Origin of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church?

[Catechesis]

Hi, could anyone explain to me what the origin of this Church was? I have heard that a few Malankara Orthodox bishops decided to return to the Catholic Church. How did the Catholic Church respond and how did the Malankara Catholic Church grow? From what I read somewhere in the past supposedly the church started with only around five members. Also were there any people of West Syriac tradition following Catholicism in India before the Malankara Catholic Church was erected because I remember reading before that the Syro Malabar Diocese of Kottayam (Knanaya) encased both East and West Syrian Catholics of the Knaya people. Another question, do the Malankara Orthodox and Malanakara Catholics follow the exact same traditions. Is it the same for the group called Jacobite Syriac Orthodox. I also really want to visit a Malankara Catholic parish, what should I expect and will it be the same as if i visit a Malankara Orthodox parish? Thanks.

 

[Catechesis]

P.S: A silly question but are Malankara Catholic priests required to have beards or is this just a fashion/tradition?

 

[Vico]

Hi, could anyone explain to me what the origin of this Church was? I have heard that a few Malankara Orthodox bishops decided to return to the Catholic Church. How did the Catholic Church respond and how did the Malankara Catholic Church grow? From what I read somewhere in the past supposedly the church started with only around five members. Also were there any people of West Syriac tradition following Catholicism in India before the Malankara Catholic Church was erected because I remember reading before that the Syro Malabar Diocese of Kottayam (Knanaya) encased both East and West Syrian Catholics of the Knaya people. Another question, do the Malankara Orthodox and Malanakara Catholics follow the exact same traditions. Is it the same for the group called Jacobite Syriac Orthodox. I also really want to visit a Malankara Catholic parish, what should I expect and will it be the same as if i visit a Malankara Orthodox parish? Thanks.

In 1926, a group of five Malankara Orthodox Syrian bishops who were opposed to the jurisdiction of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch in India commissioned one of their own number, Mar Ivanios, to open negotiations with Rome with a view to reconciliation. They asked only that their liturgy be preserved and that the bishops be allowed to retain their dioceses. After discussions, Rome required only that the bishops make a profession of faith and that their baptisms and ordinations be proven valid in each case.

In the event, only two of the five bishops accepted the new arrangement with Rome, including Mar Ivanios. These two bishops, a priest, a deacon and a layman were received into the Catholic Church together on September 20, 1930. Later in the 1930s two more bishops, from among those who had favored the jurisdiction of the Syrian Patriarch in India, were received into communion with Rome.

This triggered a significant movement of faithful into the new Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. By 1950 there were some 65,588 faithful, in 1960 112,478, and in 1970 183,490. There are now over 400,000 faithful in six dioceses, all of them in Kerala State, India.

cnewa.org/default.aspx?ID=66&pagetypeID=9&sitecode=HQ&pageno=1

 

[Thomas48]

Also were there any people of West Syriac tradition following Catholicism in India before the Malankara Catholic Church was erected because I remember reading before that the Syro Malabar Diocese of Kottayam (Knanaya) encased both East and West Syrian Catholics of the Knaya people.

You are right in the fact that the Knanaya Catholic Diocese of Kottayam encased both East and West Syriac patrons. When the diocese was erected in 1911, there were many Knanaya Syriac Orthodox returning to the Catholic Church. However these Knanaya Syriac Orthodox or Jacobites, wished to retain their liturgy and rite. Instead of creating a new diocese for Knanaya Catholics of West Syriac Rite, the Holy See of Rome placed these individuals under the care of the Knanaya Catholic (Syro Malabar) Bishop of Kottayam and signed a lasting agreement. The new West Syriac Knanaya Catholics were given their own vicar general from among their priests to see to their pastoral needs and report to Kottayam Diocese. This agreement exists till this day and I believe Kottayam Diocese is one of the only or is the only Catholic Diocese to encase permanent dual rites.

To answer your question, in a certain sense it can be understood that Kottayam Diocese did house the first “Malankara Catholics” even before the holy expedition of Moron Mor Ivanios. However I do not understand why the Holy See did not transfer these Knanaya Malankara Catholics to the jurisdiction of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church when it was erected in 1930 but I believe it was perhaps to keep all Knanaya Catholics under one diocese, irrespective of what rite they may be. I think our faithful brother SyroMalankara should be able to answer the rest of your questions better than myself, this topic seems to be veryyy likely under his expertise .

 

[SyroMalankara]

Hi, could anyone explain to me what the origin of this Church was? I have heard that a few Malankara Orthodox bishops decided to return to the Catholic Church. How did the Catholic Church respond and how did the Malankara Catholic Church grow? From what I read somewhere in the past supposedly the church started with only around five members. Also were there any people of West Syriac tradition following Catholicism in India before the Malankara Catholic Church was erected because I remember reading before that the Syro Malabar Diocese of Kottayam (Knanaya) encased both East and West Syrian Catholics of the Knaya people. Another question, do the Malankara Orthodox and Malanakara Catholics follow the exact same traditions. Is it the same for the group called Jacobite Syriac Orthodox. I also really want to visit a Malankara Catholic parish, what should I expect and will it be the same as if i visit a Malankara Orthodox parish? Thanks.

Thanks brother Thomas!

Yes, the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church was reunited with the Catholic Communion when Mar Ivanios, his auxiliary, some priests and deacons, and a layman reunited. Soon most of the monastics of Mor Ivanios’ community joined as well. Eventually, more bishops from both Orthodox jurisdictions joined, and then also the head of the Malankara Independent Syrian Church and many of their faithful. Malankara Orthodox Syrians, Malankara Syrian Catholics, and Malankara Syriac Orthodox follow the same Traditions, the Marthoma Syrian Church (Anglican Communion) is also from this Tradition but is more protestant in doctrine and practice.

