Antioch in what is now Syria was a major city in the Roman Empire. It became one of the hubs of the early Christian movment. St. Peter is considered the first bishop having fled to Antioch in the face of persecution in Jerusalem. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians, that is, recognized as not simply another Jewish sect. Saints Barnabas and Paul were commissioned by the Church in Antioch for their first missionary journey which brought the Christian movement to the Gentiles. Since it was a primary see in the early church the bishop was considered a patriarch. However, due to the splintering of the Church over the centuries there are now seven men (all men) who are called Patriarch by their particular branch of the Church. Alas, today only two percent of Antioch is Christian despite the long history. We are reminded by that story of how important it is to not take the faith for granted but to nurture it in our own hearts and spread to those around us.
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By Church Staff
