Latest news with #MalankaraOrthodoxSyrianChurch
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.
United News of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Sandalwood cross from Kerala gifted to Pope Leo XIV
Thiruvananthapuram, May 23 (UNI) A hand-carved sandalwood cross with stones from the skilled wood craftsmen of Udupi in Mangalore was gifted to Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in Kerala. A delegation from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church participated in the inaugural mass of the Pope Leo XIV held at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. In a message conveyed to Pope Leo XIV, Catholicose of the East and Malankara Metropolitan, Baselios Marthoma Mathews III extended heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the Pope and prayed for peace. The delegation's presence reflected the deep fraternal relationship and ecumenical goodwill shared between the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and the Roman Catholic Church. The participation in the solemn liturgy reaffirmed the Malankara Church's continued commitment to dialogue, unity, and mutual respect among Christian communities, a release said. The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church remains steadfast in its pursuit of Christian unity, and the delegation's participation in this historic celebration symbolizes the ongoing journey of communion and cooperation among the apostolic Churches. UNI DS PRS
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
No invitation for peace talks: Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church here on Thursday reiterated its stance that the collective of Oriental Orthodox Churches had neither convened a meeting nor extended an invitation for peace talks. In a statement, Youhanon Mar Diascoros, head of the Church's media wing, said that claims suggesting that the heads of three Oriental Churches invited the Orthodox Church leadership to Cairo to resolve the Malankara Church dispute was unfounded. 'It is understood that the three Oriental Churches in the Middle East gathered solely to celebrate the anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. Some have misinterpreted this as a meeting of Oriental Churches. The union of Oriental Orthodox Churches comprises seven churches, including the Malankara Orthodox Church and no such forum has convened or made any decision in recent days,' it said. He further claimed that other members in the Oriental Church family have denounced the move of the three Churches in the Middle East. 'The Antiochian and Coptic Patriarchs and the head of the Armenian Church in Lebanon were present at the meeting. The main Armenian Church, the Apostolic Church of Etchmiadzin, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church are not participants in this meeting. The move made by the churches in the Middle East with vested interests has been rejected by other churches in the Oriental Orthodox community,' Orthodox church stated. The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church added that the Oriental Orthodox family, including the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, is clearly aware of the situation in India. 'Other churches responded positively to the letter sent by the Inter-Church Ecumenical department of the Malankara Orthodox Church. The matters, including the final judgment of the Supreme Court of India, were brought to the attention of the church leadership,' it said.
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Malankara Orthodox Church says ‘no' to joint declaration in Kerala
KOTTAYAM: In a clear indication that peace remains elusive among the warring Jacobite and Orthodox factions of the Malankara Church, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC) on Tuesday condemned the joint declaration issued by the heads of three Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East on Sunday. While it welcomed the peace mediation efforts initiated by the heads, the MOSC denounced the other aspects 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. The MOSC said the decision was made by a regional assembly of leaders of three Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East, which lacked legitimacy, and contended that the leaders were misled by the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch. 'The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Armenian Apostolic Church of Etchmiadzin, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church were not involved in the joint declaration. Apart from local groups and pan-Oriental dialogue platforms, there is no single representative body that speaks for all Oriental Orthodox Churches,' said the MOSC's Inter-Church Ecumenical Relations department.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Orthodox Church hails call for talks to end factional feud
Kottayam: Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church welcomed the combined statement by the heads of Syrian Church of Antioch, Coptic and Armenian churches to hold talks with the Orthodox and Jacobite factions in India to restore peace and unity. However, Orthodox Church condemned the gist of the statement, which "expresses their solidarity and support regarding the decisions 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". Yuhanon Mar Diascoros, president of Orthodox Church's media wing, said in a statement that Orthodox Church was an autocephalous church in the Oriental Orthodox Church and it had its own apostolic tradition. The Supreme Court of India made crucial verdicts which confirmed the autonomy of the Church and canonical rights, and this was informed with documents to other churches in the world, including the Oriental Orthodox Church and ecumenical organisations, he added. He said that the combined statement was made by only three heads of Oriental churches in the Middle East, while Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Armenian Apostolic Church, Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Eritrean Orthodox Church were not part of this declaration. Currently, there is no system to speak about the entire Oriental church, he added.
