Orthodox Church rejects joint declaration backing Jacobite faction
Taking a strong exception to a common declaration by the heads of three Oriental Orthodox Churches in West Asia, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church here on Tuesday maintained that the declaration was issued by a regional body without any real authority.
Though the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church welcomed the peace mediation efforts initiated by the heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, it firmly denounced the other contents in the joint declaration, which endorsed the decision of the Universal Holy Synod of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch to refrain from participating in any liturgical celebration and formal theological dialogues with the Orthodox faction.
In a statement from its Department of Inter-Church Ecumenical Relations, the Orthodox Church emphasised its independent (autocephalous) status and unique apostolic tradition within the Oriental Orthodox family. It noted that since 2017, it has pushed back against efforts by the Antiochian Church to isolate the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church from global Orthodox gatherings, both legally and theologically.
'Regional assembly'
While declaring that the decision was made by a regional assembly of the leaders of the three Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East, the Orthodox church also contended that these leaders were misled by the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch. 'Neither the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the Armenian Apostolic Church of Etchmiadzin, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, nor the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church were involved in the joint declaration. Apart from local groups and pan-Oriental dialogue platforms, there is currently no single representative body that speaks for all Oriental Orthodox Churches,' stated Inter-Church Ecumenical Relations department of the Orthodox Church.
The said declaration, which followed the 15th meeting of the heads of three Oriental Orthodox Churches in West Asia the other day, 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.
Meanwhile, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church also reiterated its objection to the recent consecration of Mar Baselios Joseph as the new Catholicos of the Jacobite Church by Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch. It alleged that this act was an attempt to create a parallel leadership structure within the Malankara Church. The Orthodox Church claimed this move violated the Church's constitution and was aimed at gaining international recognition for the Jacobite faction.
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