those who do not follow the ‘unified rite’ outside the church from July 3

New ultimatum to the rebels from Major Archbishop Thattil and the apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly. The chosen date is the feast of the Apostle Thomas, whose descendants the Syriac rite Christians refer to. The harsh reply from Almaya Munnettam, the group that most vehemently rejects the liturgical solution adopted by the local synod in 2021: copies of the circular were burned in front of the bishop’s house.

Kochi () – A new ultimatum in the dispute over the liturgy that has deeply divided the Syro-Malabar Church for years. But also a new rejection by organized groups of priests and lay people who in the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly refuse to adopt the “unified rite” in the celebration of the Eucharist. Despite the replacement of the major archbishop and the call for unity reiterated a few weeks ago by Pope Francisa new confrontation has occurred in this ancient Indian Church of the Eastern Rite.

Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and Apostolic Administrator of Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese Bosco Puthur have ordered members of the archdiocese and priests to follow the unified mass system from July 3, 2024, date in which the festival of Saint Thomas is celebrated, from whom Catholics of the Syriac tradition from all over the world declare themselves descendants. To ignore the circular and not adhere to the unified liturgy recommended by the local synod,” the two clerics warn, “would be tantamount to defying the Pope, which would lead to a schism.” The circular states that the rite in force since November 28, 2021 in the Syro-Malabar Church – and which, in a compromise between two different celebratory forms, provides that the celebrant turns towards the altar only during the Eucharistic prayer – must also be adopted from July 3 in the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, which until now has always rejected it, arguing that it is necessary for the priest to face the assembly throughout the rite.

From that day on – write Archbishop Thattil and Monsignor Puthur – priests who disobey will be considered out of communion with the Catholic Church. Therefore, without any further warning, they will be prohibited from exercising priestly functions in the Syrian Church. Malayalam. Priests who are outside the archdiocese for reasons of service or study are also asked to submit a written declaration to the apostolic administrator by July 3 expressing their willingness to adhere to the “unified rite.” They also expressly ask the lay faithful not to participate in “liturgies celebrated in contrast to the unified rite” and declare that even marriages blessed by priests who are no longer in communion with the rest of the Syro-Malabar Church will not be considered valid.

The new ultimatum has already been originally rejected by Almaya Munnettam, the lay association of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese that most vehemently opposes the unified rite. The group declares its intention to prevent the reading of the circular in parishes, which Archbishop Thattil requested for June 16. The group also burned some copies of the text in front of the bishop’s house. For its spokesman, Riju Kanjookkaran, “any attempt to impose a decision on the issue of the mass will not be accepted, since the synod of the archdiocese will meet here on June 14 to debate it.” The rebel group has also threatened to mention only the Pope’s name in liturgy prayers starting July 3, if the synod insists on applying the unified rite.