Malankara Church Got Catholicos After Long Discussions, Vatican Official Says

The installation of the head of a southern India-based Catholic rite as major archbishop and “catholicos” May 14 came after long deliberation, a Vatican official says.

Cardinal Ignace Mousa Daoud, prefect of the Vatican´s Congregation for Oriental Churches, spoke of the long decision process at the installation ceremonies for the catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Church.

The late Pope John Paul II elevated the Church to major archiepiscopal status on Feb. 10 and simultaneously appointed 70-year-old Archbishop Cyril Baselios of Trivandrum its major archbishop. However, the Church, one of two Oriental Catholic Churches based in Kerala state, now calls its head a catholicos following its centuries-old Antiochean tradition.

Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, apostolic nuncio to India, and bishops of the other two Catholic rites in India — Latin and Syro-Malabar — attended the installation ceremonies.

The Syro-Malankara and Syro-Malabar Catholic Churches are among seven major Christian groups in Kerala that trace their faith to Saint Thomas the Apostle. According to tradition, Saint Thomas arrived in Kerala in 52 A.D.

The Syro-Malankara catholicos will enjoy all the powers and rights of a patriarch, Cardinal Mousa explained. He added that the Vatican decided to allow the status after detailed discussions and deliberations that took two years and considered all aspects.

The decision to name a catholicos “was not an easy one and came through a hard way,” Cardinal Mousa told the gathering. “Today is a moment of joy, victory and hope,” he declared.

While thanking the gathering, Major Archbishop Baselios said allowing his Church´s head the status of a catholicos was one of the demands made when the group joined the Catholic fold in 1930.

“Today a great dream has come true. We have got what we requested from the Vatican. We demanded only two things when we reunited. We got (the last one) after 75 years,” he said.

Archbishop Mar Ivanios, who led the reunion movement, had requested that they be allowed to continue the Church´s ancient liturgical tradition and customs. The Vatican accepted that condition, but decided only now to accord the Church´s head the title of “catholicos.”

Major Archbishop Baselios said the new status is not a move to confront others or to try to establish supremacy over other ecumenical communities. “It´s part of the growth and development of the Malankara Catholic church. It´s a recognition for all of us,” he said.

The Church´s lay leaders were jubilant. “We are very happy and proud. It´s a rare gift from Rome,” said Pushpa John, Pastoral Council secretary. “The new status gives us a special identity and autonomy,” she said.

With the installation, the Syro-Malankara Church follows the Syro-Malabar as the second ritual Church in India to gain major archiepiscopal status following the promulgation of the new Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches in 1990.

The elevation gives the Church the right to govern its affairs. The Syro-Malabar Church received the same status in 1992. Among the 22 Oriental Catholic Churches, only the two based in India and the Ukrainian Church have this status.

Archbishop Quintana told a public function organized to congratulate Major Archbishop Baselios that “elevation is a great recognition for the Malankara Church. I hope it would lead the Church to the glorious heights in future.”

Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil of Ernakulam-Angamaly, major archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, described the Syro-Malankara elevation as “the result of its commitment rooted in its liturgical traditions.” Cardinal Vithayathil chaired the function.

“The Syro-Malankara Church achieved this rare honor within 75 years, whereas the Syro-Malabar Church got it only after 2,000 years,” the Redemptorist cardinal said, drawing laughter. His Church supported the Syro-Malankara Church “in its struggle and we will continue our support and cooperation,” he added.

Earlier, Kerala Chief minister Oomman Chandy, a Christian, kicked off the procession from bishop´s house in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital, 2,815 kilometers south of New Delhi, to St. Mary´s Cathedral about 300 meters away.

The installation ceremonies in the cathedral reflected the Antiochean traditions and local cultural roots of the Church.