Syriac, Malabar people, please tell me a little bit about your church

[Rocks_91]

I’m recently discovering some Eastern spirituality, and I see there are “Syro-Malabar” people and such on this forum. I’m reading a bit about how the Eastern traditions have contemplative prayer like ‘hesychasm’ and the Latin people have things like ‘Cloud of Unknowing’ which I have not yet read about. I’m also reading the Sayings of Desert Fathers. And I wondered, if anyone can tell me a little bit about some of the SAINTS of the Malabar and Syriac-rites, what works have they written that I can read, and if there any special traditions and practices of prayer or spirituality in these churches that are worth looking into. Also, are there any works by Indians and such that are very extraordinary, and don’t have any heresy. Being Indian, I have some doubt whether there can be anything good from the country.

 

[ClearWater]

I’m recently discovering some Eastern spirituality, and I see there are “Syro-Malabar” people and such on this forum. I’m reading a bit about how the Eastern traditions have contemplative prayer like ‘hesychasm’ and the Latin people have things like ‘Cloud of Unknowing’ which I have not yet read about. I’m also reading the Sayings of Desert Fathers. And I wondered, if anyone can tell me a little bit about some of the SAINTS of the Malabar and Syriac-rites, what works have they written that I can read, and if there any special traditions and practices of prayer or spirituality in these churches that are worth looking into. Also, are there any works by Indians and such that are very extraordinary, and don’t have any heresy. Being Indian, I have some doubt whether there can be anything good from the country.

:coffeeread:

 

[Jack007]

I am one of the Syro Malabar posters here. We have a very sad history and therefore we did not have saints until recently.
St. Thomas the apostle
St. Alphonsa first saint

Bl. Chavarato be canonised in November. Great social reformer.

Bl.Euphrasia to be canonised in november.

and we have many blesseds,venerables,etc.

 

[Rocks_91]

Could anyone please share any profound spiritual/mystical written works? Or even books on wisdom/sayings? I welcome responses from other Eastern Catholic churches also.

 

[Jack007]

I’m recently discovering some Eastern spirituality, and I see there are “Syro-Malabar” people and such on this forum.

I am one of them.

I’m reading a bit about how the Eastern traditions have contemplative prayer like ‘hesychasm’ and the Latin people have things like ‘Cloud of Unknowing’ which I have not yet read about.

The syromalabar church is not so “advanced” theologically. Heychasm,cloud of unknowing,etc. are not familiar. The common prayer is the ordinary marian Rosary.

I’m also reading the Sayings of Desert Fathers.

the desert fathers are not syriac Christians.

And I wondered, if anyone can tell me a little bit about some of the SAINTS of the Malabar and Syriac-rites,

see my previous post here.

what works have they written that I can read, Also, are there any works by Indians and such that are very extraordinary, and don’t have any heresy.

i will mention them later.

and if there any special traditions and practices of prayer or spirituality in these churches that are worth looking into.

There is member named Thomas48 here. he will explain these to you if he sees this thread. Just PM him the link.

Being Indian, I have some doubt whether there can be anything good from the country.

I find that statement to be 100% falsehood. I am an Indian,too.

 

[Jack007]

Could anyone please share any profound spiritual/mystical written works? Or even books on wisdom/sayings? I welcome responses from other Eastern Catholic churches also.

our charism is focus on a life with least possible sin, not great theology.

i am not sure where you will get the book: Nalla Appante Chavarul. it is a collection of sayings of Bl.Chavara.

most others from here were not voracious writers.
some early bishops are on the road to canonisation. their apostolic letters.

and something very important for you to learn- there are non syro malabar syriac Churches. You will get more help from Maronite,chaldean catholic and syro malankara posters.

st ephrem comes to mind…he is a syriac catholic theologian and a doctor of the church.

 

[Rocks_91]

Hello, Jack

the desert fathers are not syriac Christians.

I didn’t mean to say they were.

I find that statement to be 100% falsehood. I am an Indian,too.

