Patriarch of Antioch

“ The attitude of the Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, if in his heart he really approves of the Anglican mission, [42] is only one more case of the usual Orthodox inconsistency. His religion does not allow him to look upon Mâr Shim‘un as anything but the heretical leader of a heretical sect; his co-religionists of Russia are at this very moment attacking the problem in the only possible way (according to Orthodox principles) , by making converts from Nestorian to Orthodoxy. And in any case the Patriarch of Antioch can no more make co-operation with a heretical sect lawful than can anyone else. ”

“ Pneumatologia, a Treatise on the Soul of Man (1698) ; A Token for Mourners; Husbandry Spiritualized (1699) . Collected editions appeared throughout the 18th century, and in 1823 Charles Bradley edited a 2 vol. selection.
FLAVIAN I. (d. 404) , bishop or patriarch of Antioch, was born about 320, most probably in Antioch. He inherited great wealth, but resolved to devote his riches and his talents to the service of the church. In association with Diodorus, afterwards bishop of Tarsus, he supported the Catholic faith against the Arian Leontius, who had succeeded Eustathius as bishop of Antioch. ”

“ By this slight tie they still continue united to the Church of Rome. In return for their imperfect allegiance, the Pope is obliged to defray the expenses of their public worship and to maintain a college at Rome for the education of their priests. He has the power of sanctioning the appointment of their patriarch, after he has been selected by their bishops. This dignitary has his head-quarters in the monastery of Lebanon, and holds the title of Patriarch of Antioch, and by adopting the name of Peter, claims to be the successor of that apostle. ”

“ The missionaries had friends among the Jacobites, some of whom became members of the Church of England.
The Syrians were rather distressed, because they thought that the consecration of their Metropolitan by Mar Philixenos was insufficient. They therefore memorialised the Patriarch of Antioch. There grew up also a party hostile to the Metropolitan, and they sent to Antioch a Syrian Christian named Mathew. His arrival at Antioch was most opportune. The Patriarch was looking out for a proper man. ”

“ A work which is often looked upon as the origin of the Canon Law was composed by a lawyer of Antioch, somewhere near the middle of the sixth century. This jurist was John of Antioch, surnamed Scholasticus. He was representative or apocrisiarius of the Church of Antioch at Constantinople, and afterward was made Patriarch of that see, over which he ruled from 564 until his death in 578. While still a simple priest at Antioch he made his Collection of the Canons of the Councils. ”

“ If the three sees are to be united in one person, Alexandria should come first. That see has precedence over Antioch and is second in Christendom. But, since Antioch was the older title for this Patriarch, the only one to which he had right by succession, Maximos and his successors put it first. The old style of Antioch was "Antioch and all the East," meaning the Roman Prefecture of the East. But the Melkite Patriarchs put these words at the end of all, and call themselves "Patriarchs of Antioch, Alexandria, Jerusalem, and all the East." ”

“ Diaconus, Nomophylax, and Chartophylax. Under Isaac Angelas he was elevated to the dignity of patriarch of Antioch, about 1185 ; but, on account of the invasion of the Latins, he was never able to ascend the patriarchal throne, and all the business of the patriarchate was conducted at Constantinople. He died about 1204. Of the works of this author there is no complete edition : they are scattered among various collections. ”

“ To his Sovereignty and Divinity it is fitting that we offer praise ever and at all times, now and continually, throughout all ages.
I, the poor servant, and of all men the most necessitous of the mercy, of the Lord my God; Paul by name, Archdeacon, or Shammas, of the Orthodox Religion, of Aleppo, was natural son to the Distinguished, Most Holy, Exalted, and Munificent Father, Kyr Kyr Macarius [1] , Patriarch of Antioch, son of the late Canon (الخوري) Paul, son of the Canon Abd-al-Mesih-al-Protos, celebrated by the title of Beit-az-Zaaimi. ”

