Eastern Church
The
eastern churches are basically Orthodox Church. The Eastern Church which d
always had influence and power did not have any say over the empire because the
rulers or kings were Muslims. In 637 the
Caliphs recognized the Nestorians as one of the religious groups of Persia.
During this time there were three main branches of Christianity in Eastern
Church.
1.
Nestorianism (Duopoly sites)
2.
Monophysites (All character of God blended into one)
3.
Chalcedomian( Orthodox)
The Muslims were in
favor of Nestorians. It is said that Nestorian Patriarch Yeshuyib II had good
relationship with Muslim kings. He negotiated or asked favour for Nestorians to
enjoy favor under Caliph. During that time Nestorians sent a missionary named
Alopen to China. When the Muslims shifted their capital from Damascus to Bagdad
the Christians were not allowed to shift capital, but only Nestorians were
allowed to do that. Nestorians were enjoying some status. In North Africa, the
Christians were swept out by muslin invasion.
A
controversy came up during that time was iconoclastic
controversy. The Muslims were challenging Christians as Idolaters as
pictures of Jesus and Mary were attached to churches. However; there were
conditions for toleration,
No
new churches were allowed to build,
No
conversion to Christianity from Islam.
Monetary
benefit was provided if one was converted from Christianity to Islam.
Middle
age: Missionary Expansion in the west and East
West
Ulifialas: Monastery encouraged people to go on
missionary. One of the first German missionary was Ulfials (311 – 381).
Visigoths was the tribe where he did missionary work for 40 years and he
translate bible to Gothic language.
Ulifialas was a keen follower of Arius. We see that most of the Germans
were following Arianism.
Anglo – Saxons However
one of the Germen tribe was Frank and
the section was Anglo – Saxons. Anglo Saxons were the people who invaded
northern part of Britons. They were not follower of Arianism. Because Anglo Saxons
invaded Briton people were pushed away from and Patrick moved to Ireland.
Patrick: He was one among
them, He was born on 389. When Anglo Saxons invaded England Patrick went to
Irish and started missionary work in Ireland.
Pope Gregory:
In the west one of the missionary movements picked up flourished due to the
work of Pope Gregory the great. His work influence d missionary movement.
Boniface:
He was known as apostle to Germans. He was an 8th century missionary
to Germaine tribe. He was anEnglish worked among Germans. He stated many
monasteries among Germans and he developed monasteris and involved in
revitalizing churches in France
East
In
east missionary movement began intentionally or unintentionally. They moved
from Persia to Asian countries. Thomas of Cana is believed to be the first
missionary in East. People were moving out of Persia because they were under
the rule of Sassanid’s. They moved to Asian countries. In India they reached in
4th century. In China they reached in 7th century. When they migrated they
brought their faith along with them and spread their message where ever they
went. One of them was Thomas of Cana.
Thomas of Cana: His contribution was he brought 336 Christian
families along with him. They were Syrian Christians and merchants.. In 345 CE
he reached Kodungalloor in Malabar coast in Kerala. They brought their bishop
mar Joseph with them. It is believed that when they arrived there were already
Christians. . This people played a major role in organizing people and building
churches.
Another important
people were Mar Sapor and Mar
Parrat reached in 825 CE. They
were sent by Timothy and reached in Quilon. One was Bishop and other was
Metropolitan.
Proofs
Ø The
existence of crosses has inscriptions
in Pallavi language which was a Persian language during Sassanid’s dynasty.
Ø Copper plate
having inscriptions in Tamil and Malayalam, These palates were given to
Christians by king Sathvi Ravi Gupta Cheraman Peruamal.
Ø Christians
were exempted from paying tax.
Ø They
were given colonies and were allowed to control over lower castes.
China
Alopen
: First missionary to china was Alopen.
Tai – Tsung (627 – 649) was reigning at that time when Alopen reached
there. There were some similarities with china and Kerala. He was sent by
Nestorian Bishop Yeshyb II who was involved in speaking to Muslims. Yeshub later ordained him as the metropolitan
of China. Tai – Tsung warmly accepted Alopen and Christianity to China and he
gained the favour of the ruler. In 638
Tai Tsung issued a edict of Tolerance where Christians were allowed to
flourish. They built a church in Changan. By 650 C E there were 6 monasteries
in china. Official religion at that time was Buddhism. Other religions
Gonfiscionism, Zoroastrianism were allowed to flourish. After him his son Kao –
Tsang succeeded him and came to the power. Tradition says
by 7th century there were
358 monasteries, but History
says in record there were only 11 monasteries. Many people/ Persians sought refuge in china.
The Persian churches became translators for Arabs. Arabs used missionaries as
translators to deal with the govt. In 845 a new leader from Tausit emperor
Wu-Tsung came into power and banned all other religions and promoted Tausim.
The
three Christian leaders who helped to work for the Christianity in China were;
Duke
Kuo Tzu – I .During 7th century, he was an army
general and very influential. He gave military protection to Christians and
favored Christians in courts.
Issu yazbozid:
He was a Nestorian priest and as well as an Army General. He was known for
generosity and social work. Because he
was an influential man Christians enjoyed good fortune under his leadership.
Adam (Ching Ching) 7th century: He was responsible
for translating Syrian book
to Chinese. During his time church had reached heights till 8th
century literally. He usually borrowed ideas from Taoism and used Buddhist
terms in order to make understand Chinese about Christ.
Proofs: A strong movement in China “Hisanfu”
dispalys his style of writing, supposed to be a very high level of literary work and Chinese language .By 987 the Christianity in china w s almost disappeared. A report says no more
traces of Christianity were found in china.
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