www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Eucharistic Miracle (?)

Check out www.malankara.net [malankara.net] and at the top go to home, and click on "Jesus Face". It appears the Malankara Catholic Church has been graced with a Eucharistic Miracle which, if I'm not mistaken, is the first time in the history of Syriac Christianity that something like that's happened...although I'm not entirely sure on that, so if someone knows anything more, let me know please.

I didn't know the Malankara Catholics were that latinized, what with benediction and novenas to St Jude. Do the Malankara Orthodox use unleavened Hosts too, like the Armenians do?

I hope the phenomenon is real (after all, we apostolics all do have identical belief about the Eucharist) — it certainly is impressive.

Orthodoxy is actually very cautious (on guard against demonic deception) re: Eucharistic miracles, though there is a famous one when St Sergius of Radonezh liturgized and a flame appeared above the Holy Gifts. There are rubrics for what to do if the Holy Gifts change appearance to actual flesh and/or blood (like Lanciano in Italy, where a preschism Greek priest was serving a Roman Mass). Apparently it happens! I've read the Orthodox response can be summed up as "uh oh'. The priest is to stop the Liturgy and begin again.

http://oldworldrus.com

Dear Serge,

I didn't know they were that latinised either, but I had my doubts. I knew that they had Benediction, Sacred Heart/Immaculate Heart devotions, the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, etc. Mar Ivanios took these, as well as a celibate priesthood, from the Latins when he entered into full communion in 1930. The article I read this in said that he "introduced these, but in harmony with the Syrian tradition" (words to that effect), but I doubt it lasted long. Benediction requires an unleavened host, and so they started using those, though the Orthodox don't use these. And in India there's the tendency among people to regard "true Catholics" as Romans, and so the Eastern Catholic Churches there are latinised, to the point where most people, priests included, would much rather just keep everything as is. Admittedly, however, I'm somewhat ignorant about the situation of the Syro-Malankars.

Some people don't have a problem with latinisations, and that's fine. I myself happen to pray the Rosary, and I love it. I make the Way of the Cross in the local Latin parish during Lent, and I like their Eucharistic devotions too. I just don't see them fitting in with the Syriac tradition. Even in the beginning I could remember going to Benediction in Catholic school and thinking "this would never work in an Orthodox church"...it was just a gut feeling, you know? So I'll do some of these things, but I'll do them with the Latins in their churches, or privately. Some may criticise a person for getting caught up on latinisations and tell that person to look at the bigger picture. I try, but for whatever reason, I can't. It's one of those things that makes me wonder if, while feeling I should/would like to be Catholic, whether the better choice for me would be either to go Orthodox, or to join another Eastern Catholic Church (e.g. Syrian Catholic, Melkite, Chaldean) where things might be a little better in that regard. It's something I'm debating now, and for which I ask your prayers.

That said, I certainly hope this is a true miracle as well. This happened a few months before I went to India, and I wish I had known about it so that I could maybe make a visit to the church and see if I could see this for myself. But I didn't know till I came back. And when I found out, I was like "oh man..." Maybe the next time I go... This is the first time, to my knowledge, that this has happened in the history of Syriac Christianity, so we don't have rubrics covering this, but it's interesting that they exist, as you say.

Liturgised? I've never heard this word, let alone heard it used the way you did...nice!

Mor Ephrem,

The Syro-Malankar Catholics are an unusual bunch. From what I've been able to learn they are Latinizied in some aspects:Mandatory celibacy, Unleavened Hosts, Benediction, Novenas, etc. In other aspects they are very Eastern: They still celebrate facing East, the curtain is used, The Divine Office is used on the parish level weekly, A renewal of Eastern monasticism combining elements of native Indian religous ascetism and piety.

In any case they are not nearly as Latinized as their Syro-Malabar brothers.

Also, Mor Ephrem, since your looking for a prayer book perhaps you would like something from the Syro-Malankara tradition?
The Syro-Malankara Catholic Kurisumala Ashram has published three volumes of their Divine Office. They are:
Vol 1. A Weekly Celebration of the Economy of Salvation, containing the common of the office and the daily propers.
Vol 2. The Crown of the Year, Part I, containing the propers for Advent to Theophany
Vol 3. The Crown of the Year, Part II, containing the propers Lent and the PaschaL Season

They may be ordered from:
Kurisumala Ashram
Vagamon 685 503
Kerala, India

Sorry, but I don't know the prices.

