Explanation of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Emblem part 2/2 4. In the middle are the two keys which are held together & bound at the ends. This is in reference to St. Peter the Holy Apostle. Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke to St. Peter saying, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: & whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: & whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Mathew 16:19) The prayers of the Syriac Orthodox Church call St. Peter as the keeper of the Keys of the Kingdom (Semavoon kabel kleede d'malkooso). St. Peter has traditionally been depicted with these keys in iconography as well. St. Peter is the chief of the Apostles (ris'ho daslihe) & he established the first Apostolic Holy See in Antioch (where believers in Christ were first called Christians, as written in Acts 11:26). The Patriarch of Antioch and all the East is the successor to this Holy Apostolic See. 5. In the bottom centre is a scale. This represents the justice, righteousness & impartiality to be carried out by the Patriarch as a judge in the Church while making decisions, & also symbolizes the protector of the Church's faith, constitution, laws & beliefs. 6. Below the emblem is the title of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate written in Syriac, the official language of the Syriac Orthodox Church. However, in Syria the Arabic inscription is also present. The Syriac inscription is: Paṭriarḵo ḏ-Anṭiuḵia waḏ-Kuloh Maḏĕnḥo The Arabic inscription is: Baṭriyark li-ʾAnṭākya wa-Sāʾir al-Mašriq Both mean, "Patriarch of Antioch and all the East" #syriacorthodox #syriacorthodoxchurch #syrianorthodox #syrianorthodoxchurch #syriac #orthodox #patriarch #antioch #malankara #jacobite #knanaya #suryoyo #suryoye #aramean #christian #jesus #church #bible #orientalorthodox










