മാർത്തോമ്മാ നസ്രാണിയെന്ന മഹാത്ഭുതം!

File Picture: Archbishop Mar George Njaralakkatt of Thalassery during the Holy Qurbana of the Syro Malabar Church Celebrated after the Enthronement of Mar Raphael Thattil as the Eparch of Shamshabad

രണ്ടായിരം വർഷത്തോളമായി വിശ്വാസത്തിൽ തങ്ങളുടെ പിതാവായ മാർ തോമാ ശ്ലീഹായുടെ നാമം പേറുന്ന ക്രൈസ്തവ സമൂഹം! പല യൂറോപ്പ്യൻ രാജ്യങ്ങളും മിശിഹായെ അറിയും മുൻപേ അവൻ്റെ അരുമ ശിഷ്യനിൽ നിന്നുതന്നെ സുവിശേഷമറിയാൻ ഭാഗ്യം സിദ്ധിച്ച സമൂഹം! അന്നു മുതൽ ഇന്നുവരെ അടുത്തറിയുന്ന ആർക്കും അത്ഭുതം ജനിപ്പിക്കുന്ന വിശ്വാസ തീക്ഷ്ണത! ഇരുണ്ട ഭാരതത്തെ സുവിശേഷ വൽക്കരിക്കാൻ ഗോവയിലെത്തിയ ഫ്രാൻസിസ് സേവ്യർ മാർത്തോമ്മാ ശ്ലീഹായോട് വിശിഷ്ടമായ സ്നേഹവും ബഹുമാനവുമുള്ള ഒരു ജനതയെക്കണ്ട് അത്ഭുതപരതന്ത്രനായി മേലധികാരികൾക്കയച്ച കത്തുകൾ സാക്ഷി..അങ്ങനെ എത്രയെത്ര സഭാ നേതാക്കൾ, സഞ്ചാരികൾ, മിഷനറിമാർ! നസ്രാണി എന്നും ഏവർക്കും ഒരത്ഭുതമായിരുന്നു!

അഭിഷേകം വാരിവിതറുന്ന മഹാ കൺവൻഷനുകൾ, വി. കുർബാന എഴുന്നള്ളിച്ചുവെച്ചുകൊണ്ട് മണിക്കൂറുകൾ നീളുന്ന ആരാധന, ജപമാല, നവനാൾ പ്രാർത്ഥനകൾ, സകല വിശുദ്ധരുടെം പേരിലുള്ള നൊവേനകൾ, ഉറങ്ങുന്നതും ചിരിക്കുന്നതും കരയുന്നതും തുടങ്ങി സകല പോസ്സിലുമുള്ള തിരുസ്വരൂപങ്ങൾ, കരളലിയിക്കുന്ന ക്രൂശിത രൂപങ്ങൾ..എല്ലാം ഉണ്ടെങ്കിലും വിശ്വാസം നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ട തലമുറ! തിരിഞ്ഞുനോക്കണം! മേൽപ്പറഞ്ഞതിൽ ഒന്നുപോലും ഇല്ലാതെയാണ് 1500 വർഷത്തോളം ഫ്രാൻസിസ് സേവ്യർ ഉൾപ്പെടെയുള്ള സകലർക്കും അത്ഭുതമായി നസ്രാണി സമൂഹം നിലകൊണ്ടതും വിശ്വാസം പകർന്നു നല്കിയിരുന്നതും.

നസ്രാണിക്ക് ഇതിന്റെയൊന്നും ആവശ്യമില്ലായിരുന്നു! കാരണം അവനു അപ്പൻ പകർന്നുനൽകിയ സത്യ വിശ്വാസം ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു! മുകളിലുള്ളവയുടെ ചരിത്രം പരിശോധിച്ചാൽ, ക്രൂശിത രൂപം ഉൾപ്പെടെ എല്ലാം പാശ്ചാത്യ സഭയിൽ കാലാകാലങ്ങളിൽ വിശ്വാസത്തിനു അപചയങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ടായപ്പോൾ വിശ്വാസികളെ പിടിച്ചുനിർത്താൻ ഉപയോഗിച്ച മാർഗ്ഗങ്ങൾ ആയിരുന്നു! അവയിൽ നല്ലതും ചീത്തയും ഉണ്ടാകാം, തള്ളേണ്ടതും കൊള്ളേണ്ടതും ഉണ്ടാകാം! എന്തൊക്കെയാണെങ്കിലും നസ്രാണിക്ക് സത്യവിശ്വാസത്തിൽ വളരാൻ ഇതിന്റെയൊന്നും ഒരാവിശ്യവും ഇല്ല! അപ്പൻ നൽകിയ സുവിശേഷവും സ്ലീവായും പാരമ്പര്യങ്ങളും മാത്രം മതിയാകും!  

