The East Syrian Rite is a Christian liturgy, also known as the Thomasine Rite, Assyro-Chaldean Rite,Assyrian or Chaldean Rite, and the Persian Rite although it originated in Edessa, Mesopotamia. It was used historically in the Church of the East, and remains in use in churches descended from it; namely the Assyrian Church of the East, the Ancient Church of the East, the Chaldean Catholic Church, and the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. The latter two churches are Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See.

The Syrian and Mesopotamian Catholics are now commonly called Chaldeans (or Assyro-Chaldeans). The term Chaldean, which in Syriac generally meant magician or astrologer, denoted in Latin and other European languages Syrian nationality, and the Syriac or Aramaic language. For Aramaic, it especially refers to that form which is found in certain chapters of Daniel. This usage continued until the Latin missionaries at Mosul in the seventeenth century adopted it to distinguish the Catholics of the East Syrian Rite from those of the West Syrian Rite, whom they call "Syrians". It is also used to distinguish from the Nestorian Christians, some of whom call themselves "Syrians" (Surayi), and even "Christians" only, though they do not repudiate the name "Nestorayi". Modern Nestorians distinguish themselves from the rest of Christendom as the "Church of the East" or "Easterns", as opposed to "Westerns", by which they denote Latin Catholics, Orthodox, Monophysites, and Protestants.

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 ancient Patriarchate of Antioch. The rite was largely an adaptation of the old Greek liturgy of Antioch into Syriac, the language more common in the Syrian countryside. Into this framework a great number of other anaphoras have been adapted, so that the West Syrian Rite has more variant forms than any other.

The rite is practiced in the Syriac Orthodox Church, an Oriental Orthodox body; the Syriac Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See; and to a great extent in the Maronite Church, another Eastern Catholic body. A regional variant, the Malankara Rite, developed in the Malankara Church of India, and is still practiced in its descendant churches.

Versions of the West Syrian Rite are currently used by (the Indian churches use the Malankara Rite)

The Greek is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Bill Raymond. The Greek is the head of an international criminal organization involved in narcotics and human trafficking. The Greek is a mysterious figure involved in numerous criminal activities. His given name is never mentioned on the show, and though he is known only as "The Greek", he has stated (in the episode Port in a Storm) that he is not actually Greek. A quiet and unassuming man, the Greek prefers to keep a low profile, operating all of his business through his lieutenant Spiros "Vondas" Vondopoulos. His smuggling organization operated from a small diner in Baltimore for years, and while Vondas would conduct business the Greek would listen in quietly at the counter. Nick Sobotka, upon seeing the Greek identify himself, was amazed that the shadowy figure had been in plain sight the entire time.

Despite his calm appearance, the Greek is cunning and ruthless, and only interested in facts that make him more money. Series creator David Simon has said that The Greek is an embodiment of raw unencumbered capitalism. Anyone interfering in this process is eliminated immediately, and he prefers to leave victims headless and handless to hinder identification.

Mark Easter (born 19 October 1982 in Mbabane, Swaziland) is a rugby union footballer who plays at No. 8 or Flanker for Sale Sharks after signing from the Northampton Saints in the Summer of 2011. He is the brother of NEC Harlequins and England player Nick Easter. Mark is a former pupil of Dulwich College and also was a member of the winning Old Alleynian 2003 team.

On Tuesday 8 March 2011, Sale Sharks announced that he had signed a 2 year contract to play for them from the 2011/12 season.