Compare
Eastern Catholic ChurchesandAssyrian Church of the East
At a glance
- Common groundIn full: Common ground
- Common inheritanceThe faith of Nicaea and the church of the first centuries. The Church of the East grew up outside the Roman Empire and never received the Council of Ephesus (431); in 1994 Rome and the Assyrian Church of the East declared a shared faith in Christ.
3 sources
- About us: When did it begin?Source verified
- The Christology of the Church of the East in the Synods of the Fifth to Early Seventh Centuries: Preliminary Considerations and MaterialsSource verified
- Common Christological Declaration between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the EastSource verified
- GodOne God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- ChristChrist is fully divine and fully human
- Church and ministryBishops in historic apostolic succession
- AgreementBoth are parties to Guidelines on Addai and Mari (2001) (20 July 2001)
- Common inheritanceThe faith of Nicaea and the church of the first centuries. The Church of the East grew up outside the Roman Empire and never received the Council of Ephesus (431); in 1994 Rome and the Assyrian Church of the East declared a shared faith in Christ.
- Key differencesIn full: Key differences
- ChristEastern Catholic ChurchesTwo natures united in one person, as defined at Chalcedon (451)Assyrian Church of the EastTwo natures and two qnome in one person (East Syriac)
- Church and ministryEastern Catholic ChurchesBishops in communion with the pope, who holds universal jurisdictionAssyrian Church of the EastBishops governing in synods; self-governing churches without a universal head
- Creeds and councilsEastern Catholic ChurchesThe first three ecumenical councils (325, 381, 431); The fourth to seventh councils (451 to 787); Later general councils of the Western Church, including Trent and the Vatican councilsAssyrian Church of the EastThe Council of Nicaea (325); The Council of Ephesus (431) is not received
Below: 1 difference of emphasis.
- How their histories connectIn full: How their histories connect
- Ecclesial union · 16th–17th centuries · A gradual processThe Chaldean union with RomeRead the account in Assyrian Church of the East
- Connected today?In full: their relationship today
Separate, in formal dialogueas of October 2026
Separate churches with limited pastoral sharing of the Eucharist in cases of necessity.
Composed from each tradition’s sourced records. Where a topic is not yet recorded for one side, the Atlas says so rather than guess.
Structured comparison. Composed from each tradition’s sourced position records. No research has yet been written for this particular pair, so the Atlas shows only what those records establish.
Where they differ
Christ
How Christ's divinity and humanity are expressed
- Eastern Catholic Churches
- Two natures united in one person, as defined at Chalcedon (451)
- Assyrian Church of the East
- Two natures and two qnome in one person (East Syriac)
Creeds and councils
Councils received
- Eastern Catholic Churches
- The first three ecumenical councils (325, 381, 431); The fourth to seventh councils (451 to 787); Later general councils of the Western Church, including Trent and the Vatican councils
- Assyrian Church of the East
- The Council of Nicaea (325); The Council of Ephesus (431) is not received
Church and ministry
Church government
- Eastern Catholic Churches
- Bishops in communion with the pope, who holds universal jurisdiction
- Assyrian Church of the East
- Bishops governing in synods; self-governing churches without a universal head
Different emphases, not necessarily opposed (1)
Mary and the saints
How Mary is named
- Eastern Catholic Churches
- Mary is honoured as Mother of God (Theotokos)
- Assyrian Church of the East
- Mary is honoured as 'Mother of Christ our God and Saviour'
Not yet comparable (5)
No sourced position is recorded for one side, so the Atlas does not say whether they agree:
- Scripture and authority (sources of authority): not recorded for Assyrian Church of the East
- Sacraments and ordinances (how the rites are understood and counted): not recorded for Assyrian Church of the East
- Sacraments and ordinances (who is baptised): not recorded for Assyrian Church of the East
- Mary and the saints (asking the saints to pray): not recorded for Assyrian Church of the East
- Day of worship (weekly day of worship): not recorded for Assyrian Church of the East
How their histories relate
Ecclesial union · 16th–17th centuriesA gradual process
Part of one church enters communion with another while keeping its own liturgy, hierarchy and law.
Part of the Church of the East entered communion with Rome in the 16th and 17th centuries, forming what became the Chaldean Catholic Church; the two churches share the East Syriac liturgical heritage.Read in Assyrian Church of the East history2 sources
- The 23 Eastern Catholic Churches: ancient traditions in communion with RomeSource verified
- The Church of the East: A Concise HistoryIdentified, not independently read
Provisional: broadly supported, but awaiting fuller checking.
Their relationship today
Separate, in formal dialogueas of October 2026
Based on The Chaldean union with Rome
Developments towards reconciliation
20 July 2001Several communions
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, in agreement with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
The ancient Anaphora of Addai and Mari 'can be considered valid', although it lacks a continuous institution narrative; the words of institution are present in dispersed form.Still open: The provisions apply only to these two churches and to pastoral necessity; they are not full communion.
Catholic pastoral guidelines, following a CDF judgement approved by Pope John Paul II.
Explore further
Eastern Catholic Churches
All citations link to the Atlas’s single source register.