Council of Seleucia-Ctesiphon
Encyclopedia
The Council of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, also called the Council of Mar Isaac, met in AD 410 in Seleucia-Ctesiphon, the capital of the Sassanid Empire
of Persia. The council, extended official recognition to the Empire's Christian community, known as the Church of the East
, and established the Bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon
as its Catholicos, or leader. It marked a major milestone in the history of the Church of the East and of Christianity in Asia
in general.
The council was called by Mar Isaac, bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, and who was then declared as the primate of the Sassanid church, confirming him as Catholicos and Archbishop of all the Orient. The decision was substantial, as Christians in the Sassanid Empire up to that point were fairly disorganized and persecuted, and Zoroastrianism
was instead the primary religion of the Empire. In 409, permission was formally given by the Zoroastrian King Yezdegerd to the Christians to even exist: to worship openly, and to rebuild destroyed churches, though they were not allowed to proselytize.
The Synod also declared its adherence to the decisions of the Council of Nicea
and subscribed to the Nicene Creed
.
Sassanid Empire
The Sassanid Empire , known to its inhabitants as Ērānshahr and Ērān in Middle Persian and resulting in the New Persian terms Iranshahr and Iran , was the last pre-Islamic Persian Empire, ruled by the Sasanian Dynasty from 224 to 651...
of Persia. The council, extended official recognition to the Empire's Christian community, known as the Church of the East
Church of the East
The Church of the East tāʾ d-Maḏnḥāʾ), also known as the Nestorian Church, is a Christian church, part of the Syriac tradition of Eastern Christianity. Originally the church of the Persian Sassanid Empire, it quickly spread widely through Asia...
, and established the Bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon
Province of the Patriarch (East Syrian Ecclesiastical Province)
The Province of the Patriarch was an ecclesiastical province of the Church of the East attested between the fifth and thirteenth centuries. As its name entails, it was the province of the church's Patriarch...
as its Catholicos, or leader. It marked a major milestone in the history of the Church of the East and of Christianity in Asia
Christianity in Asia
Christianity in Asia has its roots in the very inception of Christianity, which originated from the teachings of Jesus Christ. Christianity in Asia then spread through the missionary work of his apostles. Christianity first expanded in the Levant, taking roots in the major cities such as Jerusalem...
in general.
The council was called by Mar Isaac, bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, and who was then declared as the primate of the Sassanid church, confirming him as Catholicos and Archbishop of all the Orient. The decision was substantial, as Christians in the Sassanid Empire up to that point were fairly disorganized and persecuted, and Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
was instead the primary religion of the Empire. In 409, permission was formally given by the Zoroastrian King Yezdegerd to the Christians to even exist: to worship openly, and to rebuild destroyed churches, though they were not allowed to proselytize.
The Synod also declared its adherence to the decisions of the Council of Nicea
First Council of Nicaea
The First Council of Nicaea was a council of Christian bishops convened in Nicaea in Bithynia by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in AD 325...
and subscribed to the Nicene Creed
Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that is most widely used in Christian liturgy. It is called Nicene because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Nicaea by the first ecumenical council, which met there in the year 325.The Nicene Creed has been normative to the...
.