JOINT COMMISSION FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
AND THE MALANKARA ORTHODOX SYRIAN CHURCH
REPORT OF THE 2001 MEETING
Kottayam, 17-19 Octobre 2001
The Joint Commission of the Roman Catholic Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church held its 13th meeting, from 17-19 October, 2001, at the Sophia Centre, Kottayam. Three major issues were on the agenda: firstly the concept of ‘hierarchical communion’ according to the canonical sources of the Syrian tradition; secondly, the historical developments in Kerala during the 17th century, after the Coonan Cross Oath; and, finally, an evalution of the various archival sources regarding the 16th and 17th century Church history in Kerala.
Before the programme started, however, the Joint Commission was pleased to announce the publication of a comprehensive volume dealing with its past 12-year activity: XAVIER KOODAPUZHA, JOHN PANICKER (ed.), Joint International Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Papers and Joint Statements, 1989-2000, Kottayam, 2001, 677 pp. This publication comprises all papers presented by various members and experts at the official Commission meetings, which provided the basis for discussions and the drawing of various joint statements. As written in the “Foreword by the Chairmen”: “The papers present a wide variety of views and differing perspectives, which will all help to elucidate and clarify matters. We hope that these papers and joint statements will be helpful to ecumenists here and elsewhere”.
With regard to the study of “hierarchical communion”, four documents were presented. Two papers presented the theme from a theological point of view: The Concept of Communion and the Indian Church of St. Thomas by Fr. K.M. George, and Hierarchical Communion: Catholic Perspective by Fr. X. Koodapuzha. Two other documents were presented and they dealt with the canonical perspective: The Concept of Authority as reflected in the Canonical Sources of the West Syrian Tradition by Fr. Johns Abraham Konat, and Canonical Sources of Authority in the East-Syrian Tradition during the Pre-Diamper Period by Fr. Sebastian Thayyil. Both delegations agreed that, since the first centuries, regional groupings emerged of local Churches and centered around the then major cities of the Roman Empire. These groupings gradually emerged as Patriarchates, which represented a particular form of “hierarchical communion” at the regional level. Regarding the authority of the Bishop of Rome, the Catholic and Malankara Orthodox delegations read the canonical sources of the St. Thomas Christianity in a different way. In the canonical collections of the Church of the East, according to the Catholic delegation, the Patriarch of Rome had a particular primacy over the other Patriarchs. In the West-Syrian canonical collections, according to the Malankara Orthodox delegation, however, no Patriarch is seen as having had primacy over other Patriarchs. This issue will require further study.
Secondly, three papers were presented concerning the ecclesial developments in Kerala during the 17th century: The Church of the Thomas Christians after the Coonan Cross Oath of 1653, until the death of Mar Thoma V (1765) by Fr. Joseph Perumthottam; Issues Related with the Coonan Cross Oath and Sources: a Critical Evaluation by Fr. T.I. Varghese; The Thomas Christians after the Coonan Cross Oath by Fr. M.O. John. Both delegations agreed that the Coonan Cross Oath was a general protest of the St. Thomas Christians. It is not stated though against whom their protest was directed. This issue will need further investigation and clarification. Was it against the Portuguese authorities, the Catholic latinisation policy, the Jesuit missionaries or the Bishop of Rome? Was it against all of them or only against some of them? To what extent did people distinguish the ones from the others?
Such questions can only be answered on the basis of a sound academic reading of the archival sources available. Two papers were consequently presented on this issue: Evaluation of the Documents on the Coonan Cross Oath by Fr. Francis Pereparambil and The Original Source Materials for the History of the Coonan Cross Revolution: an Evaluation by Fr. Jacob Kollaparambil. Because of the persisting differences of opinion regarding the interpretation of the archival sources concerned, it was proposed to start up a project of collecting, listing and publishing the documents that are available in various places. This project can be apportioned according to specific historical periods or events. It should be realised in an ecumenical spirit and in collaboration with various academic centers.
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church delegation was composed of: H.G. Metropolitan Philipos Mar Eusebius (co-chairman); H.G. Metropolitan Mathews Mar Severios; H.G. Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Coorilos; Very Revd. Ramban Theophoros; Fr. K.M. George; Fr. Johns Abraham; Fr. Reji Mathew; Fr. Jacob Kurien, Fr. M.O. John; Fr. T.I. Varghese, Fr. John Mathews (co-secretary), Shri P.C. Abraham, Shri A.K. Thomas. The participants from the Roman Catholic Church were: H.E. Bishop Marc Ouellet (co-chairman); H.E. Bishop Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry; H.E. Bishop Mar George Punnakottil (representative of H.E. Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil); H.E. Joshua Mar Ignathios (representative of H.E. Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios); Fr. Geevarghese Chediath; Fr. Xavier Koodapuzha; Fr. Mathew Vellanickal; Fr. Francis Pereparambil; Fr. Johan Bonny (co-secretary). H.E. Bishop Patrick D’Souza, H.E. Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios and H.E. Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil could not attend the meeting; the last two were participating in the Synod of Bishops in Rome.
The next meeting is to be held at the Spirituality Centre of Kottayam, 16-18 October 2002. There will be three issues on the agenda. Firstly, regarding the concept of communion, the sub-commission on theology will prepare papers on the relation between the local Church and the universal Church. Secondly, regarding the Coonan Cross Oath and the subsequent events, the sub-commission on history will study the documents up to the time of Mar Thoma VI. Thirdly, regarding mixed marriages, the Joint Commission firmly hopes that a mutually acceptable agreement concerning this urgent pastoral question may be reached during the next meeting, or even before.
[Information Service 108 (2001/IV) 164-165]