Apostolicity through Thomas, Addai, and Mari

What it is: The Assyrian Church of the East understands itself as of apostolic origin.

How the tradition understands it: Its foundational memory is linked to Thomas and, very specially, to Addai and Mari in the evangelization of Mesopotamia.

Basis and context: This conviction appears in liturgical, historical, and hagiographic traditions of the church itself.

Debates and variations: Historical criticism may discuss details of the missionary chronology, but apostolicity remains a central part of self-identity.

Supportive

Acts of Thomas

assyrian-church-of-the-east,thomas,missions,east

An ancient text linked to Thomas's Eastern missionary memory.

Reference: Acts of Thomas.
Content: The work preserves the memory of Thomas's Eastern mission, important for Christian traditions of Mesopotamia and India.
Use in debate: It is relevant for apostolic consciousness and the Eastern expansion of Christianity.

Doctrine of Addai

assyrian-church-of-the-east,addai,apostolicity,edessa

An important text of East Syriac apostolic memory.

Reference: Doctrine of Addai.
Content: The text preserves the memory of Addai's mission and the Christian origin of Edessa and regions of the Syriac East.
Use in debate: It is a central source for apostolicity through Addai and Mari.