Polycarpus Eugene (Augin) Aydin
Encyclopedia
Mor Polycarpus Augin Aydın , born Edip Aydın on June 10, 1971 near Nusaybin (Nisibis), Turkey
, is the Metropolitan
and Patriarchal Vicar for the Archdiocese of the Netherlands of the Syriac Orthodox Church
. The Metropolitan Seat is located at St. Ephrem the Syrian Monastery in Glane/Losser
, the Netherlands
.
of Shem'un and Nisani Aydın, was born in the village of Gündükşükrü , in the vicinity of Nusaybin (Nisibis), the town of St. Ephrem the Syrian
, in the region of Tur 'Abdin
, southeastern Anatolia
, Turkey
on June 10, 1971.
In 1982, after completing his elementary education in the village, Aydın entered the Seminary of Mor Gabriel Monastery, located near Midyat
, Turkey, where he received training in both Syriac language
and literature
as well as in traditional Syriac theology and liturgy
.
Following his secondary education in Turkey, Aydın earned a degree of Bachelor of Divinity
in 1995 at Heythrop College
, University of London
, United Kingdom
. Next, he spent a year at the Oriental Institute
of the University of Oxford
, United Kingdom as a Visiting Student, following a Master of Syriac Studies (M.St.) under the supervision of Dr. Sebastian Brock.
In May 2000 he was awarded the degree of Master of Divinity
at Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
, Crestwood, New York, United States
. The title of his thesis is: The History of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch in North America: Challenges and Opportunities.
On May 21, 2011 Aydın was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
at Princeton Theological Seminary
, Princeton, New Jersey
, United States, in the field of Early Church History and Ecumenics under the supervision of Professor Kathleen McVey. The title of his dissertation is: Comparing the Syriac Order of Monastic Profession with the Order of Baptism both in External Structure and in Theological Themes.
by Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas
, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
at St. Ephrem's Monastery in Damascus
, Syria
and given the name Augin (Eugene), sometimes spelled Awgin, in honor of Mor Augin of Tur Izlo. On August 4, 2002 he was ordained to the priesthood at Mor Gabriel Monastery by Mor Timotheos Samuel Aktaş, the Archbishop of Tur 'Abdin.
On April 15, 2007, Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East consecrated Augin Aydın a Metropolitan by the name Polycarpus in honor of St. Polycarp of Smyrna
at the Cathedral of St. Peter & St. Paul in Ma'arrat Saydnaya, near Damascus,
Syria. He was then appointed the Metropolitan and Patriarchal Vicar for the Archdiocese of the Netherlands of the Syriac Orthodox Church, succeeding the late Mor Julius Yeshu Çiçek
.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, is the Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
and Patriarchal Vicar for the Archdiocese of the Netherlands of the Syriac Orthodox Church
Syriac Orthodox Church
The Syriac Orthodox Church; is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church based in the Eastern Mediterranean, with members spread throughout the world. The Syriac Orthodox Church claims to derive its origin from one of the first Christian communities, established in Antioch by the Apostle St....
. The Metropolitan Seat is located at St. Ephrem the Syrian Monastery in Glane/Losser
Losser
-Population centres:*Beuningen*De Lutte*Glane*Losser*Overdinkel-Losser:The oldest known reference to Losser dates from the tenth century. Originally, the village consisted of two separate parts. Both were almost completely destroyed when on 21 September 1665, troops from Münster set fire to...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
Early life and studies
Edip Aydın, firstborn sonPrimogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
of Shem'un and Nisani Aydın, was born in the village of Gündükşükrü , in the vicinity of Nusaybin (Nisibis), the town of St. Ephrem the Syrian
Ephrem the Syrian
Ephrem the Syrian was a Syriac and a prolific Syriac-language hymnographer and theologian of the 4th century. He is venerated by Christians throughout the world, and especially in the Syriac Orthodox Church, as a saint.Ephrem wrote a wide variety of hymns, poems, and sermons in verse, as well as...
, in the region of Tur 'Abdin
Tur Abdin
Tur Abdin is a hilly region of south east Turkey incorporating the eastern half of Mardin Province, and Şırnak Province west of the Tigris, on the border with Syria. The name 'Tur Abdin' is from the Syriac language meaning 'mountain of the servants '. Tur Abdin is of great importance to Syriac...
, southeastern Anatolia
Southeastern Anatolia Region
Southeastern Anatolia Region is one of Turkey's seven census-defined geographical regions . It is bordered by the Mediterranean Region to the west, the Eastern Anatolia Region to the north, Syria to the south, and Iraq to the southeast.-Provinces:...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
on June 10, 1971.
