JOINT COMMISSION FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
AND MALANKARA ORTHODOX SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
REPORT OF THE 2024 MEETING
Spirituality Centre, Manganam, Kottayam, 10 December 2024
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 10th December 2024.
After an opening prayer led by His Grace Dr. Thomas Koorilos, His Excellency Archbishop Flavio Pace, new Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, and new Catholic Co-Chair of the Commission, welcomed the members and conveyed the greetings of His Holiness Pope Francis. Remembering the 60th anniversary of the first meeting between a Pope and a Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Mar Baselios Augen I, during the visit of Pope Paul VI to India in December 1964, Archbishop Pace also gratefully recalled the visit of His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III and his delegation to the Vatican in September 2023. On behalf of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, he expressed gratitude for the study visit of Catholic priests from Europe and the USA to Kerala in July 2024, hosted by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, and for the participation of His Grace Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Barnabas in representing the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church at the Synod on synodality of the Catholic Church.
His Grace Metropolitan Dr. Yuhanon Mar Demetrios, Co-Chair, congratulated Archbishop Pace for his appointment and expressed his best wishes for the completion of his new ministry. He recalled with gratitude the contribution of the former Catholic Co-Chairs of the Commission, in particular Bishop Brian Farrell and Bishop Pierre Duprey. Metropolitan Mar Demetrios also congratulated Revd Dr. Koshy Vaidyan for his recent appointment as new Co-Secretary of the Commission.
The 2023 Report was read by Revd Fr Hyacinthe Destivelle, Catholic Co-Secretary, and approved by the Commission. As suggested in 2023, Fr Destivelle presented a survey of the documents of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, especially the first document, adopted in 2009, entitled Nature, Constitution and Mission of the Church, and the second, adopted in 2015, entitled The Exercise of Communion in the Life of the Early Church and its Implications for Our Search for Communion Today. Fr Destivelle particularly highlighted the pioneering methodology of this dialogue, characterised by a hermeneutical approach, a pastoral dimension, and a ‘communional’ model of unity.
Regarding the second point of the agenda, namely the revised version of the statement on inter-church marriages, it is decided that a finalized version of the draft will be prepared by Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Dioscoros, Archbishop Mathew Moolakkatt and Revd Dr. Koshy Vaidyan, will be sent to the members of the Commission for consultation before the next meeting. This finalized version should be approved at the 2025 meeting and then submitted to the Synod of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and to the KCBC.
Revd Dr Philip Nelpuraparampil then presented a draft of “Pastoral Guidelines for the Celebration and Sharing of Sacramental Life” highlighting, from a Catholic perspective, the possibilities and criteria for sharing the sacraments of Eucharist, Penance and Anointing of the Sick. Expressing gratitude for the work, the Commission suggested that Revd. Dr. Philip Nelpuraparampil and Dr Revd Jose John to finalize the guidelines, taking inspiration from already existing pastoral agreements, and emphasizing the following aspects: the theological basis (apostolic succession, mutual recognition of sacraments, Christological agreements), the pastoral challenges (migration, secularization), the criteria for sacramental sharing (material or moral impossibility for the faithful to find access to a priest of their own Church), and its limitations (the full communion between our Churches is not yet reached).
In the afternoon session, Fr Nelpuraparampil presented a paper entitled “Celebrating the Centenary of the Council of Nicaea: Challenges and Opportunities”. After highlighting some key features of the first Ecumenical council from a Christological and ecclesiological perspective, Fr Nelpuraparampil made some concrete proposals for a joint preparation and celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the Council at local level. The members of the Commission recommend organising an academic symposium involving seminaries from the different Churches in Kerala, on the Christological, ecclesiological, canonical and pastoral dimensions of the Council of Nicaea. Contacts should be made with KCC and KCBC for their possible involvement in this initiative.
After a final discussion to set the agenda and dates for the next meeting of the Commission, Archbishop Pace thanked the members for their contributions and concluded the meeting with a prayer.
The next meeting will be hosted by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church on 9 and 10 December 2025. The following issues will be on the agenda:
1. Revised version of the draft Statement on inter-church marriages by Metropolitan Mar Dioscoros, Archbishop Mathew Moolakkatt, and Revd Dr. Koshy Vaidyan;
2. Papers on historical, ecclesiological, canonical and pastoral dimensions of the First ecumenical council, by Revd Jose John, Fr Augustin Kadekarampil, and Fr Mathew Varghese;
3. Presentation of Draft of pastoral Guidelines on sharing sacraments (Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick), based on agreed statements, by Revd. Dr. Philip Nelpuraparampil and Dr Revd Jose John;
4. Preparing a booklet consolidating all agreements and general statements of the commission, by Revd Dr Philip Nelpuraparampil and Revd. Dr. Jose John;
5. Publication and presentation of Patristic Reading for 365 Days;
6. Forming a group for a preparing a book onCommon Resources on Ecclesiastical History.
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church delegation comprised: His Grace Dr.Yuhanon Mar Demetrios (Co-Chair), His Grace Dr. Yakub Mar Irenaios, His Grace Dr Yuhanon Mar Chrysostomos, 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 Jacob Thekeparampil, Revd. Dr. Augustine Kadeparambil, Revd. Dr. Philip Nelpuraparampil and Revd. Fr. Hyacinthe Destivelle (Co-Secretary).