The OCP Secretariat His Eminence Kurt Koch OCP-SEC 02/07/2019 President Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity Vatican Sub: High Concerns on the Eastern Catholic Rites in India Dear Your Eminence, Greetings from Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE. I hope that this mail finds you in good health and spirits. I write this petition with utmost regret and concern over the actions of Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Rites towards the Malankara Orthodox Church in Kerala, India. We decided to file this petition after a lengthy process of deliberations within our organization. For the past couple of years, the two Major Arche Episcopal Rites have engaged in several provocative activities against the Malankara Orthodox Church. Kindly note that idea of this petition is not to interfere in the internal affairs of the Roman Catholic Church or the Eastern Catholic Rites. A. Claims on the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas Syro-Malankara and Syro-Malabar Rites have been claiming the ownership Apostolic of St. Thomas. Social Media and various other platforms are used to propagate such claims. These Churches claim that their Major Archbishops are the successors of Apostle St. Thomas. How can such claim be valid? As of our understanding, the Pope of Rome is seated on the Throne of St. Peter. Is there a provision within the Roman Catholic Church that recognizes the position of the head of an Eastern Catholic Rite equivalent to the Pope of Rome? Figure 1 is from the previous version of the official portal of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Rite. As of now, they have dropped such claims. The successor of St. Thomas and Malankara Metropolitan are the official and canonical titles of the head of the Malankara Orthodox Church. How can an Eastern Catholic Rite claim such titles without the approval of the Holy See? Above: Figure 1, Below: Figure 2 Figure 2 is from the 2016 YMCA event poster that portrays ‘His Holiness’ Cardinal Baselios Cleemis. The false appellation used on the banner of ecumenical events will indeed mislead the faithful and the general public. Figure 3 is from one of the Syro-Malabar Facebook pages. Figure 3 The page states prayerful wishes to the Metropolitan Mar Geevarghese Alencherry who is the successor to the Throne of St. Thomas, as well as the Metropolitan and Gate of All India. As of our understating the head of the Syro-Malabar Rite holds the title ‘Major Archbishop of Ernakulam–Angamaly of the Syro-Malabar’s and the Cardinal-Priest of S. Bernardo alle Terme.’ Moran Mar and Maran Mar are appellations used by Primates of Orthodox and Assyrian Churches. Such Prelates are considered as the Primates of their Churches. I wonder why the heads of the Eastern Catholic Rites in India use the same appellation, while Pope of Rome is the supreme head of their Church. Does it mean that there exists no head above the Eastern Catholic Cardinals in India? ‘His Holiness Maran Mar George Alencherry – Successor of St. Thomas, Metropolitan Gate of All India’ (figures 5 and 6). Is the title mentioned above granted and approved by the Holy See? Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 The Syro-Malabar Rite recently invented a new type of 'Chaldean headgear' (figure 6). How did such a headgear suddenly appear? Isn't it an attempt to copy some of the Nasrani Orthodox traditions? B. Code of Particular Canons and the Title of ‘Catholicos’ Even though the Holy See has not addressed the Major Archbishop as Catholicos, the "Code of Particular Canons of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church" (2012) illustrates the title Catholicos for the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. To be more specific, the Syro- Malankara address their so-called Catholicos a 'Bava.' The word ‘Bava’ originates from ‘Baba,’ which is an Arabic version of the Greek word, ‘Papas or Papa.’ This is the same as Papa in Latin, which means Pope in the English language, and it is the title of the head of a Church. If the Malankara Catholic Rite have a Catholicos and if he is under the Roman Pope, are there two Bava or Pope? Moreover, in the letter (Port.N. 2581/2005/h) sent on 18th June 2005 by His Excellency Cardinal Walter Kasper (the President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity) to the late Metropolitan Philipose Mar Eusebius (the President of the Secretariat for Inter-Church Relations of Malankara Orthodox Church), it was categorically stated that the former head of the Syro–Malankara Rite Cyril Mar Baselios (First Major Archbishop) was not given the title ‘Catholicos’ as there is no mention of the title ‘Catholicos’ in the Vatican Documents and the Code of Canon Law of Eastern Churches. The appearance of the title Catholicos later in the Code of Particular Canons requires further clarification from the part of the Holy See. Let us take the case of the Armenian Catholic Rite. As of our understanding, the Holy See does not address the head of Armenian Catholic Rite by the title ‘Catholicos-Patriarch. Instead, he is addressed by the appellation ‘Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenians.’ If there is no mention of the title ‘Catholicos’ in the Vatican documents and the Code of Canon Law of Eastern Churches, how can the Armenian Catholics call their head as ‘Catholicos-Patriarch of Cilicia? Isn't this the same case with the head of the Malankara Catholic Rite as well? On the other hand, the case of the Coptic Catholic Rite is indeed amusing. The head of the Coptic Catholic Patriarchate is addressed by the appellation ‘Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts.’ It is important to note that the appellation ‘Pope’ is absent from the title of the Head of the Coptic Catholic Rite. If Rites like Malankara and Armenian use ‘Catholicos’ to address their heads (claiming that their traditions inherited from their mother Orthodox Churches allows the same), then Coptic Catholics should also have the liberty to address their head by the appellation ‘Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts.’ Both Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches of Alexandria use the appellation ‘Pope’ for their Primates. Considering the facts mentioned above, do we have the liberty to assume that the Holy See has granted ‘special privileges’ to a few Eastern Catholic Rites to satisfy their local ambitions and objectives?. Figure 7 Figure 8 C. Malankara Catholics Disregards Papal Position on Eastern Catholicism “The path of Uniatism is not the path to walk today.” – Pope Francis of Rome. A week ago, Fr. Sunny Vettikatil (figure 7), a priest of the Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church in India was absorbed by the Malankara Catholic Rite. The so-called ‘reunion’ event is a clear violation of the Papal stand on Eastern Catholicism. In 2016, the Malankara Catholic Rite absorbed around twenty-five families (figure 8) from the Malankara Church (Catholicate of the East), Syriac Orthodox Church in India (Patriarchate of Antioch & All-East), and the Independent Thozhiyoor Church. Kindly refer figure 5 for the photos. If anyone wants to join the Roman Catholic Church, he or she is free to do the same. However, using Eastern Catholic Rite as a tool to absorb Orthodox faithful to Roman Catholicism is an absolute violation of the current understanding and practices. D. Blind Denial of Historical Facts The recent circular from the Syro-Malabar Bishop of Palai is a blind refutation of the historical truths. The circular (249) of Mar Kallarangatt dated 1/5/2019, claims that the first Church in the name of Holy Theotokos (Mother Mary) was built in Kuravalngattu in A.D. 105 and the same is officially accepted. The Bishop, through his circular, also states that this Church (Kuravalangadu) might be the first ever Christian Church in the world. I wonder if the Holy See recognizes such blind claims. He also claimed that Mar Parambil Chandy (1613-1687) was the first Indian Bishop to lead the Nasranis. So does it mean that there were no other Bishops of Indian origin during the time? The Bishop has purposefully ignored Marthoma I – the Prelate of the Malankara Nasranis. Marthoma I was consecrated to the Episcopate ten years before the consecration of Mar Chandy. E. A Deliberate Attempt to Undermine the Status of the Catholicos of the East An Archpriest and two laymen came to invite the Catholicos for the upcoming ‘Nasrani Sangamom’ (scheduled for the month of September 2019) as if there is no higher delegation within the Syro-Malabar Rite. We consider this ‘gesture’ as a deliberate attempt by the Syro-Malabaris to downplay the status of the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan. Will it be considered a good gesture if the Malankara Church sends one senior priest and a few laymen to invite the Pope of Rome for an event? F. A Threat to Ecumenical Unity The faithful of the Malankara Church is agitated by the provocative actions of the Eastern Catholic Rites. Many have called to withdraw from the ongoing ecumenical dialogues with the Holy See. The activities of the Eastern Catholic Rites will not do anything good for ecumenism; instead, it will slow down the entire process of the dialogue. While both Eastern Catholic Rites in India are bound to adhere to the Pope, the Roman Catholic Church, and her ecclesiology, they should also respect the Malankara Church and her traditions. However, the sad fact is that the actions of the Eastern Catholic Rites appear to convey otherwise. G. Gratitude to the Latin Catholic Hierarchy We thank the Latin Catholic hierarchy in Kerala for their openness and genuine approach. We highly appreciate their understating and kindness. It is noteworthy that the Malankara Orthodox Church has never failed to take part in the annual ecumenical dialogues with the Holy See.