Hence the joke.

our charism is focus on a life with least possible sin, not great theology.

i am not sure where you will get the book: Nalla Appante Chavarul. it is a collection of sayings of Bl.Chavara.

most others from here were not voracious writers.
some early bishops are on the road to canonisation. their apostolic letters.

and something very important for you to learn- there are non syro malabar syriac Churches. You will get more help from Maronite,chaldean catholic and syro malankara posters.

st ephrem comes to mind…he is a syriac catholic theologian and a doctor of the church.

Thanks. I will look into these.

 

[Jack007]

syromalabarchurch.in/resources_details.php?res=57 explains church layout, and the holy mass in syro malabar rite. It will help you to understand the spirituality of our church.

 

[SyroMalankara]

Syro-Malankara here… obviously

Our spirituality is heavily influenced by preeminent figures like Saint Ephrem, Mar Jacob of Serug, Mar Severios (although his names is suppressed in some Catholic circles), Mor Jacob Burdono (another who’s name is sometimes suppressed in Catholic environments), etc.

As far as hesychasm, we don’t have as deep a theology on the matter as Byzantines, although The Jesus prayer is getting more and more popular, especially in the among Malankara in the US, and those familiar with Byzantine-Eastern spirituality.

We have many Saints that are recognized officially by our sister Orthodox Churches, but are not officially on Catholic roles… yet… although many of our Bishops have attended and officially spoken about these Orthodox saints in a very positive light.

For English books on Malankara Syriac spirituality, search for writings of Blessed Mar Ivanios of Bethany… regarding the “Imitation of Christ”:
lightoflife.com/LOL_Arch_ArchBishop_Ivanios.htm

bethanyashram.com/BooksList.aspx

bethanyashram.com/Documents/Books/New%20List%20of%20Books.pdf%20%202014.pdf
(prices are in Rupees)

seeri.org/Publications.html

gorgiaspress.com/bookshop/c-7-syriac.aspx

Some offerings from our Syriac Orthodox brothers:
syrianorthodoxchurch.org/store
syrorthodoxchurch.com/english-Dateien/books.html

From our Malankara Orthodox brothers:
malankaraorthodoxtv.in/Books/mosc%20books.htm

Other texts:
nasranifoundation.org/books/pdf/BethApremNazraniDayra.pdf
bethmardutho.org/index.php/hugoye/volume-index/206.html

Probably one of the best English texts on the Holy Qurbono according to Syriac spirituality, written by well-respected historian and scholar, the late Rev. Fr. Geevarghese Panicker, PhD of the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church:
scribd.com/doc/228887110/FrGivergisPanickerKarichal-HolyQurbono

 

[Alveus_Lacuna]

The Syriac Fathers on Prayer and the Spiritual Life

amazon.com/Syriac-Fathers-Spiritual-Cistercian-Studies/dp/0879079010

I’ve enjoyed this text.

 

[FlaviusAetius]

It really depends. I am Roman Catholic, but have participated within the Antiochian family. You’re opening a huge door with your exploration of the Eastern Churches. There is a lot of beauty in the East. Pope Benedict just recently granted “Ecclesiastical Communion” to Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako. It’s only a matter of time before the Church of the East (Patriarch Dinkha IV) is re-united with Rome. The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity has allowed the admission of the Eucharist between the Chaldean Church and the Church of the East. This is significant on many levels. So, the situation is very fluid and exciting.

Roughly…

The Antiochian Family (West Syriac: Maronite, Syriac, and Malankarese – East Syriac: Chaldean and Syro–Malabarese)… their liturgy was created by St. James the Younger (was appointed by the Apostles as the first Bishop of Jerusalem) and is usually performed in Syriac (Aramaic). Aramaic was the tongue spoken by Yeshua/Jesus. That is, if I remember correctly.

The Alexandrian Family’s liturgy was created by St. Mark.

The Byzantine Family’s liturgy is based upon the liturgy of St. James.

And others have provided great resources.

 

[FlaviusAetius]

Another link… very broad on rites…

catholicnewsagency.com/resources/liturgy/rites/the-rites-of-the-catholic-church/

 

[Rocks_91]

Another link… very broad on rites…

catholicnewsagency.com/resources/liturgy/rites/the-rites-of-the-catholic-church/

Thanks, I have lots of reading to do.

