Theological Dialogues with the Malankar Orthodox Churches in India

16 Dec 2019

As customary every year a delegation of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity took part in the theological dialogues with the Malankar Orthodox Churches, held in Kerala, India, from 8–13 December. The delegation comprised Bishop Brian Farrell, Secretary of the Pontifical Council, and Father Hyacinthe Destivelle, Official. Two parallel dialogues were established with the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and the Malankara (Jacobite) Syrian Orthodox Church, respectively in 1989 and 1990, and were maintained even after the foundation in 2003 of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

The Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara (Jacobite) Syrian Orthodox Church held its annual meeting on Monday 9 December 2019 at the Theological Seminary of Udayagiri, Vettickal, Mulanthuruthy, co–chaired by Bishop Brian Farrell and Metropolitan Kuriakose Mor Theophilose, Patriarchal Vicar of Middle Europe. As planned in the Report of the 2018 meeting, the Commission discussed a project of joint pastoral guidelines for interchurch marriages. As well, Metropolitan Mathews Mor Anthimos presented a paper on “A Contextual Reading of Patristic Theology” and Reverend Dr Augustine Kadeparampil on the “Principles of koinonia in St Basil the Great”.

The Joint International Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church met on 10 and 11 December 2019 at the Mar Baselios Dayara, Njaliakuzhy, co–chaired by Bishop Brian Farrell and Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Demetrios, Metropolitan of Delhi Diocese. The Commission commemorated this year the 30th anniversary of its commencement (1989). As planned in the Report of the 2018 meeting, the Commission discussed updates on various practical projects: a “Source Book on Ecclesiastical History”, a “Common Patristic Readings for 365 Days”, and diverse proposals for pastoral cooperation. A paper on the theme "Perichoretic Dynamics of Koinonia Ecclesiology" was presented by Reverend Dr Reji Mathew, and another on "Communio: Principles and Practices. A Catholic Understanding", by Reverend Dr Augustine Kadeparampil. After the plenary meeting Bishop Farrell and Reverend Destivelle were received by His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

On 12–13 December at Mount St Thomas, Kakkanad, Kochi, the delegation of the PCPCU took part in the “National Seminar on Unity, Dialogue and Mission. Ecumenism and Interfaith Dialogue in the Indian Context”, organised under the presidency of Cardinal George Alencherry by the Office for Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. Bishop Farrell presented a keynote address and Reverend Destivelle a paper on “The Relations of the Catholic Church with the Orthodox Churches. Current State and Prospect”.