The Holy Synod recognizes the importance of the further development of relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Church of India

DECR Communication service, 11.10.2023. 

During the session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church which took place on 11^th October 2023 a report was presented by the chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate on the visit to Russia of the Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India Baselios Marthoma Mathews III.

Fr om 3^rd to 8^th October 2023, at the invitation of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, the Primate of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India His Holiness the Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews III paid an official visit to Russia. Shortly before his arrival in Russia the Catholicos Mathews III had issued a statement in support of the metropolitan of Tulchyn and Bratslav Jonathan. A similar statement was also issued by members of the Holy Synod of the Malankara Church the cochairman of the working group for coordination of bilateral relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Church the metropolitan of New York Zacharias and the administrator of the Malankara diocese in Great Britain, Europe and Asia metropolitan Abraham Marstephanos.

On 6^th October the delegation of the Malankara Church attended the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Dormition in the Moscow Kremlin. Negotiations were held between the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholicos of the Malankara Church of India. A broad spectrum of issues was discussed concerning relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Church, as well as plans for developing further bilateral cooperation.

During his visit His Holiness the Catholicos Mathews III toured churches and monasteries of Moscow. At the Epiphany Cathedral in Yelokhovo he visited the tomb of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II. Meetings were held between the Primate of the Malankara Church and the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate the metropolitan of Volokolamsk Anthony and the chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchy the metropolitan of Voskresensk Dionysius. At the Convent of the Protecting Veil the Primate of the Malankara venerated the relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow. The veneration of Matrona is becoming ever more widespread among Indian Christians.

His Holiness the Catholicos Mathews III also visited Saint Petersburg. At the Holy Trinity Saint Alexander Nevsky Monastery, he visited the grave of metropolitan Nicodemus (Rotov), whom he personally knew. Meetings were held between the Catholicos Mathews III with the metropolitan of Saint Petersburg and Ladoga Barsonuphius and the governor of Saint Petersburg Alexander Beglov. At the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy, wh ere the Primate of the Malankara Church studied from 1977 to 1979, he met with the teaching staff and students. The study council of the academy, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, awarded the Primate of the Malankara Church an honorary doctorate.

The Holy Synod expressed its satisfaction at the visit to Russia by the Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India Baselios Marthoma Mathews III.

The Synod also expressed its gratitude to the Primate of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India Baselios Marthoma Mathews III and the members of the Holy Synod of the Malankara Church for their public expressions of support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The Synod recognized the importance of the further development of relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Church of India, including the putting into effect joints projects within the framework of the working group for coordination of bilateral relations.