Dialogue with Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

The 34th meeting of the Joint International Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church took place at the Bishop’s House of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Palai in Kerala on 13 October 2026. The meeting was co-chaired by Archbishop Flavio Pace, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, and Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Dioscoros of the Kottayam Eparchy of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

As agreed at the previous meeting in 2025 (see report), the agenda included reflections on the outcomes and perspectives of the Catholic–Malankara Orthodox dialogue (Rev. Fr. Bidheesh Mathew and Rev. Dr K. M. Koshy Vaidyan), a presentation of Catholic teaching on interchurch marriages (Bishop Selvister Ponnumuthan), a paper on John of Persia (Revd Dr Jose John), and a discussion of draft guidelines on sacramental sharing (Revd Dr Jose John and Revd Dr. Philip Nelpuraparampil). The meeting also provided an opportunity to launch the finalised book Wisdom of the Fathers: Readings for 365 Days, the result of the commission's work (Mar Koorilos Chakkalapadickal and Fr Koshy Vaidyan).

On 14 October, Archbishop Flavio Pace and Rev. 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 Dioscoros (Acting Co-Chair); His Grace Dr Yakub Mar Irenaios; His Grace Yuhanon Mar Chrisostomos; His Grace Dr Joseph Mar Dionysius; His Grace Geevarghese Mar Barnabas; Rev Dr Reji Mathew; Rev Dr Jossy Jacob; Rev Dr Jose John; Rev Dr Mathew Varghese; and Rev 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 Chakkalapadickal, His Excellency Bishop Dr. Selvister Ponnumuthan, His Grace Dr Mar Joseph Kallarangatt, Revd Dr Jacob Thekeparampil, Revd Dr Augustine Kadeparambil, Revd Dr Philip Nelpuraparampil, and Revd Fr Hyacinthe Destivelle OP (Co-Secretary).