Dialogue with Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
The Joint International Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church held its 32nd meeting at the Spirituality Centre, Manganam, Kottayam, on 10 December 2024. The meeting was co-chaired by Archbishop Flavio Pace, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, and Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Demetrios, President of the Department for Ecumenical Relations of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
As agreed during the 2023 meeting (see Report), the agenda included a presentation of the documents from the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches (Rev. Fr. Hyacinthe Destivelle), preparation of a draft for the ‘Pastoral Guidelines for the Celebration and Sharing of Sacramental Life’ (Rev. Philip Nelpuraparampil), and reflections on the celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea (Rev. Philip Nelpuraparampil).
On the same day, Archbishop Flavio Pace and Revd Fr. Hyacinthe Destivelle paid a courtesy visit to His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, at his headquarters in Kottayam.
The delegation from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church included: His Grace Dr. Yuhanon Mar Demetrios (Co-Chair), His Grace Dr. Yakub Mar Irenaios, His Grace Dr. Yuhanon Mar Dioscoros, His Grace Geevarghese Mar Barnabas, Revd Dr. Jose John, Revd Dr. Mathew Varghese, and Revd Dr. Koshy Vaidyan (Co-Secretary).
The Catholic Church was represented by His Excellency Archbishop Flavio Pace (Co-Chair), His Grace Mathew Moolakkatt, His Grace Dr. Thomas Koorilos, His Grace Dr. Selvister Ponnumuthan, His Grace Mar Joseph Kallarangatt, Revd Dr. Augustine Kadeparambil, Revd Dr. Philip Nelpuraparampil, and Revd Fr. Hyacinthe Destivelle (Co-Secretary).