There are very slight deviations between Malankara Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox and Malankara Catholics - but normally nothing an irregular or first-time visitor would notice. In some Traditions the Malankara Orthodox Syrians or Malankara Syriac Orthodox are ‘more faithful’ to Tradition, in others the Malankara Catholics are ‘more faithful’. Sometimes this varies among parishes.
While there are some antagonists among the communities, generally, all three get along fairly well - even among clergy and bishops. The chart posted is pretty accurate, except that the Malankara Independent Syrian Church pretty much folded into the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church in 1977, when their head bishop became Catholic. They were reconstituted by the Marthoma Church and today is in communion only with them.

Also - beards for priests/monks are custom, not required – but highly expected!
On this note, I should state, while I have met beardless priests of this Church, I’ve NEVER seen a beardless bishop in any Malankara Church. Never EVER…r even in historical photos. It would be safe to bet there were never any.

 

[pablope]

Thanks brother Thomas!

While there are some antagonists among the communities, generally, all three get along fairly well - even among clergy and bishops. The chart posted is pretty accurate, except that the Malankara Independent Syrian Church pretty much folded into the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church in 1977, when their head bishop became Catholic. They were reconstituted by the Marthoma Church and today is in communion only with them.

Also - beards for priests/monks are custom, not required – but highly expected!
On this note, I should state, while I have met beardless priests of this Church, I’ve NEVER seen a beardless bishop in any Malankara Church. Never EVER…r even in historical photos. It would be safe to bet there were never any.

Ok…what is the difference between Malankara and Malabar?

And what is the difference between the Malankara CC and the Malabar CC?

Are they both in communion with Rome?

 

[SyroMalankara]

Both are in Communion with each other, with Rome, with the other Eastern Catholic Churches.

The Malankara Church is West Syriac in Tradition, sharing the Patrimony and Liturgy of the Syriac Catholics/Orthodox and the Maronite Churches.

The Malabar Church is East Syriac in Tradition, sharing the Patrimony and Liturgy of the Chaldean Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East.

Malankara and Malabar are names for the region of Kerala, South India where St. Thomas the Apostle founded Christianity and where both Churches originate. Technically, Malabar is the northern side and Malankara the central and southern side. There is overlap today.

 

[Thomas48]

Also - beards for priests/monks are custom, not required – but highly expected!
On this note, I should state, while I have met beardless priests of this Church, I’ve NEVER seen a beardless bishop in any Malankara Church. Never EVER…r even in historical photos. It would be safe to bet there were never any.

Knanaya Jacobite Auxiliary Bishop, Kuriakose Mor Gregorius. In this image, he is in fact beard-less .

http://picresize.com/images/tkj.jpg?458944

 

[SyroMalankara]

Knanaya Jacobite Auxiliary Bishop, Kuriakose Mor Gregorius. In this image, he is in fact beard-less .

http://picresize.com/images/tkj.jpg?458944

Thomas,

I don’t believe His Grace is actually beardless (as in he doesn’t shave his beard), he is actually unable to grow a full beard. Although one can see he is not shaving and is actually following the spirit of the custom, but is just not able to grow it fuller.

 

[Thomas48]

I apologize I do not think the last image posted and ah yes this is more likely, I doubt the metran would not follow the tradition of his brother bishops. However I have seen some images and videos of him clean shaven, perhaps to let the beard regrow. Regardless the tradition of maintaining a beard for Malankara priests and bishops is wonderful, I do wish one day the Syro Malabar Church adopts this. Also pertaining to this thread,I have provided an image of the of the original five Malankara Catholics!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/34/Five_Pillars.jpg http://i.picresize.com/images/2015/03/02/WLRGc.jpg

 

[Catechesis]

Thanks for the replies. Just a few questions, who are the “Jacobites”, who are or were the Malankara Independent Church, also do these Malankara Knanaya Catholics feel somewhat estranged being under the Syro Malabar Church (Kottayam Diocese) because their of a different rite? And how does the idea of Malankara Knanaya Catholics work? I thought an Eastern Catholic Church was supposed to contain only churches of its own distinct rite? Does this make the Syro Malabar Church a some what dual-rite Church because it has both East Syriac and West Syriac parishes and faithful?

 

[Vico]

Thanks for the replies. Just a few questions, who are the “Jacobites”, who are or were the Malankara Independent Church, also do these Malankara Knanaya Catholics feel somewhat estranged being under the Syro Malabar Church (Kottayam Diocese) because their of a different rite? And how does the idea of Malankara Knanaya Catholics work? I thought an Eastern Catholic Church was supposed to contain only churches of its own distinct rite? Does this make the Syro Malabar Church a some what dual-rite Church because it has both East Syriac and West Syriac parishes and faithful?

Oriental Orthodox:

*The Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church *is from St. Thomas Christians that did not unite with Rome (and after a split that also produced the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church). They use the west Syrian liturgy (Syrian Orthodox Church) and are called Nazaranis.

There is a Malabar Independent Syrian Church (autocephalous). They also use the west Syrian liturgy (Syrian Orthodox Church).

 

[SyroMalankara]

Thanks for the replies. Just a few questions, who are the “Jacobites”, who are or were the Malankara Independent Church, also do these Malankara Knanaya Catholics feel somewhat estranged being under the Syro Malabar Church (Kottayam Diocese) because their of a different rite? And how does the idea of Malankara Knanaya Catholics work?

I thought an Eastern Catholic Church was supposed to contain only churches of its own distinct rite? Does this make the Syro Malabar Church a some what dual-rite Church because it has both East Syriac and West Syriac parishes and faithful?