www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Election of Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, January 17-23

Are there any liturgical differences between West Syriac and East Syriac?

congratulations to the new Patriarch of Antioch !

Yes, there are liturgical differences.

The Churches of the West Syriac tradition use the Liturgy of Saint James [en.wikipedia.org], which is also used on certain days of the year by the Eastern Orthodox and Greek Catholic Churches. The Churches of the West Syriac tradition include:
The Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch [cnewa.org]
The Malankara Orthodox Syriac Church [cnewa.org]
The Syriac Catholic Church [cnewa.org]
The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church [cnewa.org]

The Churches of the East Syriac tradition use the Liturgy of Addai and Mari [en.wikipedia.org]. The Liturgy of Addai and Mari is unusual because it does not explicitly include the Words of Institution [en.wikipedia.org]. The Churches of the East Syriac tradition include:
The Assyrian Church of the East [cnewa.org]
The Chaldean Catholic Church [cnewa.org]
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church [cnewa.org]

A long and careful study was undertaken of the Anaphora of Addai and Mari, from a theological, liturgical and historical perspective, at the end of which the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith on January 17th, 2001 concluded that this Anaphora can be considered valid. Pope John Paul II subsequently approved this decision.

In the first place, the Anaphora of Addai and Mari is one of the most ancient Anaphoras, dating back to the time of the very early Church; it was composed and used with the clear intention of celebrating the Eucharist in full continuity with the Last Supper and according to the intention of the Church; its validity was never officially contested, neither in the Christian East nor in the Christian West.

Secondly, the Catholic Church recognises the Assyrian Church of the East as a true particular Church, built upon orthodox faith and apostolic succession. The Assyrian Church of the East has also preserved full Eucharistic faith in the presence of our Lord under the species of bread and wine and in the sacrificial character of the Eucharist. In the Assyrian Church of the East, though not in full communion with the Catholic Church, are thus to be found "true sacraments, and above all, by apostolic succession, the priesthood and the Eucharist" (Unitatis Redintegratio [vatican.va], n. 15).

Finally, the words of Eucharistic Institution are indeed present in the Anaphora of Addai and Mari, not in a coherent narrative way and ad litteram, but rather in a dispersed euchological way, that is, integrated in successive prayers of thanksgiving, praise and intercession.

2. In both cases, Assyrian and Chaldean ministers celebrate the Holy Eucharist according to the liturgical prescriptions and customs of their own tradition.

3. When Chaldean faithful are participating in an Assyrian celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the Assyrian minister is warmly invited to insert the words of the Institution in the Anaphora of Addai and Mari, as allowed by the Holy Synod of the Assyrian Church of the East.