Theological Dialogue with the Malankar Orthodox Churches in India

The Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara (Jacobite) Syrian Orthodox Church held its annual meeting on Monday 10 December 2018 at the Spirituality Centre, Manganam, Kottayam, co-chaired by Bishop Brian Farrell and Metropolitan Kuriakose Mor Theophilose. After having agreed on the Report of the 2017 meeting, the Commission discussed a project of ‘common reflection’ on the pastoral guidelines on inter-church marriages signed by the authorities of both Churches. Afterwards Revd Dr Jacob Thekkeparampil presented a paper on the ecclesiology of Mor Jacog of Sarug.

The Joint International Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Orthodox Church met on 11 and 12 December 2018, co-chaired by Bishop Brian Farrell and Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Demetrios. As planned in the Report of the 2017 meeting, the Commission discussed updates on various practical projects: a “Source Book on Ecclesiastical History”, a “Common Patristic Readings for 365 Days”, and the creation of a website of the dialogue. “Guidelines on Pastoral Cooperation” were proposed by Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt and Metropolitan Yakub Mar Irenaios. Papers on the theme of the Fullness of Communion and Degrees of Communion were presented by Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Dioscoros and Revd Dr Mathew Vellanickal, and on Participation of the Faithful in the Life of the Church by Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt and Father Dr Reji Mathew.

On 13 December Bishop Farrell and Revd Hyacinthe Destivelle visited Metropolitan Joseph Mar Thoma, head of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, and His Beatitude Mar Giwargis Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. They also visited the St Ephrem Ecumenical Research Institute and the Pontifical John Paul II Institute For Studies on Marriage and Family, Cana.