JOINT COMMISSION FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
AND THE MALANKARA ORTHODOX SYRIAN CHURCH
REPORT OF THE 2013 MEETING
Kottayam, 18-19 December 2013
The Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church held its meeting at the Sophia Centre on 18–19 December 2013. After a moment of prayer, His Grace Gabriel Mor Gregorios, Co-Chairman of the Commission, welcomed the members expressing also his gratitude for the fraternal relationship between our Churches. “During our dialogue, not only the discussions but also the informal moments create bonds of togetherness while we meet and eat together. Our church is very grateful. His Holiness the Catholicos made a historical visit to the Holy Father Pope Francis on 5 September 2013. We are thankful for the Pontifical Council to make this visit possible”. His Grace also referred to the coming commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the Seminary.
His Excellency Bishop Brian Farrell, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and Co-Chairman of the Commission, addressed the members in his introductory words, saying that we are called to undertake the pilgrimage of trust in the light of the Spirit. Bishop Farrell referred to events in the Catholic Church. The new Pope Francis gave his full support to the ecumenical task on the day after his inauguration. Receiving the fraternal delegates, he said: “Yes, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all feel closely united to the prayer of our Saviour at the Last Supper, to his appeal: ut unum sint. Let us ask the Father of mercies to enable us to live fully the faith graciously bestowed upon us on the day of our Baptism and to bear witness to it freely, joyfully and courageously. This will be the best service we can offer to the cause of Christian unity, a service of hope for a world still torn by divisions, conflicts and rivalries. The more we are faithful to his will, in our thoughts, words and actions, the more we will progress, really and substantially, towards unity. For my part, I wish to assure you that, in continuity with my predecessors, it is my firm intention to pursue the path of ecumenical dialogue, and I thank the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity for the help that it continues to provide, in my name, in the service of this most noble cause… and I beg of you the charity of a special prayer for me, that I may be a pastor according to the heart of Christ”. Further he referred to the historical visit of His Holiness Paulose II to the Holy Father, who recalled in his address the Apostle Thomas: “The Apostle Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" (Jn 2:28) with one of the most beautiful confessions of faith in Christ handed down by the Gospels… It is precisely in this faith that we meet each other; it is this faith that unites us, even if we cannot yet share the Eucharistic table; and it is this faith which urges us to continue and intensify the commitment to ecumenism, encounter and dialogue towards full communion”. This visit has been a mutual gift and motivates us to take more steps in this pilgrimage of service to the Lord and the wellbeing of the Church.
Bishop Farrell welcomed especially the new member, Father Augustine Kadeparambil. His Grace Archbishop Powathil expressed words of gratitude for the ecumenical commitment of the Commission in the hope that we can take further steps forward.
His Grace Gabriel Mar Gregorios (Co-Chairman), His Grace Yakob Mar Irenaios, Fr. Dr. T. I. Varghese, Fr. Jacob Mathew, Fr. Dr. O. Thomas, Fr. Dr. Johns Abraham Konat, Fr. Dr. Reji Mathew, Fr. Dr. Jose John, Fr. M.S. Yuhanon Ramban and Fr. Abraham Thomas (co-secretary) represented the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The Catholic Church was represented by His Excellency Bishop Brian Farrell (Co-Chairman), His Grace Mar Joseph Powathil, His Grace Mar Mathew Moolakatt, His Grace Mar Thomas Mar Koorilos, His Excellency Bishop Dr. Selvister Ponnumuthan, His Grace Mar Joseph Kallarangatt, Rev. Dr. Mathew Vellanickal, Rev. Dr. Xavier Koodapuzha, Rev. Dr. Jacob Thekkeparampil, Rev. Dr. Augustine Kadeparambil, Rev. Dr. Philip Nelpuraparampil and Rev. Fr. Gabriel Quicke (co-secretary).
Rev. Fr. Abraham Thomas presented the report of the meeting in 2012, which the Commission approved (with some minor corrections)
Fr. Dr. Johns Abraham Konat presented a paper on the Canonical Collections in the West Syrian Tradition, from the very early period of Christian history. For the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the Nomocanon of Bar Hebraeus (which contains the basic structure of administration of the early church) is the official canon of the church; it remains the basic document of rules which govern its administration; it remains a book of reference for liturgical rubrics and maintenance of discipline.
Rev. Fr. Pauly Maniyattu presentend a paper on the Eucharist in the Vision of Syriac and Latin Fathers. In the discussion it was clarified why this paper was presented. There is a deep link between the pneumatology and the Eucharist. We can speak about a Eucharistic pneumatology or a pneumatologic Eucharist. The Syriac and Latin Fathers see the Eucharist as the prime moment when we meet Jesus. They are concerned with the relevance of the consecrated body and blood for the assembly. The Eucharist is food for eternal life, and is viewed as a ‘very efficient means for the unity in the church’.
Rev Fr. Yuhanon Ramban presented a paper on the Work of the Holy Spirit and the Spiritual Renewal of the Church (written by Metropolitan Dr. Yuhanon Mar Dioscoros who could not attend the meeting). In the discussion it was confirmed that the paper is very biblical and gives an overview of the common tradition. Regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it was emphasized that there is a need to make a distinction between the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit which are the gifts for the growth in holiness, and the charisms, which are the gifts for the diakonia in the ministry of the Church. The Spirit makes the Church. The Spirit works in the Church. The call of the Church is to be a sacrament of salvation.
Finally the Commission prepared a draft document of a proposed statement on the administration and reception of the Holy Eucharist and Holy Confession in extraordinary situations which was signed on behalf of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church by Bishop Brian Farrell (Co-Chairman for the Catholic church) and His Grace Gabriel Mar Gregorios (Co-Chairman for the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church), and which is to be presented to the ecclesiastical authorities for implementation.
The next meeting will be held at the Spirituality Centre, Manganam, Kottayam, on Thursday 4 and Friday 5 December 2014. The following issues will be on the agenda: celebration/commemoration of 25 years of dialogue; preparation for publication of the papers presented from 2001 (Father Gabriel will collect the papers from the Catholic side, Father Abraham Thomas from the Orthodox side). Three papers will be presented: One joint paper by Fr. Dr. Xavier Koodapuzha and Fr. Dr. T. I. Varghese that gives a review of 25 years of dialogue, presenting the dialogue and the agreed statements; and two papers on the Work of the Holy Spirit in the multireligious context of India (the dialogue of life) by Fr. Dr. Augustine Kadeparambil and Fr. Dr. O. Thomas.