“ He then entered on his true vocation as a Christian orator, the greatest next to Paul. On one occasion, when the people of Antioch had offended the Emperor Theodosius, and were threatened with a punishment like that which had fallen on Thessalonica, the eloquence of St. John Chrysostom saved them: he was so adored by the people, that when he was appointed patriarch of Constantinople, it was necessary to kidnap him, and carry him off from Antioch by a force of armed soldiers, before the citizens had time to interfere. ”

“ These are the Catholics of this rite in Syria, Palestine, and Egypt, who all now speak Arabic. They are the most closely organized of the Byzantine Uniates; they alone in this rite have a Patriarch of their own. Perhaps the most striking fact about them is that it is their Patriarch who, by direct descent and undoubted historical continuity, represents the original line of Antioch. It is the same case as that of the Chaldees and Malabar Christians. The Uniates are the old line, which after several vicissitudes has at last come back definitely to union with the Holy See. ”

“ Their retinue and humility are very great; and their Μετάνοιαs (prostrations) down to the ground are frequent:—I am speaking of the Greek Clergy who assist at mass, and particularly of their behaviour at the moment of taking the holy mysteries. The deacon mentions the name of the Patriarch, whilst he carries the body. At the end of the mass the two Patriarchs distributed the Ἀντίδωρα (sanctified bread) , each on his own side. At their departure from the church, the torch-bearers repeated the same words as they had done the evening before ”

“ His remains were transported from the mountain of Telenissa, by a solemn procession of the patriarch, the master-general of the East, six bishops, twenty-one counts or tribunes, and six thousand soldiers; and Antioch revered his bones, as her glorious ornament and impregnable defence. The fame of the apostles and martyrs was gradually eclipsed by these recent and popular Anachorets; the Christian world fell prostrate before their shrines; and the miracles ascribed to their relics exceeded, at least in number and duration, the spiritual exploits of their lives. ”

“ It has a second door going out from the pent-house on the north side. Over this compartment the women are stationed; but they have an outward door into the street. The church contains three tabernacles, and is very spacious. The chairs of the choir are in two equal rows, reaching from before the tabernacle to near the door of the church. Behind them are other rows of seats, and also all round the church. The Patriarch's throne is between the rows of seats on the right-hand side; and is very lofty, with an ascent of steps. It is all dove-tailed, and is a noble piece of workmanship. ”

“ On his entry, he gave his blessing to the congregation, and went and stood at his throne. After the Πᾶσα πνοὴ (Every breath) , the Constantinopolitan descended from his throne to kiss the images and impart his blessing to the congregation; and after him the Antiochian: then the chief priests, two by two: afterwards the priests and the rest of the congregation paid their devotions to the images. For in all the country of Greece, in Moldavia and in Wallachia, there is not a single person who does not kiss the images at this time of the early morning ”

“ Giving ourselves up for lost, we bade adieu to each other, and openly confessed our sins; and our Lord the Patriarch read over us the Prayer of forgiveness, absolution, and remission, whilst we were in momentary expectation of approaching death. But the Creator, exalted be his name! who neglecteth not his servants, did not abandon us ”

“ At Top Khanah, we saw guns large enough for a man to creep in; and others, that were each of them equal to three camel-loads. Then we returned to look at the wonderful ships of England and of France, and came away home. On the eve of Sunday we performed the Ἑσπερινὸν (Vesper Service) in the Monastery at Galata: for the Constantinopolitan had sent to our Patriarch a Συστατικὸν, like the former, that he should go and perform mass, on the morrow, in the Church of the Monastery. And we went over with the attendants in a boat to Galata, to the aforesaid church ”

“ At critical times, in special emergencies, the metropolitans may have to interfere with the bishops of their provinces; and in great affairs affecting the whole Church or branches of it the patriarchs take action.
Most of this system was developed during ante-Nicene times. The one feature which becomes specially prominent in the later period is the patriarchate. There were five patriarchs. Of these only one was in the West—the patriarch of Rome. The others were at Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, and Constantinople. The bishop of Rome presided over the Italian and Gallican præfectures ”

