Education | Assyrian Church News

Worshiping Towards the East

March 10, 2016 Comments Off on Worshiping Towards the East

Praying is not only a responsibility of a clergy; lay people are responsible to pray as well. A priest prays on behalf of the people, for the people and with the people. By the virtue of his apostolic rank of priesthood, he “the priest” is a mediator between the community of believers and God. According to the liturgy of the Church of the East a clergy and lay people face the east during the celebration of the Eucharist and all other spiritual services. This is the reason the church tries to build all the church buildings facing towards the East. 1. Worshiping towards the East is an Apostolic Tradition: Worshiping towards the East is an apostolic tradition. The Holy Apostles believed the second coming of the Lord will be from the East. The Lord said: “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:27) An angle repeated the same words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to the Holy Apostles who were witnessing the glorious Ascension of the risen Lord into heaven. It is written: “They were looking intently up into the …

Observing the Sabbath – Saturday v. Sunday

February 24, 2016 Comments Off on Observing the Sabbath – Saturday v. Sunday

Why do Christians worship on Sunday not on Saturday? “One Sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him. And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. And Jesus spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” But they were silent. Then he took him and healed him, and let him go. And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well, will not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?” And they could not reply to this.” (Luke 14: 1-6) Introduction: The place: The house of the ruler of the Pharisees. Time: Saturday (Sabbath day) Purpose: Jesus was invited to dine at the Pharisee’s house. Characters: The ruler of the Pharisees. A man who had dropsy: The Pharisees brought this sick man and have him sit him before the Lord not to because they wanted Jesus to have pity on him and heal him but rather they wanted to trap Jesus. To see if He will break the Law of observing the Sabbath or …

Typology of Mary in the writings of East Syriac Fathers

August 13, 2015 Comments Off on Typology of Mary in the writings of East Syriac Fathers

'Biblical Typology of Mary in East Syriac Fathers' by The Very Rev’d Archdeacon William Toma of Chicago, Illinois.

The Mysteries of Violence: Reflections on the Assyrian Crisis in Syria

March 1, 2015 Comments Off on The Mysteries of Violence: Reflections on the Assyrian Crisis in Syria

The Very Rev’d Archdeacon William Toma Chicago, Illinois

Historic Assyrian Church of the East Site Discovered in China

February 5, 2014 Comments Off on Historic Assyrian Church of the East Site Discovered in China

The Sunday Examiner (Hong Kong) reported on 2 February 2014 that the 2009 discovery of a Christian site in China has been verified as a historical relic dated to the missionary enterprise of the Assyrian Church of the East in China. Experts have verified that a niche in a stone wall with a cross above it, found at the Longmen Grottoes in central Henan Province was a repository for the ashes and bones of Christians. The discovery at the UNESCO World Heritage site was made in 2009 and verified by experts in mid-January 2014. The discovery is dated between the Ming and Tang dynasties, from 316 to 907AD. This latest discovery adds to the well-established historical record of the missionary enterprise of the Assyrian Church of the East in China. The full original article is reproduced below: