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The establishment of the first Christian Church took place where the establishment, 'the birth', of civilization took place - Mesopotamia. And the people who played the central role in founding, establishing, 'The Church' were those people who had already given rise to the 'birth' (cradle) of civilization - The Assyrians. Jesus had already pronounced the Assyrians as people who had turned away (repented) from their sins (Matthew 12:42). It is the 'highest blessing' for a person, community, people or nation to be pronounced by Lord Jesus as 'having repented'. The Fruits of such Divine Blessing is serving the Lord and Glorifying the God Almighty; and that is what the Assyrians, as a people, have always done.
Shimun Keepa (in Assyrian/Aramaic, Simon Peter) in his Epistle from Babylonia says,
'The Chosen Church that is in Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you.And so doth my son Marcus.' (1 Peter, 5:13)
Some Christians (and there are many of them) say, when Peter said, in above statement, 'Babylon', he did not mean 'Babylon'; he meant 'Rome' where, according to them, he established the Catholic Church. They say St Peter was speaking metaphorically - to which I say, 'Absolutely Nonsense!' It is a straightforward statement, in a straightforward context, made by a straightforward man, St Peter. He would say 'Rome' if he wanted to say 'Rome'. Moreover, there is no scriptural authority in the whole New Testament to support Peter's having visited Rome. He never wrote about it, nor did he make even an implicit mention of it. Wouldn't it be a 'Significant Event' - 'the first disciple of Christ visiting Rome'? And why Apostle Paul (who had the habit of writing about even 'not-so-significant' events) did not write in any of his Epistles about it? Or at least, wouldn't it be mentioned in the Acts of Apostles?
The Church of Babylon, to which Shimun Keepa (Simon Peter) is refering, is The First Christian Church known as The Church of The East (also the Asswyrian Church of The East). This Church was founded in 33AD in Seleuquia-Ctesiphon (in Babylon); it was at the time the capital of the Persian Empire, and today it is in ruins - 50km from Baghdad.
In the books, particularly in Aramaic literature, on the establishment of 'The Church' and its early development we read the names of four disciples of Christ: two from the twelve, Tuma (Assyrian name for Thomas) and Bar-Tulma (Assyrian name for Bartholomew), and two from the seventy, Addai (Thaddeus in the West), and Mari (Maree). The two last disciples mentioned (Addai and Mari) for this joyous occasion had arrived from Urhai (Edessa) ---- perhaps one or two weeks before. Some say that Mar Addai (Lord Addai) stayed on in Edessa. Not true. He did what he was told to do: he healed King Abgar and blessed his people; he also proclaimed the name of Eshoo Msheekha (Jesus Christ) to the people of Edessa. Furthermore, he instructed (and arranged with Abgar's money) to have a church built in Urhai (Edessa). And after all how could he stay there? Very soon, a few months later (after the founding of the Church), he, Addai, became the first Patriarch of The Church. However, in the Church of The East Shimun Keepa, Tuma, and Bar-Tulma, who were the 'major figures' in the founding of The Church, are also known and remembered as the Patriarchs (Fathers) of The Church. Tuma (Thomas), the disciple, has a special place in the hearts of the Assyrians and a 'high place' in The Church of The East.
I can imagine and visualize vividly that joyous day, that historic event and that Christly occasion. I 'presume' (why not, I am free to presume) it was 23rd of August 33 AD; and it took place in the morning. I can see the 'Founders' of The Church (who were the servants of Jesus Christ) standing in front of a small house; in fact it was more like a 'hut' than a house, and there were many of them (called 'Khuky') in that area. The Disciples of Christ were surrounded by a big crowd of probably five hundred people from different communities and various ethnic origins; however, a half of them, at least, were Assyrians. The disciples one by one climbed up the soap-box and gave their speeches; it took more than two hours. The last Speaker was Thomas whose speech was the longest. Every one of them stressed that the Foundation of the Churh is The Eternal Solid Rock, Eshoo Msheekha (Jesus Christ). Mar Tuma (St Thomas) ended His Speech by telling the audience about His mission to India that was going to take place in near future. He was instructed by his Lord, Jesus, to go to India and establish a church there; this obedint disciple of Christ did so. And to this day that church in India is part of The Holy Apostolic Church of The East.
The Church of The East uses the Language of Jesus Christ in her liturgy - that spiritually rich classical Assyriac Aramaic, referred to as 'Peshitta' (Peshitta Aramaic). And this is also the Version in which The New Testament was originally written. The present Patriarch of The Church of The East is His Holiness Mar Dinkha (120th Patriarch) - the true successor to Shimun Keepa (Simon Peter).
The Church has had its ups and downs and has been through some unexpected vicissitudes throughout the centuries; and its followers have been despised and persecuted---------yes indeed persecuted in the name of Jesus and even a large number of them were killed, martyred for the sake of Christ.
The Church of The East, in the past two decades or so, has been trying to establish amicable relationships with other Churches. In this respect, as on many other issues, the present Patriarch has done his best. For example, for centuries there had been misunderstandings (which gradually turned into real conflict) between Roman Catholic Church and The Church of The East, going back to 431 AD, Ephesus Council. Then, it was on November the 9th, 1994, by signing a 'Common Christological Declaration', the two Holy men of the East and the West resolved the acrimonious differences between the two great Churches of the East and the West.
"The Common Christological DeclarationBetween Roman Catholic Church andThe Assyrian Church of The East."
(Here is His Holiness Pope John Paul VI addressing the audience on that special occasion. From L'osservatore Romano, Thursday, 10th November 1994)
'Today I am honoured to have here beside me a very honoured guest from a far away country. He is also a brother whom I greet with joy:The Patriarch of The Assyrian Church of the East, His HolinessMar Dinkha IV, together with three bishops, members of the Synod ofHis Church.
He is the leader of one of the most ancient and venerable Churches ofThe East. The language used in her liturgy is the closest to the oneJesus himself spoke.
He has come also to sign with the Catholic Church a Common ChristologicalDeclaration that will resolve the separation created by the Council ofEphesus in the year 431 AD.
This will settle and definitely put an end to more than fifteen centuriesof misunderstandings that affect our faith in Christ, true God and true Man(applause), born to the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit.
You can clearly see then how joyful my soul is for this circumstanceand with what sentiments of esteem and fraternal communication I receiveHis Holiness Mar Dinkha IV.'
Now let me say a few words about The Church of The East after its establishment. The Expansion of The Church was incredibly rapid, absolutely unbelievable! In less than sixty years from the time of its establishment The Church had twenty Episcopal See from Mesopotamia to the regions of Caspian Sea and extended right up to China and Mongolia. The expansion of the Church of The East and the progress of the Assyrian missionaries in spreading the Gospel of the Lord in the East, Asian countries, were 'running amicably hand in hand'.
Today The Church of The East does not have a high membership, but it has faithful members and dedicated followers who are mainly, but not only, Assyrians (it is a truly catholic, universal, Church). Assyrians are part and parcel of The Church's identity, and The Church is part and parcel of the Assyrian's entity.
The Church of The East will go on flourishing because it belongs to and is founded upon Eshoo Msheekha (Jesus Christ); indeed Christ Jesus is The Solid Rock of this Ancient Apostolic Church. It will have, as it had for centuries in the past, Episcopal Sees in different countries and over a large part of the world --------- God-Willing.