Dialogue with Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church

As every year, a delegation of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity took part in the dialogues with the Malankara Orthodox Churches, held in Kerala, India, from 11–14 December 2023. The Catholic delegation was represented by Bishop Brian Farrell, Secretary of the Dicastery, and Revd Hyacinthe Destivelle, Official responsible for the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Two parallel dialogues with the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and the Malankara Syrian Orthodox (Jacobite) Church were established in 1989 and 1990 respectively, and were maintained even after the foundation of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches in 2003.

On Monday, 11 December 2023, the 24th meeting of the Joint Theological Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church was held at the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary at Udayagiri, Vettickal.

As planned in the last meeting in 2022 (see Report), Revd Augustine Kadeparampil and Dr Anis K. Joy presented a paper on Christian formation in the family and among youth, especially in a post-pandemic context, and Rev. Fr. Hyacinthe Destivelle presented a paper on Christian education according to Pope Francis. The commission also discussed a project on pastoral guidelines for ecumenical collaboration in pastoral care in university and hospital chaplaincies, which was prepared by Revd Dr Philip Nelpuraparampil and Revd Dr Addai Jacob.

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

The Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church delegation comprised Metropolitan Mor Theophilos Kuriakose (Co-Chair), Metropolitan Mor Anthimos Mathews, Metropolitan Mor Timotheos Mathews, Revd Adai Jacob (Co-Secretary), Revd Kuriakose Moolayil, Revd Shibu Cherian, Revd Daniel Thattaryil, Revd Biju Parekkatil Mathai, Revd Dr Kuriakose Kollanoor, Revd Dr Prince Paulose, and Dr Anish K. Joy.