Three Oriental Orthodox Churches seek to resolve dispute in Malankara Church
According to sources, the 15th meeting of the heads of three Oriental Orthodox Churches in West Asia at St. Bishoy's Monastery in Wadi El Natrun, Egypt, the other day decided to invite Catholicos Baselios Joseph, head of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, and Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Orthodox Church, to Cairo for discussions
As per the decision, Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark; and Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Orthodox Church of the Great House of Cilicia; will lead the discussions in the presence of Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and head of the Syriac Orthodox Church. The date and further details will be released in accordance with the responses of both factions.
Common declaration
At the same time, a common declaration of the heads of the three Churches stated that 'Pope Tawadros II and Catholicos Aram I expressed their solidarity and support regarding the decision'' of the universal synod of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch not to participate in any liturgical celebration and formal theological dialogues in the presence of the representatives of the separated faction of the Church in India.
Orthodox Church sources said they would not accept the decisions taken by only three Oriental Orthodox Churches. 'There are seven Oriental Orthodox Churches, including the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The decisions were taken in the absence of the Orthodox Churches of Ethiopia, Eretria, and Armenian Apostolic Church, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. They have no right to take such a decision,' they said.
The Orthodox Church raised questions about the legitimacy of the universal synod of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch. 'To date, the Oriental Orthodox Churches have not taken any decisions regarding the participation of liturgical celebrations and theological dialogues,' said a priest.
The Jacobite faction, on its part, welcomed the decisions taken by the Oriental Orthodox Churches, noting that the call from the leaders of the Oriental Orthodox Churches should be embraced with an open mind.
The Oriental Orthodox Churches reject the dogmatic definitions of the Council of Chalcedon in AD 451 AD and recognise only the first three ecumenical councils of Nicaea (325), Constantinople (381), and Ephesus (431) whereas the Eastern Orthodox Churches recognise seven ecumenical councils including the first three. The Armenian Apostolic Church has two Catholicosates: the Catholicosate of All Armenians (headquartered in Etchmiadzin) and the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia (headquartered in Antelias, Lebanon).
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