Priest Daryavoush Azizian: Position of Family in the Assyrian Church
Here is the English abstract of Priest Daryavoush Azizian (Priest of Assyrian Church of the East in Urmia) presentation at the 4nd pre-con meeting of the conference “Imam Reza (PBUH) and Interreligious Dialogue" which was held in Bu-Ali Sina University in Hamedan, Iran on October 30, 2023.
Position of Family in the Assyrian Church
The institution of the family in the Assyrian Church is considered the foundational institution in society, grounded not in human invention but in a divine establishment. In the Christian family, there are governing principles; principles upon which life is based, leading both men and women to grow together in faith in Christ and reach spiritual maturity. Eternal commitment, mutual respect and love, humility, and self-sacrifice are among these principles, but their realization in fallen human beings is only possible through the assistance of the Holy Spirit. The utilization of such assistance requires regular spiritual practices, such as reading and memorizing the Bible, prayer, and contemplation on the creations of God. From a biblical perspective, men and women are not superior to each other, but it does not imply that they have identical roles. A Christian woman should be obedient to her husband, just as she obeys Christ, prioritizing a godly life over selfish desire. On the other hand, the model of a Christian husband is Christ himself, and God expects him to love his wife unconditionally, similar to the love that Christ expresses for the Church. The leadership role of a man in the family should begin with his spiritual relationship with God, and then he should guide his wife and children based on the values of the Bible. Since the continuation of generations and filling the earth with those who carry the name of God and reflect His image are important biblical principles, procreation is considered one of the primary goals of Christian marriage. True upbringing and the necessity of combining love and discipline in child-rearing are strategies from the Bible to achieve this goal. Regarding sexual relationships, the ideal model of the church contradicts same-sex marriages and sexual relationships outside of marriage, considering them sinful.
Translator: Mahdi Qasemi