Dialogue with Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

On 9-10 December 2025, the 33rd meeting of the Joint International Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church was held at the Catholicate Palace in Devalokam, Kottayam, India.

The meeting was co-chaired by Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Demetrios, President of the Department for Ecumenical Relations of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, and Archbishop Mathew Moolakkatt, as Archbishop Flavio Pace was unable to attend.

As agreed during the 2024 meeting (see Report), the first part of the meeting was dedicated to reflecting on the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea and included papers on the 'Historical-Theological Context of Nicaea' (Revd Jose John), the 'Canonical Dimension of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea' (Revd Mathew Varghese) and 'The Council of Nicaea at 1700: A Call to Unity' (Revd Augustin Kadekarampil).

The second part of the meeting focused on pastoral and practical issues, with the following presentations: 'Pastoral guidelines for sharing sacraments between members of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and the Catholic Church' (Fr Jose John and Fr Philip Nelpuraparampil); a report on the work relating to the common patristic lectionary (Archbishop Thomas Koorilos and Fr Koshy Vaidyan); the preparation of a booklet consolidating all the commission's agreements and general statements (Revd Philip Nelpuraparampil and Revd Jose John); and a revised draft of the statement on inter-church marriages (Metropolitan Mar Dioscoros, Archbishop Mathew Moolakkatt and Revd Koshy Vaidyan).

On 11 December, Revd Fr. Hyacinthe Destivelle, Official of the DPCU and Co-secretary of the Joint International Commission, 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 Joseph Mar Dionysius, His Grace Dr Yuhanon Mar Chrysostomos, 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 Grace Mathew Moolakkatt (acting Co-Chair), His Grace Mar Joseph Kallarangatt, His Grace Dr. Thomas Koorilos Chakkalapadickal, His Grace Dr. Selvister Ponnumuthan, Revd Dr Jacob Thekeparampil, Revd Dr. Augustine Kadeparambil, Revd Dr. Philip Nelpuraparampil, and Revd Fr. Hyacinthe Destivelle (Co-Secretary).