The Syriac Orthodox Church is one of the oldest Christian denominations, tracing its roots back to the early followers of Jesus Christ in the 1st century. It is part of the larger family of Oriental Orthodox Churches and uses the Syriac language in its liturgy, which is a dialect of Aramaic. The church emphasizes the importance of tradition and has a rich heritage of theology, art, and music. The church is led by the Patriarch of Antioch, who is based in Antelias, Lebanon. The Syriac Orthodox community is primarily found in the Middle East, particularly in countries like Syria, Iraq, and Turkey, but there are also significant diaspora communities around the world.