https://sputniknews.in/20230915/indias-malankara-orthodox-church-unhappy-over-persecution-of-believers-in-ukraine-4264879.html
India's Malankara Orthodox Church Unhappy Over Persecution of Believers in Ukraine
India's Malankara Orthodox Church Unhappy Over Persecution of Believers in Ukraine
Sputnik India
The Malankara Orthodox Church of India is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world.
2023-09-15T21:01+0530
2023-09-15T21:01+0530
2023-09-15T21:01+0530
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The Malankara Orthodox Church of India is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world.According to the legend, it was founded by Apostle Thomas, a disciple of Jesus Christ.Its head, Catholicos Basil Mar Thomas Matthew III, recently visited Moscow and St. Petersburg. During the visit, he spoke to Sputnik in an exclusive interview.Sputnik: Your Holiness, when was the last time you were in Russia before this visit?Catholicos Basil Mar Thomas Matthew III: The last time I was in Russia was in 1977–79. Back then, I was studying at the Leningrad Theological Academy and visited Moscow.Now, after 44 years, I again have this opportunity to visit Moscow, as well as St Petersburg. I have seen a lot of changes here.Sputnik: How has the life of the Russian Church changed during this time?Sputnik: How do you see the position of the Russian Church in the world, especially now, against the backdrop of events in Ukraine?Catholicos: The Church strives for peace-making activities. Any Orthodox believer strives for peace. How to achieve peace is the question.Sputnik: How does the Malankara Church treat the Russian Church and what is the value of our relations?Catholicos: Relations between our churches were established in the 1950-60s, which means that they are over 70 years old.Since then, the relations have intensified further. There have been mutual visits by representatives and heads of churches. As things stand today, our friendship is stronger than ever.We consider the Russian Orthodox Church to be sisterly. We value this friendship.The Malankara Church follows with great attention the successes of the Russian Church and sympathizes when it is in a difficult state. We stand by it when comes under criticism. We express our support for the Russian Church in everything.Sputnik: Do contacts between our churches help develop the monastic tradition?Catholicos: We are familiar with the rich monastic tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church. During my two-year study in St Petersburg, I had the opportunity to visit various monasteries, including in Ukraine, Belarus, and Georgia.In India, the Malankara Church also has monasteries, having both male and female monks. But we don’t have as many monasteries as in Russia as we are a small church compared to the Russian one.Sputnik: Does the Malankara Church have branches in Russia and the Russian Church have branches in India? If not, are there any plans to open them?Catholicos: A lot of students from India study at secular universities in Moscow and St. Petersburg. As parishioners, they are, unfortunately, not very organized. It is good that they can visit the churches of the Russian Church and come into contact with its liturgical tradition.Sputnik: How many believers now consider themselves to be members of the Malankara Church, both in India as well as globally?But at the same time, there are people who are trying to join the Malankara Orthodox Church. We have people coming from English and Spanish-speaking countries, including Europe and Latin America.Historically, there have been parishes in the UK. We recently opened one in Paris as well. We hope for further growth in the number of parishes.Sputnik India: How do Indian authorities treat the Malankara Church?Catholicos: We have no problems with the Indian government. The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi treats our church favorably and even protects our believers to an extent.We have also established cooperation with state authorities in Kerala. Our church is recognized by the state as a traditional denomination of India, which means we are protected by law.India is our home and we feel it.
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India's Malankara Orthodox Church Unhappy Over Persecution of Believers in Ukraine
Russia has previously slammed Ukraine for persecuting monks at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in the wake of the special military operation. Kiev released the vicar of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra monastery, Metropolitan Pavel, last month after months of detention.
The Malankara Orthodox Church of India is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world.
According to the legend, it was founded by Apostle Thomas, a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Its head, Catholicos Basil Mar Thomas Matthew III, recently visited Moscow and St. Petersburg. During the visit, he spoke to Sputnik in an exclusive interview.
Sputnik: Your Holiness, when was the last time you were in Russia before this visit?
Catholicos Basil Mar Thomas Matthew III: The last time I was in Russia was in 1977–79. Back then, I was studying at the Leningrad Theological Academy and visited Moscow.
Now, after 44 years, I again have this opportunity to visit Moscow, as well as St Petersburg. I have seen a lot of changes here.
Sputnik: How has the life of the Russian Church changed during this time?
Catholicos: The current leadership of the country has given Orthodox Christians more freedom to practice their faith. I think people are happy to have this opportunity.
Sputnik: How do you see the position of the Russian Church in the world, especially now, against the backdrop of events in Ukraine?
Catholicos: The Church strives for peace-making activities. Any Orthodox believer strives for peace. How to achieve peace is the question.
On the one hand, there is a desire for peace, But, on the other, we see what is happening in Ukraine. Thousands of believers are being persecuted by Ukrainian authorities. We need to look for ways to resolve this conflict.
Sputnik: How does the Malankara Church treat the Russian Church and what is the value of our relations?
Catholicos: Relations between our churches were established in the 1950-60s, which means that they are over 70 years old.
The first contacts took place at the conference of the Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Delhi. Among the representatives of the Russian Church there was Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad and Ladoga.
Since then, the relations have intensified further. There have been mutual visits by representatives and heads of churches. As things stand today, our friendship is stronger than ever.
We consider the Russian Orthodox Church to be sisterly. We value this friendship.
The Malankara Church follows with great attention the successes of the Russian Church and sympathizes when it is in a difficult state. We stand by it when comes under criticism. We express our support for the Russian Church in everything.
Sputnik: Do contacts between our churches help develop the monastic tradition?
Catholicos: We are familiar with the rich monastic tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church. During my two-year study in St Petersburg, I had the opportunity to visit various monasteries, including in Ukraine, Belarus, and Georgia.
I think that monasteries are the core of the life of Russian Orthodoxy. The Russian Orthodox Church moves forward through prayer and activities in society.
In India, the Malankara Church also has monasteries, having both male and female monks. But we don’t have as many monasteries as in Russia as we are a small church compared to the Russian one.
I think we will organize an exchange of experience in the future. The Russian monks will be able to visit our monasteries in India, live there for some time, and vice versa. Friendship between our churches can also bear fruit in monastic life.
Sputnik: Does the Malankara Church have branches in Russia and the Russian Church have branches in India? If not, are there any plans to open them?
Catholicos: A lot of students from India study at secular universities in Moscow and St. Petersburg. As parishioners, they are, unfortunately, not very organized. It is good that they can visit the churches of the Russian Church and come into contact with its liturgical tradition.
Sputnik: How many believers now consider themselves to be members of the Malankara Church, both in India as well as globally?
Catholicos: The Malankara Church now has 2.5 million parishioners around the world. The number of parishioners is not growing so quickly.
But at the same time, there are people who are trying to join the Malankara Orthodox Church. We have people coming from English and Spanish-speaking countries, including Europe and Latin America.
Historically, there have been parishes in the UK. We recently opened one in Paris as well. We hope for further growth in the number of parishes.
We have some new parishes in Asia, for example, in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore. However, the original territory of our Church is India, specifically, the state of Kerala, where the Apostle Thomas once founded it.
Sputnik India: How do Indian authorities treat the Malankara Church?
Catholicos: We have
no problems with the Indian government. The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi treats our church favorably and even protects our believers to an extent.
We have also established cooperation with state authorities in Kerala. Our church is recognized by the state as a traditional denomination of India, which means we are protected by law.
India is our home and we feel it.
