The Mar Thoma Syrian Church

Ecumenical and Oriental

Abstract

In a recent meeting with the Holy Synod of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, Pope Francis remarked, "Your Church, heir to both the Syriac tradition of the Saint Thomas Christians and a unique reformed tradition, rightly defines itself as a 'bridge Church' between East and West." This paper explores the unique history and contemporary role of the Mar Thoma Church, an ancient yet vibrant Christian community that is both indigenous and globally expanding. Throughout history, the ancient Saint Thomas Syriac Christian tradition has fragmented into various branches. Among these, the Mar Thoma Church stands out for its distinctive engagement with multiple foreign traditions, including the Persian East Syriac, Roman Catholic, Oriental Syriac, and Anglican traditions. Rooted in the Oriental Syriac liturgy and theology, the church has reformed itself to be more ecumenical, mission-oriented, and socially conscious. This paper examines how the Mar Thoma Church, while preserving its own unique confessional identity, demonstrates openness towards communion with other Christian denominations. These include the Anglican Communion such as the Church of England, the Old Catholic Churches of Utrecht, the Malabar Independent Syrian Church, and the United and Uniting Churches of North and South India, as well as engaging in dialogue with the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. An in-depth analysis of the positionality of the Mar Thoma Church and its orthodoxy and theologies within ancient Christendom will also be mapped within this work. By portraying these aspects, the paper focuses on introducing the Mar Thoma tradition to a wider audience, highlighting its role in promoting ecumenism and its potential as a model for inter-church relationships in the present Christendom.