Church of the East

proper noun

The church originally made up of the Christians of the Sasanid Empire, later exonymically known as the Nestorian church and characterised by its use of the East Syriac liturgical rite.

OriginClassical Syriac ܥܕܬܐ ܕܡܕܢܚܐ →
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Meanings

proper nounthe Church of the East
  1. historicalChristianityThe church originally made up of the Christians of the Sasanid Empire, later exonymically known as the Nestorian church and characterised by its use of the East Syriac liturgical rite.
  2. ChristianityAny of the modern successors of that church following its schisms since the 16th century, in particular the Ancient Church of the East, Assyrian Church of the East, and Chaldean Catholic Church, or all of these considered together.

Origin

  1. Classical Syriacܥܕܬܐ ܕܡܕܢܚܐ
  2. EnglishChurch of the East

From Classical Syriac ܥܕܬܐ ܕܡܕܢܚܐ (ʿĒḏtā d-Maḏenḥā), so called as it predominated to the east of the border of the Christian Roman Empire. Used as a proper noun in English from c. 1890s.

More words from Classical Syriac

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 景教
  • 景教 (jǐngjiào)church originally of Persia — see also Nestorianism
German Kirche des Ostens
  • Kirche des Ostenschurch originally of Persia — see also Nestorianism
Polish Kościół Wschodu
  • Kościół Wschoduchurch originally of Persia — see also Nestorianism
Cite this entry
APA

Church of the East. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Church%20of%20the%20East

MLA

“Church of the East.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Church%20of%20the%20East. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Church of the East,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Church%20of%20the%20East.

Source: Church of the East on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.