Latest news with #MalankaraChurch
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Orthodox Church relieves Zacharias Mar Aprem of all administrative duties
A special session of the synod of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church here on Friday decided to relieve Metropolitan Zacharias Mar Aprem of the Adoor-Kadampanad Diocese from all diocesan administrative duties, responsibilities related to the Church's governance and his role at the Church's seminary until further notice. The decision follows a series of public remarks made by the Metropolitan a couple of weeks ago, which were found to be in conflict with the official positions of the Church. 'His statements appeared to question the authority of the 1934 constitution of the Malankara Church and diminish the importance of court rulings favourable to the Church, which have triggered protest among the faithful,'' the Church said in an official release The synod was convened under the leadership of Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews III in response to complaints concerning these statements. Seeks explanation The controversy began when Mar Aprem, while addressing parishioners at Chungathara and Chennithala earlier this month, alleged that the Church leadership had asked him to wrest control of certain Jacobite churches within his diocese by executing a judicial order. He claimed to have refused the request outright. These comments prompted the Catholicos to seek a formal explanation, which was then reviewed at the synod. The Metropolitan's repeated remarks, meanwhile, also fuelled speculation that he might be considering alignment with another faction of the Malankara Church, which maintains a strong presence in the Central Travancore region.
New Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Oriental Orthodox Churches intervene to mediate Malankara Church dispute
KOTTAYAM: In a major development in the efforts to resolve the disputes between Jacobite and Orthodox groups within the Malankara Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches have stepped forward to facilitate peace negotiations. The 15th meeting of the heads of the three Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East, which concluded at St Bishoy's Monastery in Wadi El Natrun, Egypt, on Sunday, decided to invite Mor Baselios Joseph, Catholicos of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church and Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, to Cairo for discussions and help restore peace and unity in Malankara Church. As per the decision, which was taken to strengthen the internal unity and integrity of the Oriental Orthodox Family, 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 Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church. The date and further details will be released in accordance with the responses from both factions. Jacobite Church welcomes decision At the same time, in a major setback for the Orthodox Church, the common declaration of the Oriental Church heads' meeting noted that 'Pope Tawadros II and Catholicos Aram I also expressed their solidarity and support regarding the decision of the Universal Holy Synod of the Syrian 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.' Although the Orthodox faction reserved its official response for the time being, the decision has ignited significant protests among Church leaders. Orthodox Church sources said they won't accept the decisions made by only three members of the Oriental Churches as the decision of the entire Oriental Orthodox Churches.
The Hindu
21-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Catholicos describes Pope Francis as one of the most radiant voices in Christian leadership
Describing Pope Francis as 'one of the most radiant voices in Christian leadership,' Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan, has offered his tribute to the late pontiff. Remembering his association with Pope Francis, the Catholicos also recalled his personal encounter with the Pope in 2023 during a visit to Vatican. 'During that meeting, Pope Francis addressed the Catholicos as 'a beloved one' and 'a brother long awaited,'' he said. In their conversation, Pope Francis spoke about the journey of ecclesial unity, which had gained renewed momentum with the Second Vatican Council, while also recalling the historic meetings between Baselios Augen I and Pope Paul VI and between Mar Thoma Mathews I and Pope John Paul II. 'His words from that day remain with me still. He told me that the wounds inflicted by the divisions among Christians throughout history were painful gashes in the Body of Christ and that the St. Thomas's faith could not be separated from the experience of those wounds.' In February 2025, the Catholicos met Pope Francis once again, this time during the fifth Catholic–Eastern Orthodox ecclesial gathering convened under the auspices of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. The meeting held special significance as it coincided with the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. On value of unity 'When receiving participants, including young clergy from the Malankara Church, as well as representatives from the Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, and Eritrean Churches, Pope Francis emphasised the value of unity,' the Catholicos said. 'He also acknowledged with gratitude the ecumenical exchange visits between the Armenian and Malankara Orthodox Churches.' The prelate praised the Pope's enduring commitment to issues of global significance, particularly his stance on human trafficking and the plight of refugees. 'His position on human trafficking, a form of modern-day slavery, was emblematic of his profound concern for the suffering of others,' the Catholicos said. 'Pope Francis did not view trafficking merely as a manifestation of greed, but as a tragic outcome of broader global crises such as war, famine, and climate change.' Prophet of human dignity The Catholicos pointed out that even the letter signed by Pope Francis just before his hospitalisation bore the same signature of compassion. In that message, the Pope extended his support to the American Catholic Church's efforts to defend the rights of refugees and migrants. 'At a time when Church leaders in the United States were standing up against deportation efforts targeting asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants, Pope Francis, through his words and witness, stood beside them, emerging as a prophet of universal human dignity.'
