Syro-Malabar Church: Malankara Orthodox
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Knanaya diocese
2002: troubles
Even as the civil authorities in the State are busy trying to douse the flames of religious fervour triggered by the fratricidal war in the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, yet another conflagration, this time, lit by the inter-denominal strife between the Syro-Malabar Church authorities and its Knanaya diocese is on the anvil.
Leaders of the Knanaya Catholic Congress (KCC), the laity-dominated organisation of the 1.5-lakh strong Knanaya Catholic community, whose voice, most of the time, echoes the views of their spiritual leaders, have said that they are seriously thinking of severing their ties with the Syro-Malabar Church as its hierarchy is bent on stifling the growth of the Knanaya diocese.
However, they would continue as an autonomous congregation under the Pope. The annual conference of the KCC scheduled on December 20 and 21 at Kaduthuruthy, near here, will take decisions regarding their future course of action, said E.J. Lukose, president of the KCC.
The Knanaya community, spread over two congregations, one the Knanaya Orthodox diocese owing its allegiance to the Patriarch of Antioch, and the other aligned with the Pope, has a unique historical background and place in the history of Christendom.
The community believes that its members are descendants of Thoma of Kana, the Christian trader from Syria who arrived in Kerala in AD 345 with 72 Christian families to revive the then weakening Christian community in Malankara.
The Knanaya community has since then followed its own peculiar traditions and religiously adhered to the principle of purity of blood while entering into matrimonial alliances. It had been the long standing demand of the leaders of the community that they be permitted to set up a diocese with its headquarters in Kannur and another for looking after the affairs of their flocks in North America. They also wanted the Kottayam diocese to be elevated to an Archdiocese.
According to Mr. Lukose, their demand was taken up by the Metropolitans' synod of the Syro-Malabar Church but was disposed of in the voting where there were ten votes in favour of their demand and 17 against. Now they are saying that the synod has no authority in the matter and it has to be decided by Rome. However, in spite of repeated requests, there has been no response from Rome, they said.
It is against this background that they are thinking of severing their ties with the Syro-Malabar Church, Mr. Lukose said.
