The Syrian Orthodox Church [earlier called The Church of Antioch] was established by St. Peter, the chief of the Apostles and the first patriarch in AD 37 at Antioch (now Antakya in Turkey) [see Acts.11:26,14:26]. The church suffered all kinds of tortures and hardships from all quarter’s right from its establishment, but its flag still soars high. The spiritual care of the Church of Antioch was vested in the Bishop of Antioch from the earliest years of Christianity. The first among the Bishops of Antioch was St. Peter who is believed to have established a church at Antioch in AD 33. Today the church is spread around the globe spanning 22 countries headed by the Patriarch residing at Damascus in Syria

Jacob Baradaeus (died July 30, 578) was Bishop of Edessa from 543 until his death. One of the most important figures in the history of the Syriac Orthodox Church, and the Oriental Orthodox churches generally, he was a defender of the Monophysite movement in a time when its strength was declining. His instrumental efforts in reorganizing and revitalizing the community gave it its alternate name, the Jacobites.