In 1982, after completing his elementary education in the village, Aydın entered the Seminary of Mor Gabriel Monastery, located near Midyat
Midyat
Midyat is an originally Assyrian/Syriac town in Mardin Province of Turkey. The ancient city is the epicenter of a centuries-old Assyrian/Syriac enclave in Southeast-Turkey, widely familiar under its Syriac name Tur Abdin. A cognate of the name Midyat is first encountered in an inscription of the...
, Turkey, where he received training in both Syriac language
Syriac language
Syriac is a dialect of Middle Aramaic that was once spoken across much of the Fertile Crescent. Having first appeared as a script in the 1st century AD after being spoken as an unwritten language for five centuries, Classical Syriac became a major literary language throughout the Middle East from...
and literature
Syriac literature
Syriac literature is literature written in the Syriac language, the classical Middle Aramaic language of Syriac Christianity. The majority of classical Syriac literature is of a Christian religious nature....
as well as in traditional Syriac theology and liturgy
West Syrian Rite
The West Syrian Rite, also known as the Syrian Rite or the Syro-Antiochene Rite, is a Christian liturgical rite chiefly practiced in the Syriac Orthodox Church and churches related to or descended from it. It is part of the liturgical family known as the Antiochene Rite, which originated in the...
.
Following his secondary education in Turkey, Aydın earned a degree of Bachelor of Divinity
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
in 1995 at Heythrop College
Heythrop College
Heythrop College is the specialist philosophy and theology constituent college of the University of London situated in Kensington Square, Kensington, London. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in philosophy, theology and psychology, as well as research in related fields.It was founded...
, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Next, he spent a year at the Oriental Institute
Oriental Institute, Oxford
The Oriental Institute of the University of Oxford, England, is home to the university's Faculty of Oriental Studies. It is engaged in research and teaching of a wide range of disciplines covering modern and historical Asian languages and culture...
of the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, United Kingdom as a Visiting Student, following a Master of Syriac Studies (M.St.) under the supervision of Dr. Sebastian Brock.
In May 2000 he was awarded the degree of Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
at Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary is an Orthodox Christian seminary in Crestwood, New York, in the United States. Although it is under the omophorion of the Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in America, it is a pan-Orthodox institution, providing theological education to students...
, Crestwood, New York, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The title of his thesis is: The History of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch in North America: Challenges and Opportunities.
On May 21, 2011 Aydın was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
at Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
, Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, United States, in the field of Early Church History and Ecumenics under the supervision of Professor Kathleen McVey. The title of his dissertation is: Comparing the Syriac Order of Monastic Profession with the Order of Baptism both in External Structure and in Theological Themes.
Pastoral life
On October 7, 2001, Edip Aydın was tonsured as a monkMonk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
by Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas
Ignatius Zakka I Iwas
Ignatius Zakka I Iwas is the 122nd reigning Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and as such, Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. Also known by his traditional episcopal name, Severios, he was enthroned as patriarch on 14 September 1980 in St. George's...
, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
Patriarch of Antioch
Patriarch of Antioch is a traditional title held by the Bishop of Antioch. As the traditional "overseer" of the first gentile Christian community, the position has been of prime importance in the church from its earliest period...
at St. Ephrem's Monastery in Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and given the name Augin (Eugene), sometimes spelled Awgin, in honor of Mor Augin of Tur Izlo. On August 4, 2002 he was ordained to the priesthood at Mor Gabriel Monastery by Mor Timotheos Samuel Aktaş, the Archbishop of Tur 'Abdin.
On April 15, 2007, Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East consecrated Augin Aydın a Metropolitan by the name Polycarpus in honor of St. Polycarp of Smyrna
Polycarp
Saint Polycarp was a 2nd century Christian bishop of Smyrna. According to the Martyrdom of Polycarp, he died a martyr, bound and burned at the stake, then stabbed when the fire failed to touch him...
at the Cathedral of St. Peter & St. Paul in Ma'arrat Saydnaya, near Damascus,
Syria. He was then appointed the Metropolitan and Patriarchal Vicar for the Archdiocese of the Netherlands of the Syriac Orthodox Church, succeeding the late Mor Julius Yeshu Çiçek
Mor Julius Yeshu Cicek
Mor Julius Yeshu Cicek was the first Syriac Orthodox Church archbishop for Central Europe. He wrote over one hundred works, some of them in the Aramaic language....
.
External links
- St. Ephrem the Syrian Monastery, own site
- St. Ephrem the Syrian Monastery, site of the Syriac Orthodox Church
- Syriac Orthodox Church