Ever wondered where echoes of Aramaic, the language of Jesus, resonate within Jerusalem? That would be here at St Thomas Syriac Catholic Church. This church stands as a testament to the enduring presence of the Syriac Catholic community. Their roots trace back to the earliest days of Christianity.
St Thomas Syriac Catholic Church serves as the cathedral. It is also the headquarters of the Syriac Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem. This exarchate has journeyed through time. It has moved its location several times before finding its home here at Ras al-Amud in East Jerusalem.
The Syriac Catholic Church accepted the Pope in Rome as its head in 1782. The Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem was created in 1890. The Syriac Catholic Church is one of the first communities in Christianity. They share the Liturgy of Saint James. They also cherish the Syriac language spoken by Jesus and the apostles.
Saint Thomas was an apostle. He preached in Mesopotamia now Iraq and north of Syria and south of Turkey. This connection to Saint Thomas gives the church its name and its spiritual foundation.
Between 1900 and 1973 wars and revolutions caused the headquarters of the exarchate to move. In 1948, it was at the Damascus Gate of Jerusalem’s Old City. Later it moved to Bethlehem. In 1965, it returned to Jerusalem. Finally in 1986, this Church of Saint Thomas was built. It was built along with facilities for pilgrims and a youth center.
Imagine the dedication to faith that led to the construction of this church. It provides a sanctuary for worship and a center for community engagement. The Syriac Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem ministers to Catholics in Palestine and Jordan. The Church of Saint Thomas is its cathedral.
The exarchate depends directly on the Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch in Beirut. It is not part of any ecclesiastical province. It depends in Rome on the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches.
Consider the journey of this church. It embodies the perseverance of faith. It reflects the rich heritage of the Syriac Catholic community. The Church of Saint Thomas stands as a beacon of hope. It is a testament to the enduring spirit of Christianity in the Holy Land.
Here at St Thomas Syriac Catholic Church you witness a living link to the past. You experience a vibrant expression of faith in the present. As we move on remember the echoes of Aramaic. Remember the story of Saint Thomas. Remember the community that keeps this heritage alive in Jerusalem.