JOINT COMMISSION FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
AND THE MALANKARA ORTHODOX SYRIAN CHURCH
REPORT OF THE 2005 MEETING
Kottayam, 7-9 December 2005
The Joint Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church held its 17th meeting at the Sophia Centre, Kottayam, from December 7-9, 2005.
Two papers were presented and discussed during the meeting. The first paper, prepared by Fr. K.M. Georges but read in his absence, was entitled “Towards One Church in India. A Proposal for the Unity of St Thomas Christians”. The members of the Joint Commission agreed that the St Thomas Christians should be in growing communion not only with other Apostolic Churches, but also and primarily among themselves, on the basis of their common tradition and their common belonging to Indian society and culture. The discussion focused on the question of how they could re-create their original identity and become once again a united Apostolic, Eastern and Indian Church.
The second paper, prepared by Fr. Xavier Koodapuzha, dealt with the “Historical and Canonical Perspective on Primacy in the Syro-Malabar Church”. The delegation members discussed some particular features of the historic patrimony of the St Thomas Christians in the field of Church leadership: the “Palliyogam” or community assembly at the local level, the authority of the Archdeacon at the community level, and the communion with Metropolitan Sees and Patriarchates situated in neighbouring Churches. The members agreed that an adequate understanding of this unique patrimony is necessary to any meaningful ecumenical dialogue between the Churches of the St Thomas tradition.
Attention was given to some recent events affecting relations between the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Catholic Church. In order to promote fraternal relations between the partners in dialogue, the delegation members reiterated their disagreement with the publication of articles and public pronouncements which are not in tune with the ecumenical spirit of dialogue or with the present teaching of both the Catholic Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church regarding their relationship as sister churches.
Decisions were taken regarding the functioning of the three sub-commissions (Church History, Theology and Common Witness): each sub-commission was requested to renew its activities, to define its future agenda and to prepare appropriate papers for the next meeting.
The delegation members also had a meeting with H.H. Baselios Marthoma Didymos I, the newly enthroned Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. A personal letter of Pope Benedict XVI to the new Catholicos was read by Bishop Brian Farrell, who also brought a gift of the Holy Father for him. In his reply, H.H. Baselios Marthoma Didymos I expressed his thankfulness to Pope Benedict XVI and to the members of the Joint Commission for Dialogue.
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian delegation comprised: Metropolitan Philipos Mar Eusebius (co-chair), Metropolitan Mathews Mar Severios; Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Coorilose; Bishop Yuhanon Mar Chrysostomos; Fr. O. Thomas; Fr. Jacob Kurian; Fr. V.P. Varghese; Fr. Johns Abraham Konatt; Fr. John Panicker (co-secretery in charge); Fr. Raji Mathew; Shri P.C. Abraham, Dr. A. Karackal. Fr. K.M. George and Fr. John Mathews (co-secretary) could not attend the meeting. The members of the Catholic delegation were: Bishop Brian Farrell (co-chair); Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil, Archbishop Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry, Bishop Isaac Mar Cleemis (representing Major Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios); Fr. Xavier Koodapuzha; Fr. Mathew Vellanickal; Fr. Francis Pereparambil; Fr. Antony Kackanattu; Msgr. Johan Bonny (co-secretary). Major Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios and Bishop Patrick D’Souza could not attend the meeting.
The next meeting is to be held at the Spirituality Centre of Kottayam from 13-15 September 2006. The Catholic members of the sub-commission on Church History will prepare a paper on “The Liturgical Tradition of the St. Thomas Christians from 1659 till the 19th Century”; the sub-commission will also continue its efforts to arrange a joint publication of some archival documents related to the pre-Diamper period. The sub-commission on Theology will prepare papers on the question of Church unity, with particular attention to the promotion of unity among the St Thomas Christians. The sub-commission on Common Witness will prepare and organise some pastoral projects and will also continue its reflection on the issue of mixed marriages.
[Information Service 121 (2006/I) 16]