JOINT COMMISSION FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN 
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE MALANKARA (JACOBITE) SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

REPORT OF THE 2015 MEETING

Puthencruz, 14 December 2015

The Joint International Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church held its meeting in the Patriarchal Centre of Puthencruz on Monday 14 December 2015.

After a moment of prayer, led by the Catholicos of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Baselios Thomas I, Metropolitan Kuriakose Mor Theophilose, Co-Chairman of the Joint Commission, welcomed the delegates and expressed his gratitude for the years of dialogue, reflecting that we are called to give thanks to the Lord to be united to praise Him and to give witness to the world and that, over the last decades, we have been moving forward to find our common tradition and the common elements which unite us and to accomplish the prayer of Jesus ‘that all may be one’. Referring to Msgr. Dr. Albert Rauch, he reflected that unity cannot be achieved through our human words and efforts alone; it can be accomplished only by the grace of God. Unity exists already in the body of Christ. What we need to do is to open our eyes and to recognize the unity, which exists already in the body of Christ. Further he referred to his visit to Istanbul and Cappadocia, once a time of flourishing Christianity, with many monasteries that have now disappeared. In the Middle East unity is not only a theological necessity but also an existential necessity. Finally Metropolitan Theophilose concluded: “Let us give thanks to the Lord for these last 25 years, for the many fruits that have been produced. Unity already exists in the body of Christ… His Beatitude is present, he is a pioneer of the ecumenical journey, he inspires us. On his behalf, we welcome you”. Reflecting on the 25 years of dialogue the names of the pioneering members were called into mind: Rev. Dr. Kuriakose Moolayil, Rev. Dr. Adai Jacob Cor-Episcopa, His Grace Mar Joseph Powathil, Rev. Dr. Mathew Vellanickal and Rev. Dr. Xavier Koodapuzha.

The Catholicos of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Baselios Thomas I, greeted and blessed the Commission. Assuring his prayer for the cause of unity, he evoked the story of Peter who was put into prison and the unity in prayer between Peter who was in prison with those who prayed for him. “The Holy Spirit intervened and the angel liberated Peter. We experience a similar situation in Iraq, Syria and other places. Persecuted Christians are like Peter, the kidnapped bishops, a kidnapped monk… We are gathered here to pray for those kidnapped, for the persecuted Church”.

Bishop Brian Farrell, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and Co-Chairman of the Commission, thanked His Beatitude for his kind words: “We are on our common journey together, trying to find the will of our Lord. We are encouraged by the good experiences, the memory of your visit to Rome, which was a warm event. We are grateful for the efforts you have undertaken. I bring the greetings of Pope Francis who is most grateful. I also thank the co-chairman Metropolitan Kuriakose Mor Theophilose, who is a positive collaborator”. He addressed the members in his introductory words, reflecting that the world sees “that we are not united and therefore our Christian message can be put aside because we are not speaking with one voice. This weakens our witness”. He went on to state that “we are in solidarity with the Christians in the Middle East facing martyrdom. In the other part of the world, we are suffering from a separation of mentality between our Christian faith and the philosophy of consumerism, the cult of ‘here and now’, which closes the door to transcendence. Therefore, we have to help each other to work together”.

The Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church delegation comprised: His Grace Kuriakose Mor Theophilos (Co-Chairman), His Grace Mathews Mor Aphrem, His Grace Mathews Mor Anthimos, Rev. Dr. Adai Jacob Cor-Episcopa (Co-Secretary), Rev. Dr. Kuriakose Moolayil Cor-Episcopa, Rev. Fr. Shibu Cherian, Rev. Fr. Dr. Prince Paulose, Rev. Fr. Dr. Aji George. The Catholic Church was represented by His Grace Bishop Brian Farrell (Co-Chairman), His Grace Mar Joseph Powathil, His Grace Thomas Mar Koorilos, Bishop Dr. Selvister Ponnumuthan, His Excellency Mar Joseph Kallarangatt, Rev. Dr. Mathew Vellanickal, Rev. Dr. Xavier Koodapuzha, Rev. Dr. Jacob Thekkeparampil, Rev. Dr. Augustine Kadeparambil, Rev. Dr. Philip Nelpuraparampil and Msgr. Gabriel Quicke (Co-Secretary).

Msgr. Gabriel Quicke (Co-Secretary of the Commission) presented the report of the meeting of the Commission on 3 December 2014, which was approved (with some minor corrections).

Rev. Dr. Augustine Kadeparambil presented a paper on the moral issues related to marriage and divorce, describing the contemporary culture of family life, which is in deep crisis, the positive and negative challenges.  In the discussion afterwards it was emphasized that there is need for a spiritual return to the Bible’s message and the tradition of the church. At the same time the church must be very attentive to the new cultural challenges and developments. Therefore it is very important to exchange experiences on pre-marital and post-marital counselling issues. The churches have to work together to strengthen faith-formation and pastoral care involving pre-marital and post-marital counselling for the families. Finally it was agreed to prepare a handbook with pastoral guidelines to be made available to each pastor on the parish level.

Rev. Dr. Adai Jacob presented a review of the Joint Statement on Episcopacy and the Petrine Ministry, which was approved by the Commission with some minor corrections.

The next meeting will be held at the Spirituality Centre, Manganam, Kottayam, on Monday 12 December 2016. The following issues will be on the agenda.

The draft of a handbook with pastoral guidelines for pastors on the parish level. A subcommittee (composed of His Excellency Mar Joseph Kallarangatt, His Excellency Bishop Dr. Selvister Ponnumuthan, Rev. Dr. Philip Nelpuraparampil, Rev. Fr. Dr. Aji George and Rev. Fr: Aby Varkey) will prepare a draft.

Developments in the reception of the Agreement on mixed-marriages (1994). A Subcommittee will deepen that study, comprised of Rev. Dr. Philip Nelpuraparampil and Rev. Fr. Shibu Cherian.

Preparation of the publication of the Agreements and Statements between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church in the last 25 years. The members will send their comments to Rev. Dr. Adai Jacob Cor-Episcopa and to Rev. Dr. Philip Nelpuraparampil, who will present a paper.

Two papers will be presented on the topic of Particular, Local and Universal Church, one paper prepared by Rev. Dr. Mathew Vellanickal, the other prepared by Rev. Fr. Dr. Prince Paulose and Rev. Dr. Kuriakose Moolayil.