Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

January 6, 2010, is the 1600th Anniversary of the Synod of Mar Isaac, a very significant occasion for the history and theology of our beloved Chaldean Catholic Church. Accordingly, the Diocese of Saint Peter the Apostle for Chaldeans & Assyrians is commemorating this historic event by hosting a Historical Symposium from

January 7-9, 2010, in San Diego, CA. On behalf of the Eparch of the Diocese, His Excellency Mar Sarhad Yawsip Jammo, I am honored to extend the invitation of the Diocese to you, in the San Diego Area, throughout the State of California and the whole United States to join us during this celebration.


I hope you will make the effort to attend this unique function in order to spend a few days in the fraternal company of many of your brothers & sisters in Christ, as well as prominent churchmen and intellectuals, some of whom will also give talks about the significance of the Synod of Mar Isaac in AD 410 and its decisive effects in shaping the thought and practice of our Mesopotamian ecclesial tradition. You will also have the chance to meet members of the Chaldean hierarchy along with many other priests and religious (monks and nuns) who are also planning to be with us.

In addition to the scholarly talks, the Symposium Executive Committee has arranged, for your enjoyment, the option to go on some delightful excursions and entertaining activities to tour important sites in San Diego, America’s Finest City. In the evenings you will have the opportunity to enjoy church choirs, watch folk dances and drama performances by various parishes of Saint Peter Diocese.

Please review this pamphlet and consider making your reservation before November 20, 2009, for this great and historic celebration of our faith and culture. Please respond soon, as space is limited.

I look forward to personally welcoming you to the 2010 Symposium and offering you our Diocese’s sincere friendship and fine hospitality.
 

Truly yours in Christ,

Bishop Bawai Soro
Chair, Organizing Committee

THE SYNOD OF MAR ISAAC (AD 410)

The Synod of Mar Isaac took place 1600 years ago. It was the first of its kind in the early history of our ancient Church of the East in Mesopotamia. At this Synod, the Church of our forefathers became administratively organized and brought its existing theology, liturgy and disciplines into greater continuity with the tenets of the Catholic Church in the West.

The events leading to this historic Synod began when the Sasanian King Yazdgard I (399-420) restored tranquility and peace to his Christian subjects in Mesopotamia and western Persia, after they had suffered persecution, slaughter and massacres for 40 years. He returned their freedom to worship and promised to rebuild their torn down homes and churches.

As this change became a glorious “moment” in the lives of the early Mesopotamian Church, Christians in the West (i.e., the Catholic Church in the Roman Empire) were observing with concern the fate of their brothers and sisters in the East. Accordingly, Mar Marutha, the Bishop of Maiparqat, a neighboring Roman province in Syria, was commissioned by the Roman Emperor and the “Western Fathers” to advance the cause of peace and stability of Christians in the East.

Encouraged with the new peace within his land and the relations with Western Christians, Mar Isaac, the Bishop of the Capitol City Seleucia-Ctesiphon (inheriting Babylon), called for a Synod of about 40 bishops in AD 410, likely at his cathedral at Kokhe..

If you would like to know more about this fascinating history, please attend the talks of this Symposium.