“ Men, with tear-stained faces, looked away from his death to 'form themselves'—as he had bidden them—
'into a chorus in love and sing to the Father in Jesus Christ. God had vouchsafed that the Bishop from Syria should be found in the West, having summoned him from the East. Good was it to set from this world unto God, that he might rise unto Him.'
Love is perhaps wrong in asserting that his remains were brought back to Antioch: it is unerringly right in having raised the Epistle to the Romans—'his pæan prophetic of his coming victory'—to be the martyr's manual of a grateful posterity. ”

“ Among the inhabitants of Antioch, so diverse in their manners and religions, so opposed in their interests, there must be some to be found who would be accessible to the bait of gold, or the allurements of brilliant promises. The question of a service so important to the Christian army, was of such magnitude that it was right to promote every kind of undertaking. The possession of Antioch itself did not appear to him to be too high a reward for the zeal of him who should be sufficiently adroit, or sufficiently fortunate, as to throw open the gates of the city to the Crusaders. ”

“ You are not ignorant, likewise, that this night all the Christian inhabitants of Antioch, after having undergone so many outrages, are going to be massacred by the orders of Accien. I cannot help pitying them; I cannot forget that we were born in the same religion, and that we were formerly brothers.” These words did not produce the effect he expected. “I am surprised,” replied his brother, “that you should pity men who ought to be objects of horror to us. Before the Christians appeared under the walls of Antioch, we were loaded with benefits. ”

“ What more could mortal man on earth desire? All these can Antioch boast of, besides the many pleasant reminiscences connected with the spot. Its primitive Christian Church, the great success that crowned the early efforts of those two devout and indefatigable apostles, Paul and Barnabas;—the city, the birthplace of St. Luke, the beloved physician, where originated the name of that faith, which is our pride, our boast, and the source of all our hope; these are ties which render Antioch, in the devout Christian’s estimation, second only to Jerusalem. ”

“ Ptolemy came then to Antioch, and was made king by its inhabitants, and by the army; so that he was forced to put on two diadems, the one of Asia, the other of Egypt: but being naturally a good and a righteous man, and not desirous of what belonged to others, and besides these dispositions, being also a wise man in reasoning about futurities, he determined to avoid the envy of the Romans; so he called the people of Antioch together to an assembly, and persuaded them to receive Demetrius ”

“ The calling of the Gentiles was not yet understood by them. But now some converts from Cyprus and Cyrene come up to Antioch, and preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. A great number believe, and turn to the Lord. The report of the work at Antioch comes to the ears of the Church in Jerusalem; and they send Barnabas, "a good man full of the Holy Ghost and of faith", to them. He takes Paul from Tarsus, and they both dwell at Antioch a whole year, and teach many people. The disciples of Christ are called Christians first at Antioch. ”

“ Let no one among you be idle; for idleness is the mother of want. I do not enjoin these things as being a person of any consequence, although I am in bonds [for Christ] ; but as a brother, I put you in mind of them. The Lord be with you!
Chapter X.—Salutations.
May I enjoy your prayers! Pray ye that may attain to Jesus. I commend unto you the Church which is at Antioch. The Churches of Philippi, [37] whence also I write to you, salute you. Philo, your deacon, to whom also I give thanks as one who has zealously ministered to me in all things, salutes you. ”

“ The beauty and the lax morals of Daphne were celebrated all over the western world; and indeed Antioch as a whole shared in both these titles to fame. Its amenities awoke both the enthusiasm and the scorn of many writers of antiquity.
Antioch became the capital and court-city of the western Seleucid empire under Antiochus I., its counterpart in the east being Seleucia-on-Tigris; but its paramount importance dates from the battle of Ancyra (240 B.C.) , which shifted the Seleucid centre of gravity from Asia Minor, and led indirectly to the rise of Pergamum. ”