Fury in Social Media Over the Visit of Cardinal Cleemis to the Monastery of Bethany

Pic 1 (Old Verison)- http://www.catholicate.net/

Pic 2 (Old Verison)- http://www.catholicate.net/

Pic 3 (Present Version) – http://www.catholicate.net/

12/7/16

Also Read

Indian Orthodox Church Sents Letter to Pope, Major Archbishop, & Roman Catholic Prelates – http://ocpsociety.org/blog/news/?p=1372

Is The Catholicate Of The Romo-Syrians In India Canonically Genuine Or Bogus?
http://www.orthodoxherald.com/2009/06/21/is-the-catholicate-of-the-romo-syrians-in-india-canonically-genuine-or-bogus/

Vatican & Uniate Reunion : Indian, Syriac Orthodox & Thozhiyoor Faithful Join Malankara Eastern Catholic Rite – http://ocpsociety.org/blog/news/?p=46720

OCP Chancellor Slams Vatican Ecumenism & Uniate Movement- http://ocpsociety.org/blog/news/ocp-chancellor-slams-vatican-ecumenism-uniate-movement/

Kerala: A visit by Cardinal Cleemis, Major Archbishop of the Malankara Catholic Church (An Eastern Catholic Rite in communion with the Pope of Rome, that broke away from the Indian Orthodox Malankara Church in 1930 under the leadership of Archbishop Ivanios) to the Orthodox Monastery of Bethany provoked several Malankara Orthodox faithful. Cardinal took part in the evening prayer at the tomb of Malankara Orthodox Church Fathers. Orthodox faithful in Facebook and other social media have slammed the incident. Some commented that the Cardinal can be welcomed at the monastery, but should have been prevented from taking part in the evening prayer, whereas others totally objected his visit.

The Malankara Catholic Rite and the Indian Orthodox Malankara Church have a ‘complex historical’ relationship. The original Bethany Monastery was established by Archbishop Ivanios (while he was a priest of the Indian Orthodox Malankara Church). He was ordained as a Metropolitan by Catholicos Baselios Geevarghese I of the Indian Orthodox Malankara Church.

The Monastery religious order is known by the name ‘Order of the Imitation of Christ’ (O.I.C.). Presently the original Monastery of Bethany is under the control of O.I.C of the Malankara Orthodox Church, whereas the OIC of Malankara Catholic Rite established a separate Bethany monastery in the nearby area.

Malankara Catholic Rite Continue to Provoke the Indian Church
In the month of Aril 2016, twenty-five families from Indian Orthodox Malankara Church (Catholicate of the East), Syriac Orthodox Church in India (Patriarchate of Antioch & All-East) the Independent Thozhiyoor Church (former Oriental Orthodox Church) ‘reunited’ with the Malankara Catholic Rite, which is a total breach of the existing practice in the Roman Catholic Church and a disrespect to the ecumenical relations between Vatican and the Oriental Orthodox world.

Major Archbishop Baselios Cleemis claimed himself to be the Malankara Metropolitan & Successor to the Throne of St. Thomas (published in their official website), a title which is exclusive to the Primate of the Indian Orthodox Malankara Church. Lately, they have halted the use of such titles. The irony is that official websites of the Vatican & the Holy See of the Roman Catholic Church do not mention the title  ‘Catholicos’ for Cardinal Baselios Cleemis. The title given is ‘His Beatitude Cardinal Baselios Cleemis – Major Archbishop of Trivandrum for Syro-Malankara‘( Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, Title of San Gregorio VII).

 Source:
Independent