Yeshue
FAITH OF THE SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ANTIOCH
Chapter 1: Class 6
Written by:
Chev. Dr. K. O. Mathew Konkara(Rtd Supdt of Police)
It's history, faith and liturgy and It's position within the church history
Purpose Of the Church
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What is the purpose of the Holy Church? There are four things:
1. Worship of God: All creation must worship God. Humans, as a community, must also worship God. The culmination of communal worship is the Holy Qurbana (Eucharist).
2. Proclamation of the Gospel: To worship God, one must know Him. Thus, the Church's second duty is to proclaim the Gospel to all, as commanded by our Lord (Matthew 28:19, Luke 24:47, Acts 1:8).
3. Teaching and Protecting the Faith: Those who receive the Gospel must be taught what to do, what to reject, what to believe, and how to live. The Church's third duty is to teach and protect the faith from heresies.
4. Administering the Sacraments: Those who receive the Gospel and learn the faith need grace. Since grace is received through the sacraments, the Church's fourth purpose is to administer these sacraments.
In 2004, His Holiness Patriarch OF Antioch, Ignatius Zakka I, Iwas stated in a lecture at the Patriarchal Center, Puthenkruz: "If the clergy's primary duty is to offer sacrifice before God for their sins and the sins of others, the laity also have a responsibility towards Christ's body, the Church. Otherwise, on the day of judgment, you will be asked, 'What did you do for My Church?'"
Therefore, instead of abandoning the true faith and joining heretical sects for worldly gain or out of ignorance, the faithful should live to fulfill the Church's goals. Those who do otherwise reject God, who has called them to holiness, not impurity (1 Thess 3:7).
Through holy baptism, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and become Christ's bride. Christ redeemed His bride, the Church, with His blood and sanctified her. He promised, "I will come quickly" (Revelation 22:11-12), and will take His bride to His Father's kingdom.
As a bride awaits her groom in purity, so must we, the Church, await Christ's return without blemish. Christ established the sacraments to keep His bride pure and holy. We must live in spiritual purity and hope, remembering that our journey is guided by this knowledge.
Just as Noah's ark was a refuge during the flood, the Church is the ark of salvation in this age. The sacraments are the means of salvation for those in the Church. We must preserve our holiness through the sacraments, remembering that our Lord will return unexpectedly to take His bride to Himself.
The Church will be seated at His right hand (Eph 1:21-23). Since the Holy Spirit dwells in each baptized member, we must not defile our bodies with sin, as this leads to spiritual death. Through the Church's sacraments, we are sanctified.
Those who fight against the Church, separating themselves from it, are like Satan and his followers. They cause division in the Church, hindering its goals, and commit great sin. Those who abandon their gifts are like dogs returning to their vomit (2 Peter 2:22).
1. All creation must worship God. Communal worship, especially the Holy Qurbana, is the pinnacle of worship (Revelation 4:10).
2. The Church must proclaim the Gospel to all (Matthew 28:19, Luke 24:47, Acts 1:8).
3. The Church teaches and protects the faith, instructing believers on what to do and what to avoid.
4. The Church administers the sacraments, providing grace to believers.