Syro-Malankara reverence for the Real Presence

[fons_vitae]

How do Syro-Malankara Catholics show reverence for Our Lord upon entering a church? Is it a profound bow, or is there any sign of the cross as well…?

 

[MorEphrem]

Traditionally, the Syriac Church does not keep a [large] reserve of the Eucharist like the Latin tabernacle. Instead, upon entrance of a church one usually signs oneself and bows to the altar. Then, if one would like, they would venerate icons if there are any.

 

[fons_vitae]

Thanks for the reply… I’m quite entranced with the bits of the Qurbono that I’ve seen online, and I unfortunately don’t have time to travel to see it myself tomorrow.

 

[SyroMalankara]

Normally, the Syro-Malankara sanctuary would be covered by a large veil/curtain. Most people will bow toward the center of the Curtain anticipating the altar and tabernacle behind it.

 

[MorEphrem]

Normally, the Syro-Malankara sanctuary would be covered by a large veil/curtain. Most people will bow toward the center of the Curtain anticipating the altar and tabernacle behind it.

Oh, have the Syro-Malankara been good with retaining the use of a sanctuary veil? I ask because a Maronite chorbishop (whom I trust his judgment) was telling me it’s been pretty clear that we won’t restore the veil in this century.

 

[malphono]

Oh, have the Syro-Malankara been good with retaining the use of a sanctuary veil?

AFAIK, (and SyroMalankara please correct me if I’m mistaken), the Syro-Malankara Church has maintained the sanctuary veil all along.

I ask because a Maronite chorbishop (whom I trust his judgment) was telling me it’s been pretty clear that we won’t restore the veil in this century.

Well, he’s right about that. Restore the sanctuary veil? We can’t even restore the ad orientem altar.

 

[SyroMalankara]

AFAIK, (and SyroMalankara please correct me if I’m mistaken), the Syro-Malankara Church has maintained the sanctuary veil all along.

You are correct, the only time you will not see a veil is if it is a non-Malankara Syriac Church being borrowed for space or a conference or something.

 

[malphono]

You are correct, the only time you will not see a veil is if it is a non-Malankara Syriac Church being borrowed for space or a conference or something.

As I’m fond of saying, the Syro-Malankara are the least latinized of all the Syriac Churches in union with Rome.

 

[fons_vitae]

As I’m fond of saying, the Syro-Malankara are the least latinized of all the Syriac Churches in union with Rome.

Yeah, it’s curious, but I’m really drawn to Syrian theology and liturgy simultaneously in a way that doesn’t resemble my older affection (mostly due to how familiar it seems in the West and its aura of strength) for Rome, or my (sort-of) affection for Constantinople (mostly due to the epic quality of the Divine Liturgy, even versus the Extraordinary Form of the Mass). In any case, I realize I don’t have much in-person experience of any of these three liturgical families outside of the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, so I need to hop to it …

 

[MorEphrem]

Yeah, it’s curious, but I’m really drawn to Syrian theology and liturgy simultaneously…

Perhaps this is because our liturgy is the ultimate example of lex orandi, lex credendi so we lack the speculative theological tradition of the Greeks and Latins and it is our liturgical texts that are our true theological masterpieces - the only things I can think of quoted from St. Ephrem and St. Jacob are hymns, homilies and hoosoye (a type of liturgical prayer) - the only Syriac “theological” works I can think of off the top of my head is St. Isaac of Nineveh’s rules for ascetic life.

 

[malphono]

Perhaps this is because our liturgy is the ultimate example of lex orandi, lex credendi so we lack the speculative theological tradition of the Greeks and Latins and it is our liturgical texts that are our true theological masterpieces - the only things I can think of quoted from St. Ephrem and St. Jacob are hymns, homilies and hoosoye (a type of liturgical prayer) - the only Syriac “theological” works I can think of off the top of my head is St. Isaac of Nineveh’s rules for ascetic life.

Small correction: our liturgy should be the ultimate example of lex orandi, lex credendi. Sadly, at least in the case of the Maronites, (and to a lesser extendt the SCC), that is no longer true.