What is the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East? Is it Roman Catholic? Who are Assyrians?

The Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East (or abbreviated, "Assyrian Church of the East") was born from the missionary work of the apostles St. Thomas from the Twelve, and Ss. Addai & Mari from the Seventy-Two. It was the Church that existed in the Persian Empire, outside of the confines of the limits of the Roman Empire of the west. Its primatial center is Seleucia-Ctesiphon, which was the capital of the Persians. It is an independent patriarchate, not subject to the Bishop of Rome, or any other patriarchate. Thus, it is not Roman Catholic, but ‘catholic’ (meaning ‘universal’) in the sense that the Church was composed of many nations and ethnicities, among them Assyrians, Persians, Jews, Mongols, Turks, etc. The Assyrians who comprise the majority of the ACOE are the descendants of the ancient Assyrians of Mesopotamia mentioned in the Bible; they are the indigenous people of modern Iraq. Their rule stretched from the Mediterranean in the west, and as far as Memphis in Egypt.

What does the Assyrian Church of the East believe about Jesus?

The ACOE firmly teaches, in accord with the Holy Scriptures and the apostolic kerygma, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God incarnate, the second ‘qnoma’ of the Holy Trinity—God the Word—become Man. The Church is diaphysite, and thus holds two natures in Christ—the Godhead or divine, and the human—which are preserved in their respective ‘qnome’, or substances. The two natures are united in the one Person of Filiation of the Son of God. Thus, being true God and true Man, Christ Jesus is the unique Mediator between God and man, and the Savior of the human race. There is no other name under heaven by which men may be saved (cf. Acts 4:12).

What does the Assyrian Church of the East believe about baptism?

Baptism is one of the seven holy sacraments of the ACOE, and the sacrament without which the other six may not be received. It is a new birth, according to water and the Holy Spirit (cf. John 3:5) without which one may not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Through baptism, we receive the divine adoption of sonship, and become partakers in the divine nature by grace. We fully participate in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, through a mystical and sacramental manner. As such, we become true co-heirs of the Kingdom of God with Christ, and members of his holy body which is the Church. In baptism, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and become temples thereof. The Trinitarian formula is indispensable for the validity of the sacrament.

What does the Assyrian Church of the East believe about Holy Communion?

The sacrament of the Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is the sacrament by which Christ dwells in us in a mystical way. It is the true Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given by Christ to his holy disciples in the Upper Room on the night in which he was betrayed. He took bread and wine, and by his dominical action, made them to be his Body and Blood (cf. Matthew 26:26-29). It is the sacrament of the New Covenant, given by and sealed with the salvific blood of the incarnate Son, who is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (cf. John 1:29, 36). The elements of bread and wine are transformed in the eucharistic prayer, in a mystical way, by the unseen action of the Holy Spirit who operates through the priest celebrating this most sacred action. When we receive the Body and Blood of Christ, we are united to him in a spiritual way, we receive his grace, and we become united to him. This sacrament also unites all those who partake of it into the one bond of union in the Spirit, and thus they must confess the same faith concerning Christ the Son of God (cf. I Corinthians 10:16-17).

What does the Assyrian Church of the East believe about icons?

Icons are holy images. Man is the image of God, in as much as he was fashioned after God’s image and likeness (cf. Genesis 1:26). As the perfect revelation of God, Jesus is the image and reflection of his Father who is unseen (cf. John 14:8-9). In baptism, we are ‘re-created’ in the image of the Son, whom bear by means of the sacrament. The saints are images of whom we strive to become, by the grace of Christ, after having being perfected in faith. There are liturgical and canonical prescriptions which indicate the use of icons in the tradition of the Assyrian Church of the East. However, they have fallen out of use for many centuries, and have only remained in some Gospel lectionaries.

Why do women cover their heads in church in the Assyrian Church of the East?

It is the apostolic injunction of St. Paul that woman ought to cover their head during prayer, or while prophesying (I Corinthians 11:5-6), otherwise, she would be dishonoring her head. Contrarily, men ought not to cover their head during prayer. The reason for this is that the woman was taken from the man (Adam) and fashioned for him (cf. I Corinthians 11:8-9). The head covering is used by women during all public liturgical celebrations.

Are visitors welcome in the Assyrian Church of the East?

All visitors are welcome to the Assyrian Church of the East, however a visitor should not come up for Holy Communion unless first having received the permission of the parish priest, in accord with the eucharistic and liturgical prescriptions of the Church.

I don't speak Assyrian or Aramaic, but I am interested in attending one of your services.  How can I participate?

That is not a problem! There are booklets placed in the pews that contain the text of the Eucharistic Liturgy (‘Holy Qurbana’) in Aramaic, English translation and in transliteration. However, Aramaic remains the official liturgical language of the Church.

What should I do if I am interested in learning more about the Assyrian Church of the East?

Contact the parish priest of your nearest ACOE parish by phone or by filling out the contact form located on the parish’s page of this website.