വാൽക്കഷ്ണം:       

പാശ്ചാത്യ സഭയിൽ ഇല്ലാത്ത പള്ളികളും സ്ലീവായും ആദിമ നൂറ്റാണ്ടുകളിൽ എങ്ങനെ നസ്രാണി സഭയിലുണ്ടായി എന്ന ചോദ്യം പലരും പൊക്കിക്കൊണ്ട് വരുന്നുണ്ട്. തോമാ ശ്ലീഹാ സ്ഥാപിച്ച ഏഴ് അരപ്പള്ളികൾ പള്ളികളാകാം, വിശ്വാസ സമൂഹങ്ങളാകാം, സ്ലീവാകളാകാം. ഒരു കാര്യം ഉറപ്പാണ്, പാശ്ചാത്യ സഭയിൽ ക്രൈസ്തവ ചിഹ്നമായി സ്ലീവാ ഉപയോഗിക്കാൻ തുടങ്ങുന്നതിനും വളരെ മുൻപേ, ആദിമ നൂറ്റാണ്ടുകളിൽ തന്നെ പരസ്യമായി സ്ലീവാ ഉപയോഗിച്ചിരുന്ന പാരമ്പര്യം പൗരസ്ത്യ സഭകളിലുണ്ട്. മത സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം നേടി പാശ്ചാത്യർ പള്ളികൾ പണിയാൻ തുടങ്ങും മുൻപേ "മത സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം" ഒരു വിഷയമല്ലാത്ത മലങ്കരയിൽ പള്ളികൾ ഉണ്ടാകാനും പ്രയാസമില്ല. ഈ സമൂഹത്തെ അളക്കാൻ പാശ്ചാത്യ അളവുകോലുകൾ മതിയാവില്ല!

Open letter to Pope Francis

"Most Respected Holy Father, Kindly give equal rights to all Autonomous Churches in communion with the Holy See. Please stop restricting the Eastern Churches to small territories."

Catholic Church or the Holy See is the Ecclesia or Communion of 23 autonomous or particular Churches including Latin Church and 22 Eastern Catholic Churches, having equal rights and duties. Each of these 23 Churches are having its own head. Bishop of Rome is the Head of Latin Church and at the same time, the Head of the Holy Catholic See. Majority of the Catholics are a part of Latin Catholic Church. Other Catholics belongs to 22 Eastern Catholic Churches.

While the Latin Church enjoys 'Global' privileges, Eastern Churches are restricted to some small territories, defined by specific boundaries. It is very difficult for an Eastern Church to establish Parishes or serve its own faithful living outside its territory. Latin Church creates Parishes/Dioceses wherever they wants. But when an Eastern Church tries to create a Parish outside its territory, in most of the cases, the local Latin authorities does not allow it. Exceptions are there. But In majority regions around the world, this is what happening. As a result the Eastern Churches are facing serious difficulties to give away the traditions to the younger generations of the migrants.

As a part of the Catholic Church, Eastern Churches also have same rights and duties as the Latin church. Our mother Church, Syro Malabar Church is having millions of faithful migrated to various states of India and various countries across the globe. But still we are restricted to the small state of Kerala in India. As a result our migrant communities are losing their traditions. Cries for parishes and dioceses takes infinite amount of time. In some regions local Latin authorities denies even the Liturgical celebrations according to our traditions.

"..Means should be taken therefore in every part of the world for the protection and advancement of all the individual Churches and, to this end, there should be established parishes and a special hierarchy where the spiritual good of the faithful demands it.." (Vatican Council II)

This was a dream of Second Vatican Council. Even after 50 years, sadly, we can not see any improvements.

 "..All members of the Eastern Rite should know and be convinced that they can and should always preserve their legitimate liturgical rite and their established way of life.." (Vatican Council II)

But we are not allowed to do the same!!! How can we preserve our traditions when we are not allowed to live according to our traditions and give away our traditions to the younger generations? 

So this is a very serious issue. Latin Church have the responsibility to help smaller Eastern Churches to preserve and nurture their traditions. Most respected Holy Father, kindly open the windows for the Eastern Churches. Please allow the Eastern Catholic Churches to grow and serve their faithful around the Globe. Stop restricing us by creating bounderies. Let every one understand the beauty of the  Catholic Communion. 

May the grace of our lord Ieso Mishiha, Love of our heavenly father and the blessings of Ruha de kudisha be with us for ever and ever..

 

Why we need a patriarchate?

The Syro Malabar church, one among the 24 Individual Churches in Catholic Communion is the Chaldean* Catholic church of St. Thomas Christians in India. With the lamp of faith handed over by the apostle Mar Thoma Sleeha in the very first century, the church is about to complete her 1970 years of long journey. With the ever-shining lamp of faith, she continues her journey. Even in the midst of thunder storms and tsunamis that struck the church in Kerala, she didn't let the lamp to die. She didn't let anyone to blew off the lamp. Instead she tried to preserve the lamp for the generations and glorified it by pouring more and more oil! But what did she gain from that?

