suspension, the Holy Synod of the Ancient Church of the East has twice discussed the suspension case of Mar Mari Emmanuel in two official councils held in Chicago, Illinois in 2015 and in Baghdad, Iraq in 2018, respectively.

The Ancient Church of the East was distinguished by its intent to maintain the traditions passed on by the Church of the East. The schism that divided the Church of the East into two parts resulted mainly from controversial changes introduced by Mar Shimun XXI Eshai. The most obvious of these was the decision to replace the traditional Julian calendar with the Gregorian Calendar. Additionally, there were concerns raised in regard to the succession of the Patriarchate. The Patriarchate had been hereditary in the Mar Shimun family for six centuries, often resulting in the consecration of minors as head of the church. For example, the late Shimun XXI Eshai himself was ordained Patriarch at just twelve years old.[6]

Under the tenure of Mar Addai II, the Ancient Church of the East has made several gestures towards reunification with the Assyrian Church of the East. The most prominent of these is undoubtedly the declaration made in June 2010 stating that the Ancient Church of the East would now celebrate Christmas in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Previously, the church used the traditional Julian date for the Christmas Day (December 25 of the Julian calendar currently corresponds to January 7 of the Gregorian Calendar), as the Church of the East had throughout its history. The decision was to be implemented later that year, on December 25, 2010.[7] This was the first time since the schism that the two churches celebrated the Christmas holiday on the same day.

The declaration related to the celebration of Christmas was perceived as an attempt of reconciliation, and encouraged efforts for talks of reunification. A joint Holy Synod between the two churches was postponed, though is expected in the near future.

The international Assyrian community has long-since advocated for reunification, particularly in response to the 2014 and 2015 attacks launched against Assyrians in Iraq and Syria, respectively. Since that time, relations between the churches have improved on every level, particularly in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe.

• Church of the East
• Assyrian Church of the East
• East Syrian Rite
• List of Patriarchs of the Church of the East
• Chaldean Syrian Church in India (also known as Assyrian Church of the East in India)
• Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
• Chaldean Catholic Church
• Assyrian people

• Karoz / Karozota website
• St Zaia Cathedral, Diocese of Australia