John,

It's GREAT to have an Orthodox Christian on the board. We've discussed Orthodoxy quite a number of times--I'm one of several regular poster who is very intersted in your church. Now we'll be able to discuss it with you. Thanks for stopping by!

By way of clarification, my understanding is that the "orthodox" in "Syrian Orthodox" does not imply communion with the Ecumenical Patriarch of the orthodox churches of eastern Europe that severed communion with the Catholic Church in the "Great Schism" of 1054 AD. Rather, I believe that the Syrian Orthodox Church one of several "ancient churches of the east" that have been autonomous since the first century. Many of the "ancient churches of the east" have the words "catholic" and/or "orthodox" in their full names even though they do not maintain full communion with either the Catholic Pope or the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch.

Norm.