The death has been announced [in.news.yahoo.com] of His Beatitude Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil, C.SS.R., Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly, Father and Head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, which is based in the southern Indian state of Kerala.

Pope Benedict XVI today sent a telegram [press.catholica.va] offering his condolences to the Syro-Malabar Church.

His Beatitude Mar Varkey was 83 [catholic-hierarchy.org] (he would have been 84 on May 29). He became Apostolic Administrator of Ernakulam in 1996, Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly in 1999, and Cardinal in 2001. He participated in the conclave which elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005.

The Syro-Malabar Church has 46 bishops [gcatholic.com], including one in the United States. The bishops, who are currently in Rome [press.catholica.va] for their ad limina visits, will now have to gather as a Synod to elect a successor to His Beatitude Mar Varkey.

I hope that the bishops will manage to serve a Raza for the deceased Mar Varkey.

Fr. Serge

What's a Raza? anything like a panachyda?

May His Beatitude Mar Varkey be forever in the presence of the living God.

The Raza is the "very solemn Mass" of the Chaldean tradition, used rather seldom by the Malabarese but usually celebrated at least once when someone has died.

Father Serge

It is reported [ucanews.com] that the funeral of Mar Varkey will take place on April 10 to allow the Syro-Malabar bishops to complete their ad limina [smcim.org] visit to Rome.

Corrigendum: The report says "after April 10" (my emphasis).

May his memory be eternal.

It crossed my mind today that the three largest Eastern Catholic Churches (Ukrainian, Syro-Malabar, Maronite) will have had new patriarchs/major archbishops by the time the new major archbishop for the Syro-Malabar Church is selected-in a relatively very short time.

Now it is officially confirmed [smcim.org] that Mar Varkey's funeral will take place on Sunday, April 10, 2011 at 14:30 in St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica, Ernakulam, Kochi, Kerala, India.

Until the inthronization of a new major archbishop, the administrator of the Syro-Malabar Church is Mar Bosco Puthur [catholic-hierarchy.org], Bishop of the Curia.

Many will remember Mar Bosco's speech [asianews.it] at the 2010 Synod for the Middle East, where he called for proper pastoral care for the estimated 400,000 Syro-Malabar faithful in the Arab Gulf countries.

His Beatitude,Patriarch Sviatoslav of Kyiv-Halych and all Rus, has written and sent formal condolences to the Syro-Malabar Church on the death of Cardinal Varkey.

Father Serge

Kindly note that the syro malabar head is addressed H.E rather than H.B.

Thank you!

It is true that the Pope's telegram referred to His Eminence Cardinal (Eminentissimo Signor Cardinale) Varkey Vithayathil. However, the Vatican's official yearbook, the Annuario Pontificio, uses the more correct "His Most Eminent Beatitude" (Sua Beatitudine Eminentissima).

Prayers for the repose of the soul of the Most Blessed and Most Eminent Lord George (Mar Varkey), Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church Vithayathil, Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly, Father and Head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.

Video from the funeral today is available here. [malankaraorthodox.tv]

Archbishop Cyril (Vasil') was in attendance.

Any ideas when the Synod starts? How long it is expected to last?
I am finding it very difficult to find information on the internet.

Just a clarification: the name Vasyl' is Basil in English, not Cyril.

I know. Vasil' is Archbishop Cyril's [pontificalorientalinstitute.com] last name, which is why I placed it in parenthesis.

The synod of bishops for the election of the new major archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church [cnewa.org] has been convened for Monday May 23 to Sunday May 29.

(Source [hindu.com])

The Synod of Bishops for the election of a new Head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church starts today.

46 Syro-Malabar bishops are entitled to take part in the election.

Syro-Malabar church prepares to elect leader [cbcisite.com]

Were on earth did that country and western twang come from?
Stephanos I
I celebrated with the Malankar Christians and the chant was totally different.
Stephanos I

I know very little about the Syro-Malabar hierarchy, but I think an excellent candidate for the office of major archbishop would be the Administrator of the Syro-Malabar Church, Mar Bosco (Puthur), [clerus.org] 64. Already, he deserves to be known for his defence [catholicreview.org] of the rights of the Syro-Malabar Church. [smcim.org]

Alternatively, an interesting choice would be Mar Joseph (Kallarangatt), [bishopjosephkallarangatt.com] 55, Bishop of Palai and Chairman of the Doctrinal Committee of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India. He demonstrates [smcim.org] a very clear understanding of the Catholic Church as a Communion of Catholic Churches.

Hi Fr.,

the Malabar Catholics have lost all traces of their Chaldean tradition when the Latins burnt all their supposedly-Nestorian heresies away. What the Malabars have now is only a reconstruction which is severely Latinised. St. Thomas Christians who refused to align with Rome sought help from the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch, and hence why you have the Malankara Christians. That is of course, before the factions and the move to the Catholic Church took place.

Palai is a very orthodox and Oriental diocese. Anyone who comes from there will sure ruffle feathers.

Mar Bosco is certainly not bashful in his comments, particularly for one who is serving as the administrator of the vacant see. It sounds as though he would be a strong advocate for the Malabarese.

Mar Joseph also is very expressive of the equality of the Churches and Rites. Either would be an interesting choice.

Many years,

Neil

A great truth.

Fr. Serge

It is a sad truth about what latins have done to st thomas christians. Still now its in bits and bytes of malabar rite and latin. The followers has less idea of its history compared to malankara factions who are strong in the knowledge of their past and culture.

To be broadly speaking both malankara (orthodox, jacobite and catholic) and malabarese are in dilemma with conflicts of beliefs and reality. Catholic - orthodox friction and factionism is the biggest problems now. All factions think they are right.


Latins : the society considers thems as lower caste as they are mostly converted christians by foreign missionaries. This hurts them.

Syro-Malabar : the followers are too much proud of the st thomas origin, calls themselves "syrian christians", but not aware that all st thomas christians are syrian christians. Most of the common malabar man believes they are the only st thomas christians. Many dont even know what is orthodox. The present day reality is that it too far from its original past.

Syro malankara : After the split from orthodox, people are caught between their orthodox traditions and believes and roman influence. Many approves pope and some dont. For them, undisputed leader is its Catholicos. Another hard truth that many of the families joined syro malankara during split mainly for getting job and other factors rather affiliation to roman catholicsm.

Orthodox : The problem of isolation still haunts people. People are still against roman catholicsm. Friction with Jacobite faction always makes them in a fix.

Jacobite : have similar problems of orthodox. Better compared to other factions as they are the only faction able to retain most of its traditions intact.

In kerala, the place of st thomas christians in india, syrian christians are considered upper class and latins lower caste

I am not telling my assumptions here. Having came from family which has all these factions, it was quite easy to know differences.

Another interesting thing observed recently is that each church head encouraging people to have more children to keep its head count ahead of other factions and other religions. Sometimes even feels that all the church has become more like business organizations when money matters are considered. The money spent on chruches here are huge. Its competing with fellow churches.

If given a supreme power, will restore pre schism church structure with pope as patriach of rome along with other patriarchs . "First among equals" This would enable disappearance of roman cathoicsm and orthodox and combines them to universal catholicsm.

Sorry for discussing out of topic here.

Thank you for sharing your interesting first hand knowledge. I will be praying for the Church in India.

Bishop George Alencherry, of Thuckalay

elected as major archbishop of the

Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabars