Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim, Patriarch,AD -345 ഇൽ ക്നായിതോമ്മനയും 72 കുടുബംകാരയും കൊടുങ്ങ്ലൂരിലെട്ടു അനുഗ്രഹിച്ചു ആശീർവതിച്ചുവീട്ട അന്ത്യോക്യൻ പാത്രിയർകീസ് മോറാൻ മോർ യുസ്തെദിയോസ് ഇഗ്നാത്യൊസ് ബാവയുടെ പീന്ഗാമി.

 A youtube video of a visit of the newly elected Patriarch (who was then the Bishop of Syriac Orthodox Church of the Eastern USA diocese which has their main cathedral St. Mark's at Teaneck, NJ). This is the video of when His Holiness visited St. Peter's Jacobite church in Philadelphia. HH was born in Syria. HH used to go to Kerala several times and is familiar with several of the practices in Kerala and even says some Malayalam words including prayers during Holy Eucharist. St. Peters Jacobite church in Philadelphia is under the Theethos Thirumeni.

 In this below video, HH explains about his life experience as a child, about fasting and prayer also. It is a good message. Encouraging all to hear it.  Then during the question and answer session (about 50-60 minutes of the video) you can hear about the Church history where HH explains about the Nicene Synod (council) which occurred in AD 345. The three Churches established by the disciples were Antiochian Church (Patriarch) in Antioch, Roman Catholic Church (Pope) in Rome, Egyptian - Coptic (Pope) in Alexandria. Basically Patriarch was responsible for all churches in Asia, Roman Catholic Pope for Europe and Egyptian Coptic Pope for Africa. 

Then also explains about Thomas of Cana, Bishop from Edessa, how people & families with Knai Thoma came to Kerala to give leadership to Christians in Kerala. 

Below is a quick brief information of Church History  

After resurrection of Jesus (as in the Book of Acts), different disciples and apostles went to different regions to spread the Word of God. St. Peter preaching primarily to Jews and St. Paul to Gentiles. St. Stephen was the first Christian martyr... Jerusalem temple was destroyed. Christians were persecuted and they even conducted prayers in caves. But Roman Emperor Constantine (the Great) stopped all the Christian persecutions and allowed Christians to pray openly etc. His mother Queen Helena gave leadership to the group who found the Cross on which Jesus died. We celebrate the remembrance of this on September 14 (feast of Holy Cross- sleeba perunal).  

NICENE  Synod of AD 325

 False teachings about God continued and Emperor Constantine held the Nicea Synod in AD 325. This was the first meeting of all Church Fathers. They rejected the false teachings by Arius. Arius propagated that Son and Father are not of same essence etc. It was decided in this Synod that (1) Father and Son was of same essence, (2) decided to conduct Easter on first Sunday after the full moon after the equinox in month of March (3) A clear distinction was made on Church Administration, jurisdiction, authority of the Churches of Antioch, Alexandria (Egyptian-Coptic), Rome. The Chief Metropolitan on the East of Tigris was given the title of Catholicose and this Catholicose was under the supervision of Patriarch of Antioch. 

CONSTANTINOPLE Synod of AD 381 

False teachings continued. Emperor Theodosis decided to gather a Synod (council). At this time, (1) it was accepted that Holy Spirit was equal to Father and Son and (2) added portion about Holy Spirit to the Nicene Creed (3) Established that Patriarch of Antioch was the supreme head of Church in the East.  

EPHESUS synod of AD 431- this is the first synod of Ephesus.  

Nestorius started to propagate false teachings. He taught that Godly nature and human nature of God are separate, Mother Mary could not be called as Mother of God, he started to ask to remove the portion of the prayer 'who was crucified for us' from prayers. Emperor Theodosius called for another council Synod meeting. At this meeting, all the teachings of Nestorius were rejected. 

   Jinu Andrews