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St Mary’s Syro-Malabar Basilica reopens (by court order)
The church, symbol of the row over the liturgy, was closed for 486 days due to violence that broke out when Archbishop Andrew Thazhath tried to enforce compliance with the Synod's decision on the "uniform liturgy”. For now, to avoid tensions, the Holy Qurbana will not be celebrated. “The reopening during Holy Week is a positive step,” said a Syro-Malabar Church spokesman.
Kochi (AsiaNews) – St Mary's Syro-Malabar Cathedral Basilica in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly reopened yesterday following an order from a local court after it was closed for 486 days, symbol of a row over the liturgy that began more than two years ago.
The vicar of the church, Fr Varghese Manavalan, opened the doors at 6 pm, leading the celebration of a Way of the Cross and the recitation of the Rosary along with hundreds of worshippers.
Police closed the famous shrine on 27 November 2022 following a clash between two groups of members over the implementation of the "Uniform Mass" of Holy Qurbana,[*] based on the Eucharistic liturgy of this Eastern Catholic Church.
Following a petition filed by a group of worshippers, a court in Munsiff ordered the vicar to “conduct the celebrations of all the sacraments and sacramentals, except for the Holy Qurbana.”
The court also ruled that if someone obstructs or interrupts the opening of the church, petitioners and church authorities can turn to the police.
Fr Manavalan announced that the basilica would celebrate a morning service on Holy Thursday ending with the breaking of bread. Liturgical services will also be held on Good Friday.
In the meantime, the court urged the interested parties to begin mediation talks to determine whether the Eucharistic liturgy, as formulated by the Synod, can be celebrated on Easter Day.
The church was closed after Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, then apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, was prevented from celebrating the Uniform Mass, sparking violence outside the church between supporters of the Synod's reform and the group opposed to it.
Despite the court’s decision, resistance remains strong. The argument of the dissident group is that most priests, nuns, and lay people in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly want to continue to celebrate the Holy Qurbana with the celebrant facing the people during the whole service.
The compromise proposal adopted by the Syro-Malabar Synod provides for looking towards the altar during the rite of consecration.
‘The reopening during Holy Week is a positive step for the amicable resolution of the issue,” said Fr Antony Vadakkekaka, spokesman for the Syro-Malabar Church, speaking to AsiaNews.
“With the approval of the Dicastery for Eastern Churches and Pope Francis, our Synod’s thinking is very clear on the need to implement a uniform mode of celebration of the Holy Qurbana,” Fr Vadakkekaka added.
"The Basilica reopened with clear instructions that all other sacraments, except the Holy Qurbana, and other devotional practices, can be performed. Only the uniform Holy Qurbana can be celebrated in the basilica.”
[*] Holy Offering or Holy Sacrifice in English.
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29/11/2021 16:29
