JOINT COMMISSION FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE MALANKARA (JACOBITE) SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
REPORT OF THE 2014 MEETING
Kottayam, 3 December 2014
The Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church held its meeting at the Spirituality Centre, Manganam, Kottayam, on Wednesday 3 December 2014.
After a moment of prayer, His Grace Mar Joseph Powathil welcomed the delegates and expressed his gratitude for the 24 years of dialogue. He reflected that the relationship between the Churches in the first half of the 20th century was impaired by polemics; in the second half and more particularly in the 80s ecumenical relations made serious progress. Closing his remarks, he wished Rev. Dr. Xavier Koodapuzha a happy Patron Feast day of Saint Francis Xavier. His Excellency Bishop Brian Farrell, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and Co-Chairman of the Commission, addressed the members in his introductory words, reflecting that “we are in a process of learning that the will of the Lord himself is that ‘all may be one’. The Lord asks us to have a proper spiritual attitude of a deep conviction that this is something that God has entrusted to us and also of great humility because the Church belongs to the Lord himself, while we are his instruments”. Furthermore, Bishop Farrell referred to the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the promulgation of the Vatican II Decree ‘Unitatis Redintegratio’. The past 50 years remind us that we have made extraordinary progress and that we continue to be fully committed to find a way of making reconciliation a reality. One of the great obstacles is a lack of trust. Catholics must clearly identify and express what they mean when speaking of Christian unity. Bishop Farrell referred to the Address of Pope Francis during the Divine Liturgy celebrated in the Patriarchal Church of St. George, Istanbul (on Sunday, 30 November 2014):
“In particular, in [Unitatis Redintegratis] the Catholic Church acknowledges that the Orthodox Churches “possess true sacraments, above all – by apostolic succession – the priesthood and the Eucharist, whereby they are still joined to us in closest intimacy” (15). The Decree goes on to state that in order to guard faithfully the fullness of the Christian tradition and to bring to fulfilment the reconciliation of Eastern and Western Christians, it is of the greatest importance to preserve and support the rich patrimony of the Eastern Churches… I believe that it is important to reaffirm respect for this principle as an essential condition, accepted by both, for the restoration of full communion, which does not signify the submission of one to the other, or assimilation. Rather, it means welcoming all the gifts that God has given to each.... I want to assure each one of you here that, to reach the desired goal of full unity, the Catholic Church does not intend to impose any conditions except that of the shared profession of faith”. He also referred to the Common Declaration, signed the same day (Sunday, 30 November 2014): “We express our sincere and firm resolution, in obedience to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, to intensify our efforts to promote the full unity of all Christians, and above all between Catholics and Orthodox”.
Metropolitan Kuriakose Mor Theophilose, Co-Chairman of the Joint Commission, conveyed the Apostolic Blessings of His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Ephrem II, the new Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and of His Beatitude Baselios Thomas I, Catholicos of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church, emphasizing the need for Christian unity. He referred to the words of Pope Francis which urge us to cherish “the charism of unity which the Father wishes to give to the Church and to the world to help bring about Jesus’ prayer “that they may all be one” (Jn 17:21)…. I encourage you… to persevere in the search for union with God and in mutual love with brothers and sisters. Draw on the treasures of the Word of God and the Tradition of the Church, on this yearning for communion and the unity which the Holy Spirit has evoked for our time. And give the gift of this treasure to everyone!” He expressed his gratitude for the 24 years of dialogue, and for the agreements which are its fruits. He also called to mind the atrocities in the Middle East and more particularly Syria and Iraq, where many Christians have already left the country. “Let us live the common faith and walk together in a spirit of collaboration”.
The Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church delegation comprised: His Grace Kuriakose Mor Theophilos (Co-Chairman), His Grace Thomas Mor Themotheos, His Grace Mor Eusebius Kuriakose, 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 Excellency Bishop Brian Farrell (Co-Chairman), His Grace Mar Joseph Powathil, His Grace Mar Mathew Moolakatt, His Grace Thomas Mar Koorilos, His Excellency 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 16 December 2013, which the Commission approved (with some minor corrections).
Rev. Fr. Dr. Aji George presented the paper prepared by His Grace Mor Anthimos with a reflection on how the Oriental Orthodox Churches see the document from the North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation, entitled: Steps Towards A Reunited Church. “Christian unity can be achieved only… by new conceptions of synodality and primacy in the ‘universal Church’… The challenge for us today is to integrate the reality of primacy with the reality of conciliarity in every aspect of Church life”. In the discussion emphasis was placed on the deepening and the clarification of the three major traditions in Christendom: the Latin West, the Greek East and the Syriac Orient, which is a specific tradition, different from the Latin and the Byzantine. Rev. Dr. Augustine Kadeparambil presented a paper on the Petrine ministry in the Latin liturgical tradition, which in summary affirms that Peter is the Rock upon which Jesus founded his Church; he safeguards the Church from all spiritual and material antagonism; he is the chief shepherd of the church and the sign of unity. “To confirm in faith, love and unity are the three tasks of the Petrine ministry. This role and the ecclesial service of Peter is founded upon his confession of faith in Jesus, the Son of the living God”. The reflection afterwards took into account that the Petrine ministry, which is exercised in love and service, is a common platform enabling us to go forward.
The Petrine Ministry in the Syrian liturgical tradition was presented by Rev Dr. Pauly Maniyattu. At the end of the discussion it was emphasized that the liturgical texts bring us back to the foundation, the Scripture and the Fathers of the Church. We have to listen to the tradition of the Church as Communion and to reflect on the Petrine ministry as a ministry of service and as a primacy in relationship with synodality. We have to deepen our understanding on what the Lord expects for his Church.
The next meeting will be held in the Patriarchal Centre at Puthencruz on Monday 14 December 2015. The following issues will be on the agenda.
The continuation of the Petrine ministry. On the one hand there is the Joint Statement (signed on 15 October 2002) and there are the papers on the Petrine ministry from different points of view: biblical, patristic and liturgical. A subcommittee (composed of Rev. Dr. Adai Jacob Cor-Episcopa, Rev. Dr. Kuriakose Moolayil Cor-Episcopa, Rev. Dr. Mathew Vellanickal, Rev. Dr. Jacob Thekkeparampil) will integrate the results of the different approaches into the text of the Joint Statement.
The moral issues on marriage and divorce. A Subcommittee (composed of His Grace Thomas Mor Themotheos, His Grace Mar Mathew Moolakatt, Rev. Dr. Augustine Kadeparambil) will prepare a presentation (taking into account also the fruits of the next Synod on the Family in October 2015).
The publication of the Agreements and Statements between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church in the last 25 years. Reflection on a Study on “The Challenges for faith and mission from Pentecostal groups and sects present in Kerala”. The members will send their comments to Rev. Dr. Adai Jacob Cor-Episcopa and to Rev. Dr. Philip Nelpuraparampil.