Study visit of Catholic priests to Kerala

As part of the reciprocal study visits organized by the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, a delegation of Catholic priests was invited to Kerala, India, by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, to deepen their knowledge of the Saint Thomas Christians, from 24 to 31 July.

The delegation, made up of nine priests from various countries (France, India, Italy, United Kingdom, United States, Spain), involved in ecumenical relations at national or diocesan level, was accompanied by Revd Hyacinthe Destivelle, OP, Official of the Eastern Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity (DPCU), responsible for relations with the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

The programme, prepared by the Department of Ecumenical Relations of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in collaboration with the DPCU, included visits to various holy places, monasteries, training centres and social works of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, as well as the headquarters and seminaries of the various Churches of the St Thomas tradition.

During its visit, the delegation was received by His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, by His Grace Theodosius Mar Thoma, Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church, by His Beatitude Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, by His Beatitude Raphael Thattil, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, by His Beatitude George Alencherry, Major Archbishop Emeritus of the Syro-Malabar Church, and by His Grace Joseph Mar Gregorios, Metropolitan of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox (Jacobite) Church.

The delegation was also able to attend the liturgies of the various Churches and meet theologians and ecumenists in Kerala.

These study visits for young priests, organised annually since 2020 by the Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, aim to promote mutual understanding and fraternal relations. Four study visits for young priests and monks from the Oriental Orthodox Churches have been organised in Rome by the DPCU in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The study visit to Kerala was the second study visit organised by an Oriental Orthodox Church as part of this exchange programme, after the one to Armenia in 2023 at the invitation of the Armenian Apostolic Church - See of Etchmiadzin.