International Orthodox Christian News

I would like to invite the attention of Holy Primates Holy Synods members, Bishops, Priests, Monks, Nuns and memebers of the Orthodox Churches World Wide.

I would like to invite the Special attention of the Holy Synod, Priest, Managing Committee members, Monks, Nuns, all memebers of the Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Church to this issue.


Kindly read the following

Relationship between Malankara Orthodox Church(Indian Orthodox Church) and Malankara Catholic Rite (Eastern Rite Catholic Church in India)

There have been some tensions between the two Churches since the origin of the Malankara Catholic Rite in 1930 when Archbishop Mar Ivanious joined the Roman Catholic Church. During the past three years the tension are on the hike even though it is not been exhibited publicly. This was especially after the declaration of the Malankara Catholic Rite that their primate has been elevated to the Position of 'Catholicose' in the year 2005, along with the elevation of their Church to the Archie- Episcopal Status by the Holy See. This has caused further confusions for the Orthodox Church of the East.

The Malankara Orthodox Church had an enquiry with the Vatican on the issue. The Holy See responded that 'Catholicose' title has not been granted to the Major Archbishop of the Malankara Catholic Rite. This has been clearly mentioned in the letter (PRONT N: 2581/2005/h) send to the Malankara Orthodox Church from the Holy See by His Eminence Cardinal Walter Casper dated on 18 June 2005. But it seems that the declarations from the Holy See are not at all applicable to the Malankara Catholic Rite and her Leadership. Many a times they have used the title 'Catholicose' along with Major Archbishop, to address the Primate of the Malankara Catholic Church in news papers, public forum, official documents of the Church, magazines, Church publication etc.

The Issue

The New Malankara Metropolitan

Check the following link
http://www.catholicate.net/major_archbishop.html

http://www.malankara.net/about.php?id=75

International Home page

http://www.syromalankara.org/church/the-hierarchy.html


All the above websites claim the following

MORAN MOR BASELIOS CLEEMIS CATHOLICOS is the

Successor of the Apostolic See of St. Thomas in India

Malankara Metropolitan

Major Archbishop-Catholicos
of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

Major Archbishop of Trivandrum

As accepted worldwide there is only one Successor to the Apostolic See of St Thomas and that is His Holiness Catholicose of the all East and Malankara Metropolitan who is the Supreme Primate of the Malankara Orthodox Church. The present Catholicose of the East and Malankara Metropolitan is His Holiness Moran Mor Baseluis Marthoma Dydimos I. Then how can His Grace BASELIOS CLEEMIS claim that he is enthroned on the Throne of St.Thomas?

As per the doctrines, faith and believes of the Roman Catholic Church, there is only one Apostolic Throne and that is the Throne of St. Peter His Holiness Pope is enthroned on throne of St. Peter. Then how can be there another throne in the Roman Catholic Church which belongs to St.Thomas?

Many a times the Priest and lay men of the Malankara Catholic Rite has used the title 'His Holiness BASELIOS CLEEMIS CATHOLICOS' at several public forums and meetings. There is only one His Holiness in the Roman Catholic Church and that is His Holiness Pope Himself, then how can there be another His Holiness along with His Holiness Pope?

The IOC leadership and members must act against this.

Some may feel that the above statement is of less importance as its just part of some website or what will happen if they write something in a website. No this is a problem indeed. This is kind of slow poisoning by the Reethu.

Earlier they claimed the throne of Malankara and now they claim the throne of St Thomas. Very shortly all Kalpana by the Major Archbishop will carry the title 'Successor of St Thomas'.

Remember the recent books; a statement from Vatican does not address the Reethu Major Archbishop as Catholicose.

It's high time we do something.

This is no joke.. Consider this as a serious issue. And we must show the right sense and courage to act against these atrocities

If proper communications from Devalokam are send to Vatican as well as to other concerned person's these nonsense acts by the Malankara Reethu can be put to an end.

Also Consider the following

I do have some questions for the Malankara Catholic Rite.

1. The People and the Malankara Catholic Prelates claim the H B Baselious Clemis Can Use the title 'Catholicose'. But what about the letter issued by the Holy See (PRONT N: 2581/2005/h) which Cleary mentions that 'no Catholicose' title has been issued to the Head of Malankara Catholic rite. Decisions taken by the Holy See is normally applicable to all rites, but what is very special to the Malankara Catholic Rite? Is the Malankara Catholic rite above the Holy See?

2. There is only one His Holiness in the Roman Catholic Church and that is His Holiness Pope Himself. Then How does anther 'HIS HOLINESS' possible in one of most tiny rites in the Roman Catholic Church?? The Malankara Catholic Rite has publicly displayed boards at Trivandrum and elsewhere addressing their Primate as His Holiness!! Are they still under the Control of Rome or does HB Baselious Cleemis considered above the status of His Holiness Poe by the rest of the Roman Catholic rites and members?? What about the Status of His Eminence Cardinal and Major Archbishop Mar Varkey Vithayathil and Archbishop His Grace Most. Rev.Dr. M. Soosa Pakiam??? Are they both above below His Holiness Pope or HB Baselious Cleemis???

3. In the recent books, notes, documents issued by Vatican it has been clearly mentioned that the title of the Primate of the Malankara Catholic rite is Major Archbishop, nothing more or nothing less!!!

4. According to the beliefs and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church there is one Apostolic Throne and that is the Throne of St.Peter and His Holiness Pope is enthroned on it. The how can be another Throne (Throne of St Thomas) in the Same Roman Catholic Church?? How can His Beatitude Baselius Cleemis Enthroned on the Apostolic Throne of St.Thomas???

5. The title Catholicose of the all East has been granted by the Jerusalem Synod. The First Catholicose of the East was St.Thomas Himself. The Present Catholicose of the East is His Holiness Baselius Marthoma Dydioms I who is the 90th successor to the throne of St Thomas. Then how can His Beatitude Baselius Cleemis claim that he is enthroned on the Apostolic Throne of St.Thomas???

6. The Vatican Has recognized the Supreme Primate of the Malankara Orthodox Church as the 'Catholicose of the Apostolic Throne of St.Thomas and Malankara Metropolitan'. Vatican Codex clearly mentions the head of Orthodox Church in India as the Metropolitan and all the Gate of India(Metropolitan on the throne of St.Thomas

Online Evidence: (CNEWA (Catholic Near East Welfare Association Website- A Papal Agency for humanitarian and Patrol Support )

http://www.cnewa.us/ecc-bodypg-us.aspx?eccpageID=9&IndexView=toc

Check below what the Holy See has mentioned about the title of the Primate of the Syr-Malankara Church.

http://www.cnewa.us/ecc-bodypg-us.aspx?eccpageID=66&IndexView=toc

It has been clearly mentioned that the title is - Major Archbishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankars.

The claims made by the Malankara Catholic Rite is illegal and unacceptable at any cost. Orthodoxy Beyond Limits take this opportunity to condemn the illegal acts of the Malankara Catholic Rite.

It is always better to remember the following

"You may fool some people some time

You may fool some people all the time,

But you cannot fool all people all the time"

Thanks

George Alexander

Chairman

Orthodoxy Beyond Limits Forum (OBL)

www.theorthodoxchurch.info