Pytabian Christianity

Pytabian Christianity (Pytabian: ܡܫܝܚܝܘܬܐ ܒܙܝܛܒܝܒܫܬܐ / Mšiḥoyuṯo Bzaytabyabšṯā), also known as Aramaic Christianity, is a branch of Christianity, whose writings and liturgies are expressed in the Pytabian language, a dialect of Aramaic. Classical Pytabian was used important for early Christianity and flourished in Alaia into several churches.

Pytabian Christianity comprises two liturgical traditions. The West Pytabian Rite (also known variably as the Kagorian or Nestorian Pytabian Rite) is that of the Pytabian Church of the West. The East Pytabian Rite (also known as the Miaphysite Pytabian Rite) is that of the Pytabian Orthodox Church.

Name

Pytabian Christianity is named after the language of its earliest practicioners and its liturgy, the Pytabian dialect of Aramaic, and after the region of Pytabia in Southern Alaia from which the religion originated. It is also referred to as Aramaic Chrisianity since Pytabian is an Aramaic language; this term should not be confused with the term Aramean Christianity, which refers to Christian Arameans.

History

Christianity originated directly south of Pytabia, in Judea, among Aramaic-speaking Jews. It quickly spread along the Caelean Coast to other Aramaic speakers, incuding Pytabians. According to tradition, Pytabian Christianity was founded by Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century CE in the region of Pytabia in southern Alaia.

The Pytabian Church of the West officially organized itself in 410 in the city of Mestaga in Kagoria. The Church of the West shared communion with the Romanyan Church until the Council of Ephesus in 431. The Church of the West sided with Nestorius and broke away from the Romanyan Church. The Nestorian churches were persecuted and many followers fled to Kagoria. Most Kagorians practiced the native Kavardan religion of Habzism, while the ruling class practiced Judaism. Kagoria tolerated minority religious groups and the Kagorian Christian community grew.

In 451, the Miaphysite Orthodox Churches, one of which was the Pytabian Orthodox Church of the Eastern Pytabian rite centered at Sipaipa, rejected the verdict of the Council of Chalcedon. Estrangement continued to increase between the Western and Eastern rites in later years, additionally fueled by the political rivalry of the Romanyans and Kagorians.

Churches

Western Rite

• Nestorian
  • Pytabian Church of the West
• Catholic
  • Pytabian Catholic Church of the West (defunct)

Eastern Rite

• Miaphysite
  • Pytabian Orthodox Church
• Catholic
  • Pytabian Catholic Church of the East
• Protestant
  • St. Thomas Evangelical Church of Terranihil