Isaac of Nineveh symbol of unity between the Catholic and Assyrian Churches

In Rome the historic meeting between the Pope and the Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, on the steps of the common Christological Declaration signed on November 11, 1994 by Saint John Paul II and Mar Dinkha IV. Isaac the Syrian included in the Roman Martyrology: “Holiness overcomes separations.” The Pontiff on the Christians of the Middle East: “They bear witness to Christ in lands marked by war.”

Vatican City () – Qatar, Mosul (Iraq), Iran. They are places where for years those belonging to the Christian community have faced daily trials. Frequent persecutions, being considered second class citizens, intimidations, forced escapes. However, it was here that Saint Isaac of Nineveh was born, a monk and bishop in the second half of the 7th century, belonging to the pre-Ephesian tradition, today “one of the most venerated Fathers of the Syrian-Eastern tradition”, the Pope said today. Francis meeting in the Vatican with the catholicos (patriarch) of the Assyrian Church of the East. The Eastern mystic now becomes a symbol of unity between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church, because he has been included by the bishop of Rome in the Roman Martyrology, the book that contains the saints of the liturgical calendars.

Bergoglio announced this during the historic audience in the Vatican with Mar Awa III, Catholics from September 8, 2021. It was a meeting to celebrate two important anniversaries for relations between the two Churches, which have lived for 1,500 years. various Christological controversies dating back to the Council of Ephesus (431). The first event took place 40 years ago: in 1984 there was the first visit to Rome of an Assyrian Patriarch, Mar Dinkha IV. On this occasion, Saint John Paul II laid the foundations for the dialogue that led 10 years later – 30 years ago – to the drafting of the common Christological Declaration between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East. This document, born from a “desire for unity”, also provided for the creation of a Mixed Commission for theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East, which Francis also received in audience. “A new phase of dialogue on the liturgy in the life of the Church has recently begun,” reads a note from the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.

«Born in present-day Qatar, where he had an early monastic experience, he was ordained bishop of the city of Nineveh, near present-day Mosul (Iraq), by the Catholicos of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, George I. After a few months as bishop, he asked returned to monastic life and retired to the monastery of Rabban Shabur at Beth Huzaye (in present-day southwestern Iran). Here he composed several collections of speeches with ascetic-spiritual content that have made him famous,” the note continues. The writings of Isaac the Syrian, “despite belonging to a Church that was no longer in communion with any other,” were translated into all the languages ​​spoken by Christians. “The inclusion of Isaac the Syrian in the Roman Martyrology demonstrates that holiness did not stop with the separations and exists beyond confessional borders,” continues the Dicastery. “Wait […] “contribute to the rediscovery of his teaching and to the unity of all the disciples of Christ.” The inclusion of saints and witnesses of the faith of other Churches in the liturgical calendar – as has just happened with Saint Isaac – is an action that is also advocated by the final document of the Synod on Synodality that has just concluded: «A gift that we can receive ».

In the audience with Mar Awa III and the Joint Commission for theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East, Pope Francis, referring to the 1994 Declaration, said: “He recognized the legitimacy and accuracy of the various expressions of our common Christological faith, formulated by the Fathers in the Nicene Creed. The Commission created as a result of the document “has given notable results, also at the pastoral level.” Bergoglio mentioned the 2001 agreement on the Anaphora of Apostles Addai and Mari, which “allowed the respective faithful a certain communicatio in sacris in certain circumstances,” and in 2017 a Joint Declaration on “sacramental life,” as well as more recently a document on The Images of the Church in the Syriac and Latin Traditions, which “laid the foundation for a common understanding of the constitution of the Church.” Then, addressing the theologians who are members of the Commission: “theological dialogue is indispensable on our path towards unity, since the unity we long for is unity in faith, provided that the dialogue of truth is never separated from the of charity and the dialogue of life.

Here, holy lives become the “best guides on the path to full communion.” “Through the intercession of Saint Isaac of Nineveh, united with that of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ our Savior, may the Christians of the Middle East always bear witness to the risen Christ in those lands torn by war,” Francis added in the audience at the conclusion of his speech. “May the friendship between our Churches continue to flourish, until the blessed day when we can celebrate together at the same altar and take communion of the same Body and Blood of the Savior.” Words to which were added the thanks dedicated to the Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, and the invitation to work and walk together again on the “path towards full unity.” Finally, the shared recitation of the Lord’s Prayer: “Each one prays it according to his tradition and his language, in a low voice.”