Talks for a possible reconciliation between the Assyrian Church of the East and the Ancient Church of the East are scheduled for 9 May. The schism consummated in will be difficult to overcome, especially overt thorny issues like the patriarchal see Baghdad or Erbil and the choice of patriarch.
This first step on the long and difficult path could be a decisive moment for reconciliation and reunification after decades of divisions and opposition that followed the schism in Once this is done, practical, doctrinal and pastoral issues must be addressed.
Both Churches claim direct continuity with the historical Church of the East. In , the growing flow of migrants from the Middle East to the West led the patriarch to adopt the Gregorian calendar in use in the countries of the Diaspora in lieu of the Julian calendar used at home.
Four years later, the schism was consummated. Several factors explain the break. In addition to the calendar issue, many Church members who remained in their homeland want the patriarchal see in Baghdad. Mar Thoma Darmo, the then Metropolitan of Trichur India of the Eastern Church, moved to the Iraqi capital and appointed three bishops, who in turn elected him patriarch of the Ancient Church of the East, a position he held for only one year before his death in Since then, relations between the two Churches have experienced ups and downs, but with the new millennium, things begin to slowly improve.
Yet, overcoming divisions and restoring ancient unity takes time. Another issue that must be dealt with is the succession to Patriarch Mar Addai II, who passed away on 11 February, which will be the key topic on the agenda of the synod of the Ancient Church of the East, set for 30 may in Chicago.