I enjoyed reading this from the Orthodox: pravoslavie.ru/english/7337.htm
I’ve visited the one Greek Orthodox church that we have here, it is not too far from my house. It makes me feel like I’m in a small courtroom, but it’s lovely, actually. I was expecting to meet some people of Greek ethnicity there, thinking I’d get to see a new type of foreigner, but, sadly, I saw only a few local Bengali people worshipping, not that Bengalis are bad.

Here is a panorama: 360cities.net/it/image/greek-church-on-xmas-eve

It seems we have in Kolkata, Latin-rite, Syro-Malabar-rite, and Malankara OO church. I’ve yet to see a celebration in the latter two, but I was disappointed because I read somewhere that the Malabar do not worship in Syriac, but in South Indian language? I have a desire to attend a celebration in Syriac, and also do any Catholic churches use Divine Liturgy? I also have a desire to visit Byzantine churches and the like, but it’s so sad, it seems there doesn’t seem to be such a church here.

 

[FlaviusAetius]

Thanks, I have lots of reading to do.

I enjoyed reading this from the Orthodox: pravoslavie.ru/english/7337.htm
I’ve visited the one Greek Orthodox church that we have here, it is not too far from my house. It makes me feel like I’m in a small courtroom, but it’s lovely, actually. I was expecting to meet some people of Greek ethnicity there, thinking I’d get to see a new type of foreigner, but, sadly, I saw only a few local Bengali people worshipping, not that Bengalis are bad.

Here is a panorama: 360cities.net/it/image/greek-church-on-xmas-eve

It seems we have in Kolkata, Latin-rite, Syro-Malabar-rite, and Malankara OO church. I’ve yet to see a celebration in the latter two, but I was disappointed because I read somewhere that the Malabar do not worship in Syriac, but in South Indian language? I have a desire to attend a celebration in Syriac, and also do any Catholic churches use Divine Liturgy? I also have a desire to visit Byzantine churches and the like, but it’s so sad, it seems there doesn’t seem to be such a church here.

Syro-Malabar-rite – Probably uses East Syriac and Malayalam.

I’m taking a guess, I would contact the churches and ask them.

Yes, we use a Divine Liturgy. There are (three?) Divine Liturgies in the Byzantine Rite. If I remember, correctly.

byzcath.org/index.php/resources-mainmenu-63/liturgical-texts

 

[Peter_J]

Thanks, I have lots of reading to do.

I enjoyed reading this from the Orthodox: pravoslavie.ru/english/7337.htm
I’ve visited the one Greek Orthodox church that we have here, it is not too far from my house. It makes me feel like I’m in a small courtroom, but it’s lovely, actually. I was expecting to meet some people of Greek ethnicity there, thinking I’d get to see a new type of foreigner, but, sadly, I saw only a few local Bengali people worshipping, not that Bengalis are bad.

Here is a panorama: 360cities.net/it/image/greek-church-on-xmas-eve

It seems we have in Kolkata, Latin-rite, Syro-Malabar-rite, and Malankara OO church. I’ve yet to see a celebration in the latter two, but I was disappointed because I read somewhere that the Malabar do not worship in Syriac, but in South Indian language? I have a desire to attend a celebration in Syriac, and also do any Catholic churches use Divine Liturgy? I also have a desire to visit Byzantine churches and the like, but it’s so sad, it seems there doesn’t seem to be such a church here.

If you’ve been to a Greek Orthodox parish, then you have been to a Byzantine divine liturgy.

 

[Thomas48]

Thanks,

It seems we have in Kolkata, Latin-rite, Syro-Malabar-rite, and Malankara OO church. I’ve yet to see a celebration in the latter two, but I was disappointed because I read somewhere that the Malabar do not worship in Syriac, but in South Indian language? I have a desire to attend a celebration in Syriac, and also do any Catholic churches use Divine Liturgy? I also have a desire to visit Byzantine churches and the like, but it’s so sad, it seems there doesn’t seem to be such a church here.

Hello There,

The Syro Malabar Church worships in Malayalam and Syriac. The majority of our masses are in Malayalam with some Syriac. Full Syriac Masses were in regular use until the 1960s, after that the Malayalam Mass was created and has been in regular use since then. Full Syriac celebrations are only done for special cases in the current age, in example the hundred year anniversary of a church or a saints feast etc.