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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.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Three Oriental Orthodox Churches seek to resolve dispute in Malankara Church
The efforts to resolve the dispute within the Malankara Church have received a boost with three Oriental Orthodox Churches stepping in to facilitate peace negotiations. 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).
Daily News Egypt
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Patriarchs of Eastern Orthodox Churches arrive in Cairo to commemorate 1700th anniversary of Council of Nicaea
Senior patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Churches arrived at Cairo International Airport on Friday evening to participate in the commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, a landmark event in the history of Christianity. Among the arriving dignitaries were His Holiness Mar Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East of the Syriac Orthodox Church, and His Holiness Catholicos Aram I Keshishian, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian Orthodox Church, based in Antelias, Lebanon. Accompanying them were His Grace Bishop Mar Awgin Al-Khouri Neemat, the Patriarchal Secretary; His Grace Bishop Mar Nicodemus Daoud Matti Sharaf, Archbishop of Mosul, Kirkuk, and the Kurdistan Region; and His Grace Bishop Mar Justinus Paul Sfar, Bishop of Zahle and the Bekaa—all representing the Syriac Orthodox Church. The delegation's visit is centered on their participation in a celebratory Divine Liturgy organized by the Eastern Orthodox Family in the Middle East. This special service, to be held on Sunday morning, May 18, at the Great St. Mark's Cathedral in Abbasiya, will commemorate the historic First Council of Nicaea and will be presided over by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. In addition to the liturgy, the patriarchs will take part in the 14th meeting of the Permanent Committee of the Patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Churches in the Middle East, scheduled to be held at the Papal Headquarters in Anba Rouis. Upon their arrival, the delegation was warmly welcomed by a host of church leaders and representatives. Among those present to receive them were His Grace Anba Thomas, Metropolitan of Qousiya and Mir and a member of both the Permanent Committee and the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches; His Eminence Mar Ekleems Daniel Correa, Metropolitan of Beirut for the Syriac Orthodox Church; and His Grace Bishop Mar Timothy Matti Al-Khouri, Metropolitan of Homs, Hama, and Tartous, and Acting Patriarchal Vicar of Egypt. Also welcoming the guests were His Eminence Metropolitan Mar Nikolaos Matti Abd Al-Ahad, Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Spain; His Eminence Metropolitan Narek Alemzian, Metropolitan of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Lebanon; and His Eminence Metropolitan Macar Ashkarian, Metropolitan of the Armenian Orthodox Diocese of Aleppo and its dependencies. Reverend Father Philips Issa, priest of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Cairo, Mr. Elias Shahrour, President of the Syriac Orthodox Council in Egypt, and Deacon Jamil Malouh, Deputy of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Cairo, were also present at the airport to greet the delegation. The visit highlights the unity and historical continuity of the Eastern Orthodox tradition in the region, and marks a significant moment of shared reflection on the theological and ecclesiastical legacy of the Council of Nicaea.
