Dialogue with Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

The Joint International Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church held its 31^st meeting at Mar Baselios Dayara, Njaliyakuzhy, on 12-13 December 2023, co-chaired by Bishop Brian Farrell, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, and Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Demetrios, President of the Department for Ecumenical Relations of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

As planned in the 2022 meeting (see Report), Metropolitan Mar Dioscoros and Archbishop Mathew Moolikat presented a revised version of the statement on interchurch marriages. Revd Jose John and Revd Philip Nelpuraparampil presented a paper consolidating all previous general statements of the Commission. Responsive papers on ecotheology were offered by Father Mathew Varghese and Father Jacob Thekeparampil while Fr. Hyacinthe Destivelle presented a paper on the encyclical Laudato Sì. The Commission also discussed a draft document for the faithful, detailing the relations between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, which was prepared by Revd Jose John and Fr Philip Nelpuraparampil.

The Catholic Church was represented by Bishop Brain Farrell (Co-Chair), Archbishop Thomas Mar Koorilos, Archbishop Mathew Moolakatt, Bishop Selvister Ponnumuthan, Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt, Revd Augustine Kadeparambil, Revd Philip Nelpuraparampil, Revd Jacob Thekkeparampil, and Revd Fr Hyacinthe Destivelle (Co-Secretary).

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church delegation comprised Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Demetrios (Co-Chair), Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Chrysostomos, Metropolitan Joseph Mar Dionysius, Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Barnabas, Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Dioscoros, Revd Reji Mathew, Revd Jossi Jacob, Revd Jose John, Revd Koshy Vaidyan, Revd Mathew Varghese, and Revd Aswin Fernandes (acting Co-Secretary).

_{Photos © MOSC Jeo Joseph}