Posted on 01/14/2006 3:07:49 PM PST by NYer
Kottayam, Jan 14: Mar Mathew Moolakkatt was appointed as the Archbishop of the Knanaya Catholic Church here today.
Mar Moolakkatt is the second Archbishop of the church. He was appointed following the retirement of Archbishop Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry after 38 years of service as Bishop of the Church.
The Knanaya Catholics are the descendants of the families who had migrated to Kerala in 345 AD along with Knai Thoma.
The Vatican II Council declared that "all should realize it is of supreme importance to understand, venerate, preserve, and foster the exceedingly rich liturgical and spiritual heritage of the Eastern churches, in order faithfully to preserve the fullness of Christian tradition" (Unitatis Redintegrato, 15). Pope John Paul II said that "the Catholic Church is both Eastern and Western."
A Roman Catholic may attend the Divine Liturgy at any Eastern Catholic Church. You can learn more about the 22 different Churches at this link:
Fascinating. I didn't know there were so many in the United States. I've been sponsoring an orphan in Kerala for the last 10 years, and put a couple of novices through formation. The religious picture is very complex there; lots of different Catholic and Orthodox subgroups in a small area.
I knew a guy from the Princeton Debate Team who was a Knanaya Catholic. Nice guy who educated me about his Rite.
This is quite typical in the East. In Lebanon, for example, Maronites and Melkites frequent each others churches and occasionally the Orthodox Churches. Our Maronite parish here in upstate NY is comprised of Maronite, Melkite and Roman Catholics. Occasionally, a Greek Orthodox family (hubby is an Episcopal convert) also attend. Some of our families come from Canada and we even have a Maronite family from Venezuela. It certainly makes for an interesting Sunday liturgy :-)
I'll say!
Care to share? This is the first time I have heard of this Tradition. How does it differ from the Syro-Malabar Rite, if at all?
You must have an outstanding church if you have someone who commutes all the way from Venezuela! :)
Very little differences actually.The main one being that the Knanaya are a strictly endogamous group & this is the norm not only for Catholics but even evangelical members of the group!!!
PS-Ive heard of numerous instances of inter catholic-protestant & orthodox marriages between folks among the knanaya with blood being the only criterion.
Knanaya Catholic Community Education.. ENDOGAMY
ITS RELEVANCE & FUTURE by
Alexander J. Mapleton
http://www.ghg.net/knanaya/educate/mapleton.htm
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