JOINT COMMISSION FOR DIALOGUE
BETWEEN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE MALANKARA (JACOBITE) SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
REPORT OF THE 2022 MEETING
Spirituality Centre, Manganam, 12 December 2022
The 23rd meeting of the Joint International Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church was held in Spirituality Centre, Manganam, Kottayam, on Monday 12 December 2022.
The meeting began with the prayer led by His Grace Mathews Mar Anthimos Metropolitan of Angamaly. His Grace Mar Mathew Moolakatt, Metropolitan of Kottayam, welcomed the members of the Commission, mentioning the threefold dimension of ecumenism: dialogue of love, dialogue of truth, and dialogue of life. Although the pandemic led sometimes to a more individualistic Church life culture, tragedies like the current war in Ukraine help to open our mind and heart to the sufferings worldwide.
In his introductory address, Bishop Brian Farrell, Catholic Co-Chair, mentioned the 1950th anniversary of the martyrdom of St Thomas the Apostle, and called to memory Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy, former President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, passed away in 2021. He highlighted the paradoxical consequences of the pandemic on ecumenical relations, as evidenced by the survey undertaken by the Dicastery among the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences, synthesized in a document entitled “Ecumenism in a time of pandemic”. Bishop Farrell also mentioned the importance of the current synodal process of the Catholic Church under the title “Communion, participation and mission”, and the relevance of the Oriental Orthodox experience in this regard.
His Grace Kuriakose Mar Theophilose, Co-Chair, conveyed the greetings of His Holiness Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church, and of His Beatitude Mor Baseliose Thomas I, Catholicos of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church. He emphasized the ecumenical consequences of the worldwide demographical changes due to migrations, the emergence of new ecumenical platforms such as the Global Christian Forum, as well as new ecumenical approaches, like “receptive ecumenism”. Metropolitan Mar Theophilose also mentioned the “Listening to the East” symposium on synodality in the Oriental Orthodox Churches organized in Rome in November 2022 by the Pro Oriente Foundation and the Institute for Ecumenical Studies of the Angelicum.
Revd Father Hyacinthe Destivelle, Co-Secretary, presented the report of the 2019 meeting and the Commission approved it. As planned in the last meeting, Revd Dr Addai Jacob and Revd Dr Philip Nelpuraparampil presented papers on the fruits of the dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church, reflecting, in particular, on the joint statements and agreements on inter-church marriages, episcopacy and petrine ministry, common witness, and sharing of sacred places. Both papers were discussed and appreciated by the members of the Commission, who highlighted the importance of the reception of the pastoral agreements, particularly through their publications and translations into Malayalam. The Commission suggested to publish a book including the pastoral agreements with a short forward from the Heads of Churches.
Revd Dr Jacob Thekkeparampil presented a paper on “The Church According to Jacob of Sarug”, reflecting on the ecclesiology of Jacob of Sarug, with a special reference to Simon Peter’s role. The paper was discussed and valued by the members of the Commission, who underlined that it is in many ways consonant with the statement on petrine ministry agreed in 2002.
The Commission then deliberated on a revised version of the Joint Pastoral Guidelines for Inter-Church Marriages between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Syrian Orthodox (Jacobite) Church presented by the subcommittee comprising Revd Dr Kuriakose Moolayil Cor Episcopa and Revd Dr Philip Nelpuraparampil. A few more proposals were raised in the discussion and the Commission agreed to submit the final updated text to the respective Church authorities.
The next meeting will be held at Malankara Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary (MSOT Seminary) at Udayagiri, Vettickal on Monday 11 December 2023. The following issues will be on the agenda.
1. Publication of a book including the pastoral agreements in Malayalam with introductory words from the Heads of Churches, prepared by Fr. Addai Jacob, Fr. Augustine Kadeparampil and Revd Dr Philip Nelpuraparampil.
2. Project of pastoral guidelines on ecumenical collaboration in pastoral care in university and hospital chaplaincies, by Revd Dr Philip Nelpuraparampil and Revd Dr Addai Jacob.
3. Three papers on Christian formation in family and among youth, in particular in a post-pandemic context, prepared by Rev. Fr Augustine Kadeparampil, and Dr Anis K. Joy; and on Christian formation according to Pope Francis, by Fr. Hyacinthe Destivelle OP.
The Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church delegation comprised His Grace Dr Mor Theophilos Kuriakose Metropolitan (Co-Chair), His Grace Dr. Mor Anthimos Mathews Metropolitan, His Grace Dr. Mor Timotheos Mathews Metropolitan, Revd Dr. Adai Jacob Cor-Episcopa (Co-Secretary), Revd Fr. Kuriakose Moolayil Cor-Episcopa, Revd Fr. Shibu Cherian, Revd Fr. Daniel Thattaryil, Revd Fr. Biju Parekkatil Mathai, Revd Dr. Kuriakose Kollanoor, Revd Dr. Prince Paulose, and Dr. Anish K. Joy.
The Catholic Church was represented by Bishop Brian Farrell (Co-Chair), Archbishop Thomas Mar Koorilos, Archbishop Mathew Moolakatt, Bishop Selvister Ponnumuthan, Revd Fr. Augustine Kadeparambil, Revd Fr. Xavier Koodapuzha, Revd Fr. Philip Nelpuraparampil, Rev. Fr Jacob Thekkeparampil, and Revd Fr. Hyacinthe Destivelle (Co-Secretary).