In Christ,
Lance, deacon candidate

Dear Mor Ephrem,

Thank you for sharing the information about this marvelous happening. As Serge noted, all of us in the Apostolic Churches share the same belief about the Presence of Christ in the Eucharistic Elements. It is a source of union among us even while we are, sadly, separated at the Lord's table.

I admired the reminder by the head of the Malankara Church that this is a gift, but that Christ is in the Eucharist without it. The gift of the images in such instances helps to strengthen our belief. God knows our weaknesses!

Just a side note to let you know that you, your girl, and your struggle with discernment have been on my mind and in my heart.

I pray that the Lord lead you to where He would have you be. You are our brother in the Lord wherever that is.

Steve

JOY!

Dear Lance,

Thanks for your added input. I'm aware also that the Malankars can be very Eastern. I remember hearing one of them refer to Easter by its Syriac name Qyomto, something which I've never heard Orthodox use...they'll use Denho for the Epiphany, for example, but Christmas and Easter are always that. But they used the Syriac. They still celebrate facing East and use the Divine Office weekly--this is the Orthodox custom in India and here...most parishes have Saturday Vespers, and then Sunday Matins along with the Holy Qurbana. These are all great things which I enjoy now. I have the set of books you referred to me, and use them daily. There is a fourth volume too, which covers the Week of Weeks and the seasons of the Apostles, the Transfiguration, and the Holy Cross. This version is pretty cool, but it omits Matins completely (except in the first volume for the Sh'himo, which is basically a bunch of generic weekday services), so I use that volume's Matins, and the Vespers and Vigil according to the Proper.

And Steve, thanks for remembering my girlfriend and I in your prayers. Whenever I pray Matins from the abovementioned books, Pss. 133 is prescribed, and I always sing it reminded of you...

"How good and how beautiful it is when brothers dwell in unity!"

I always keep you in my prayers as well. Please continue to keep me in yours.

Dear Catholicos,

Latinization, as a phenomenon, is something that not only affects Eastern Catholic churches, but Eastern Orthodox Churches as well, and not just theologically.

The Kyivan Baroque period in Orthodoxy is a case in point.

St Dmytry of Rostov's "Tale of the Five Prayers" is based on the western devotion to the Joys and Sorrows of Jesus and Mary. The "Passiyi" of St Peter Mohyla were a response to the popular Stations of the Cross (in some Orthodox Churches in Eastern Europe, the Stations are very popular and I have one Orthodox pamphlet on how to do the Stations!).

St Seraphim of Sarov practiced a form of the rosary as did St Seraphim Zvezdinsky and the practice of saying 150 Hail Mary's is popular in Orthodox Monasteries (with a prostration at the end of each).

St Peter Mohyla's Euchologion actually, as Serge said, lays out what a priest should do during a Eucharistic miracle.

Please bear with my loose translation:

"O Priest, know that if during the Liturgy it should happen that the Holy Communion should take the form of real flesh and blood, or that of a Child, this is not Holy Communion, but a Divine miracle showing God's displeasure (sic) due to lack of faith in the Mystery or due to some other cause.

"Put the covered chalice aside and then check it every so often to see if it has returned to its normal state.

"If a significant time has elapsed and the miracle has not ceased, then take other bread and wine and consecrate these for Holy Communion."

Such miracles must have been well-known for such regulations to have been made part of the official instructions to priests.

St John Chrysostom, I believe it was, once mentioned how those attending Communion without proper confession beforehand experienced the swallowing of what seemed to them to be hard rocks.

St Paul also warns that Communion made without proper preparation can bring down on us God's wrath in the form of illness etc.

The Ethiopian Church has the rite of the priest kissing the Consecrated Host. Does the Syrian Tradition have this also?

Joan Carroll Cruz's book on Eucharistic Miracles also agrees with St Peter Mohyla's statements regarding such miracles being a response of Divine displeasure at lack of faith, offense given to the Sacrament such as the miraculous Hosts that were dropped into a poorbox by thieves who had stolen the golden tabernacle.

These have been on display and exposed to the elements for years and years, yet they do not decompose, this has been scientifically verified.

Blessed Pope John XXIII visited these (I forget the name of the Italian town) and prayed before them after being elected Pope.

Alex

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Our local Syro-Malabar community celebrates Holy Qurbana on Sunday afternoon so I am able to attend after Divine Liturgy. Since it is primarily Knanites, who practice endogamy, they claim a special identity. A short history:

The Knanaya people trace their origin back to the 72 Mesopotamian Christian families who immigrated to India and settled in Kerala in AD 345. Mesopotamia was part of the Babylonian empire. The immigrants were part of Jewish Christian community which took special care to preserve some of its Jewish-cultural traits. They were under the jurisdiction of the Catholicos of the East in Seleucia-Ctesiphon. This church also trace it's origin to the apostle St. Thomas in that it was established by the preaching of his disciple Mar Mari. The Catholicos of Seleucia-Ctesiphon came to know the sad plight of the Indian church through traders who had been trading with India. As directed by the Catholicos, a merchant called Thomas Kinayi (Kinan) organized an immigration of 72 families from seven tribes of Jewish Christians. They were accompanied by Bishop Mar Joseph of Uraha, (also called Uruck and it is the present Warka in Iraq) and four priests and a few deacons. On reaching the Kerala coast (at that time called Malabar Coast) Thomas Kinayi visited the ruling King Cheraman Perumal and obtained from him land and some highly esteemed privileges. This community began to be called "Knananites" or "Southists" after their prominent leader Thomas Kinayi. The influx these immigrants with a Bishop and Clergy invigorated the existing Indian church, enabling it to prosper in India as a privileged community.

Our local community still celebrates in Malayalam, the language of Kerala. While the Qurbana is latinized, they have unique traditions as well: the music, the margamkali (a long poem performed and sung about the history of Thomas of Kinai), vestments (yes vestments!), as well as Indian traditions in marriage, death, etc. The community is what encourages me to continue going there.

If someone knows how to obtain the Syro-Malabar Holy Qurbana with an English translation (or even transliteration) please let me know.

The Malabarese Catholics are facing many of the problems that faced and continue to face the Byzantine Catholics in America. How the Church responds in the diaspora to issues of immigration, language, hierarchy, relationship to the "homeland", and marriage will aid or impede the life of the Church.

Lacking knowlege of Byzantine Catholic history, I would love to hear from someone about how the Byzantine churches have met some of these problems and succeeded. (Don't focus on the failures, so we do not begin criticizing others.) As a small church, Byzantine Catholics should have advice and wisdom ready for Eastern Catholic brethren as they attemp to remain faithful in the North American landscape.

David

Slava Isusu Christu!

What an interesting Church in union with the Holy Father. Gosh the more more I think I know the more I am realizing I don't know anything The Malankara Catholic Church is a wonderful witness to the Unity of the Catholic Church. I pray She heeds the Call of the Holy Father to return to Her own traditions and original customs, like we are still doing.

In Christ and the Theotokos:


Robert, Chief Sinner

Dear Alex,

To answer your question, the Syrian Church, to my knowledge, doesn't have this tradition, as I've never seen it in the rubrics, although the priest's books I haven't seen, so if they're there, I don't know.

But our Orthodox parish priest sometimes can be seen doing this. After the Institution narrative, you can see him making the sign of the cross in the air with the consecrated bread, and before placing it back on the paten, he'll kiss it. I haven't seen other priests do this.

I watch EWTN when I get the time and when I'm at home (we don't get it at college), and I've sometimes noticed that he'll take a direct quote from a sermon I heard on the network, or make an allusion to something he (and apparently I) watched on the station. Maybe he picked up the habit of kissing the consecrated bread from some EWTN Masses I've seen where the visiting priests sometimes do that. I wonder sometimes if he's a budding Catholic...probably is nothing more than a secret admirer, though.

It's all good!

Dear David,

I'm glad to hear that you get to hang out with Indians on Sundays! I like to think we're a nice bunch.

The Knanayaites, as you probably know, are not only Syro-Malabars, but Malankara Orthodox too...churches may be different, but the endogamy keeps them one family.

If you want to read the text, in English, of the Malabar liturgy, please see:

http://www.homestead.com/Easterncatholichymns/Malabar1.html

There's a lot of cool stuff there too...including the text of the Syrian liturgy, and pictures of the Holy Qurbana of the Malankar rite celebrated by His Grace the late Benedict Mar Gregorios, the former Metropolitan of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum).

Enjoy!

[ 11-19-2001: Message edited by: Mor Ephrem ]