Will the West Syrian Churches of Kerala reunite?

[Catechesis]

In Kerala from what I’ve learned, originally there were St. Thomas Christians who came into union with the Church of the East and formed their own usage of the East Syrian rite. Later the Portuguese came and the community split into two factions, those who resisted the Latinization from the Latin Church and those who did not. The group who resisted protested in an event known as the “Leaning Cross Oath”, they then consecrated their own bishop by having 12 priests lay hands on him. This new bishop was known as Mar Thoma I and reigned over a factioned Church. The other half of the St. Thomas Christians rallied behind Mar Chandy Parampil who followed the Latinized East Syrian Rite. The Portuguese clergy plotted against Mar Thoma I by persuading the native clergy of the St. Thomas Christians that Mar Thomas’ ordination was invalid. The Portuguese gathered more and more of the community towards Mar Chandy Parampils side. Eventually the faction that followed Mar Thoma were recognized by the Syriac Orthodox Church and thus the St. Thomas Christian community was sundered into the new Malankara Church (West Syriac Orthodox) and the Malabar Church (East Syriac Catholic Latinized). The Malabar Church would later become what is known as today’s Syro Malabar Catholic Church.

Later the Malanakra Church was sundered even more by a bishop going out of union and forming the Malabar Independant Church (West Syrian Rite/Independent) It was sundered again when by British Protestant influence, some Malankaras wanted a revivalist movement and they formed the Mar Thoma Syrian Church (Anglican Influence/West Syrian Rite/Independent). Later it was factioned again when half the community favored allegiance to a native Indian Patriarch and the other half the to the Patriarch of Syriac Orthodox Church. The faction under the Indian Patriarch became known as the Malankara Orthodox Church and the half that remained loyal to the Syriac Patriarch is known as the Jacobite Syrian Church. The last break in the Malankara Church was when one bishop and a small faction reunited with the Catholic Church, this group is of course known today as the Malankara Catholic Church (West Syrian Rite/Catholic Church).

After learning and reading about all this it’s sad to see all the factions and just how much the Malankara Church was broken. Is there any talk between the West Syrian Churches of Kerala of ever reuniting as one Malankara Church?

 

[SyroMalankara]

In Kerala from what I’ve learned, originally there were St. Thomas Christians who came into union with the Church of the East and formed their own usage of the East Syrian rite. Later the Portuguese came and the community split into two factions, those who resisted the Latinization from the Latin Church and those who did not. The group who resisted protested in an event known as the “Leaning Cross Oath”, they then consecrated their own bishop by having 12 priests lay hands on him. This new bishop was known as Mar Thoma I and reigned over a factioned Church. The other half of the St. Thomas Christians rallied behind Mar Chandy Parampil who followed the Latinized East Syrian Rite. The Portuguese clergy plotted against Mar Thoma I by persuading the native clergy of the St. Thomas Christians that Mar Thomas’ ordination was invalid. The Portuguese gathered more and more of the community towards Mar Chandy Parampils side. Eventually the faction that followed Mar Thoma were recognized by the Syriac Orthodox Church and thus the St. Thomas Christian community was sundered into the new Malankara Church (West Syriac Orthodox) and the Malabar Church (East Syriac Catholic Latinized). The Malabar Church would later become what is known as today’s Syro Malabar Catholic Church.

Later the Malanakra Church was sundered even more by a bishop going out of union and forming the Malabar Independant Church (West Syrian Rite/Independent) It was sundered again when by British Protestant influence, some Malankaras wanted a revivalist movement and they formed the Mar Thoma Syrian Church (Anglican Influence/West Syrian Rite/Independent). Later it was factioned again when half the community favored allegiance to a native Indian Patriarch and the other half the to the Patriarch of Syriac Orthodox Church. The faction under the Indian Patriarch became known as the Malankara Orthodox Church and the half that remained loyal to the Syriac Patriarch is known as the Jacobite Syrian Church. The last break in the Malankara Church was when one bishop and a small faction reunited with the Catholic Church, this group is of course known today as the Malankara Catholic Church (West Syrian Rite/Catholic Church).

After learning and reading about all this it’s sad to see all the factions and just how much the Malankara Church was broken. Is there any talk between the West Syrian Churches of Kerala of ever reuniting as one Malankara Church?

As far as people on the ground go – most see the division as a political/hierarchical division, rather than one of faith. Most Orthodox/Jacobite/Malankara Catholic laity seem to attend each other’s events and Liturgies freely, as do most priests, and even bishops. The heads of each even attend each other’s events - except the Syriac Orthodox and Indian Orthodox are not seen together, although, after the election of HH Ignatius Aphrem II, even this convention was done away with and both were seen together numerous times embracing.

Between the Syriac Orthodox and Catholic Church, there is already an inter-communion agreement, as well as pastoral care agreements. Conversations with Indian Orthodox and Malankara Catholic continue. The relations between Indian Orthodox and Syriac Orthodox ebb and flow, from positive to poisonous. Marthoma Christians are generally regarded as protestants by all three Apostolic Churches, although individual parishes or priests may try to reclaim their roots, but then shift back to their Anglican and protestant friends to avoid the appearance of reunion (I suppose). The Malabar Independent Church is in communion with the Marthoma, even though the MISC claims to be Orthodox and HAS NOT altered its Tradition, while Marthoma has and refuses to pray certain Traditional prayers.

 

[Catechesis]

As far as people on the ground go – most see the division as a political/hierarchical division, rather than one of faith. Most Orthodox/Jacobite/Malankara Catholic laity seem to attend each other’s events and Liturgies freely, as do most priests, and even bishops. The heads of each even attend each other’s events - except the Syriac Orthodox and Indian Orthodox are not seen together, although, after the election of HH Ignatius Aphrem II, even this convention was done away with and both were seen together numerous times embracing.

Between the Syriac Orthodox and Catholic Church, there is already an inter-communion agreement, as well as pastoral care agreements. Conversations with Indian Orthodox and Malankara Catholic continue. The relations between Indian Orthodox and Syriac Orthodox ebb and flow, from positive to poisonous. Marthoma Christians are generally regarded as protestants by all three Apostolic Churches, although individual parishes or priests may try to reclaim their roots, but then shift back to their Anglican and protestant friends to avoid the appearance of reunion (I suppose). The Malabar Independent Church is in communion with the Marthoma, even though the MISC claims to be Orthodox and HAS NOT altered its Tradition, while Marthoma has and refuses to pray certain Traditional prayers.

I’m glad to see atleast there’s a level of communion between the clergy and the peoples of these Churches. Great post!