The Syro Malabar Church is the third largest Church in Catholic Communion, behind the Latin church and the Ukranian church, with more than 40 lakh of faithful, spread across the globe. Sadly, both the Ukranian Church and the Syro Malabar church are not given patriarchal status.

Regarding the union with the Catholic Community and allegiance to the Pope, the Syro Malabar church was tightly bound to the Catholic Communion, ever since her birth. She is one among the three churches who hadn’t ever break up the links with the Catholic Communion. The other two Churches are the Maronite Church and the Italo-Albanian Church. Among these, the Syro Malabar church is the prominent one with about 10 lakh more faithful than the Maronite church. But Maronite church is Patriarchal, whereas the Syro Malabar remains as the Major Archi Episcopal church!

Out of the 23 Oriental Churches, 6 are Patriarchate Churches. These are the Coptic, Maronite, Syrian, Armanian, Chaldean and the Melkite churches. Except the Maronite church, all others had broken the catholic faith and had moved away from the Bishop of Rome. They moved out of the Catholic Communion, installed their own Patriarchates and when they returned to the Catholic Church, Rome allowed them to continue their Patriarchates!

Regarding the number of faithful, none of these stands with the Syro Malabar Church. The Armanian church has about 6 lakh faithful, Chaldean Church has about 5 lakh faithful, Coptic Church has about 1.75 lakh faithful, Syrian Church has about 1.6 lakh faithful, Melkite Church has about 16 lakh faithful and the Maronite church has about 32.5 lakh faithful. All these Churches have the Patriarchal status. Yet our Syro Malabar church with over 40 lakh faithful, and which is in full communion with the successor of St. Peter ever since her birth has no patriarchal status!

Where did she fail? Did the pain she took to protect the lamp of faith that Mar Thoma sleeha handed over to her cause this? Why did she stand with the lamp, even when her children were scattered into different groups, to protect their faith, believes and traditions? What would have happened if the Marthoma Nazranis stood in union against the missionaries, proclaimed their identity and jurisdiction over the Church of India, installed a Patriarchate and later came back into the Catholic Communion? Of course, we might have got a patriarchate in Angamaly! Our Patriarch would have been the “Father and Gate of whole India and it's premises”. Our church would have been the second largest Church in the Catholic Communion after Latin church. We would not have been waiting for the mercy of Vatican and the local Latin bishops to establish new Diocese or even to give the necessary pastoral care to the migrants!

But we considered the obligation as our priority and stood with the Pope, even in the midst of all crises. We had to give much for that. That is our history! We had been split up into different groups. Our Patriarch or the Archbishop of Angamaly who had the jurisdiction over the whole India and it's premises was devalued as a suffragan of the newly erected Latin Archdiocese of Goa. From the whole India and it's premises, we shrinked into the area bounded by the 'Pampa' and 'Bharathapuzha' rivers. We lost all our identity and Sacred Liturgy partially or completely.

But the biggest lose was due to their brain washing. Because of which, our own leaders asked the Pope to translate the Latin Liturgy into Syriac for their use. They struggled hard to continue the Latin practices, even after obtaining the freedom! They also opposed the minority of leaders who were firm on returning to our ancient traditions! In a sense we were again captured in a prison of our own minds- because of the severe brain washing! We had our great fighters, but they were the minority and even though the Popes and the Vatican Congregations were with them, they were unable to do much more owing to the threat of another split. This might had prompted the Vatican for not giving the Patriarchal status in the course of time. Again we failed here for another time. We cannot blame the missionaries completely for this, we had the time to learn and correct, we had our leaders. Yet for some one's selfishness we had to suppress our identity. As a result, our 1970 years old Church, which is the third largest Particular Church in Catholic Communion, has to continue as a Major Archi Episcopal church.

This should be changed. We should realise the present and think for the future. All must realise the need of restoring our identity and our holy traditions. Then surely the Rome can not neglect us. Now we have a very energetic and efficient Major archbishop, who knows and loves our great traditions. He is very keen on restoring the identity of the church and uses each and every chance to proclaim our great traditions to the global audience. Let us stand with him in union and strengthen his hands. Let us pray for the good days when the Patriarch of Angamaly rule over a united and energetic Chaldean Catholic church of St. Thomas Christians in India.  

Let the grace of our lord Ieso Mishiha, Love of our heavenly father and the blessings of Ruha d’ kudisha be with us for ever and ever..

Remembering our Mar Thoma Sleeha, on this Dukrana of 2011.

*Chaldean: This simply means East Syriac, the developed form of Aramaic, the language spoken by our lord Ieso Mishiha. Catholic faith was given to the Marthoma Nazranis (St. Thomas Christians in India) by the Apostle St Thomas, in the very same language spoken by Ieso Mishiha. It served as the liturgical language for many centuries, until the celebration of liturgy was made in the local languages, after the Vatican II council.