Reply of Mar Ivanios to Antiochene Patriarch Ignatius Ephrem II Rahmani

Tiruvalla, 30 October 1927:

after sending the aforementioned unsigned memorandum through Fr. John Ribeiro and the Apostolic Delegate to the Apostolic See, Mar Ivanios thanks Patriarch Rahmani for his response concerning reunion. He does not mention the said memorandum but expresses satisfaction with the fact that the Syrian Catholic Church follows the same Antiochene Syrian liturgy without alterations.

Father of all Fathers and Head of all Heads who has power over the Syrian Catholics of the East, who rules over the apostolic throne of Antioch, Aboon Aprem II Moran Mor Ignathios, Patriarch Rahmani,

After respectfully kissing your pure and sacred hand, I wish to inform Your Beatitude, in the holy name of our Lord who protects and glorifies your lofty priesthood, the following:

I have received the loving and affectionate letter sent to my humble secretary by Your Beatitude from Beirut written on 12 October. I praise God Almighty for every word mentioned in your letter. I hope and pray that the gates leading to the unity of all the Catholics in the world will be opened to us also shortly. It is with great joy that I have learned that your Beatitude follows without fail all the Order of the Liturgy of the Antiochian Syrian Church. We believe in the name of God that the rites followed in India by the Episcopal Synod will be protected along with the Antiochian rites even after we are united with you and the Roman Catholic Church. I will write to you about this and similar issues shortly.

Moran Mor Baselios Geevarghese Catholicos, who sits on the Eastern apostolic throne and his fellow bishops, send their regards and ask after your health.

I sincerely believe that this letter and the ones I have sent earlier will be treated confidentially and will not be published. I request you to kindly remember me in your prayers and in your Holy Qurbono. Please send the reply to this letter as registered post. I pray that you stretch forth your right hand and bless me.

Barekmor, Al subukhono,
Your Beatitude's humble Servant,
Ivanios, the humble servant of Bethany,
Geevarghese Episcopo.