The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : `I am eligible to use title `Catholicos': Mar Baselius

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Thursday, Jul 21, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

`I am eligible to use title `Catholicos': Mar Baselius

Staff Reporter

Major Archbishop of the Malankara Catholic Church flays reports

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Major Archbishop of the Malankara Catholic Church Cyril Mar Baselius has said he is fully eligible to use the title `Catholicos' and attempts from some quarters to spread reports that he cannot be called Catholicos are a deliberate move to divert attention from the ongoing dispute between the Orthodox and Jacobite churches.

At a press conference here today, Cyril Mar Baselius said the title `Catholicos' was not given by the parent Church in Rome. In the tradition of the Malankara Church, the head of the church is called a Catholicos.

When the Malankara Church linked itself to Rome, it was with the condition that all its existing rites and beliefs would remain intact, Mar Baselius said. "This title is being used by five churches today," he added.

He said that when the Malankara Church was raised as a Archiespiscopal Church and he was raised as a Major Archibishop, Cardinal Moussa Daoud who officiated, had addressed him as Catholicos. "Cardinal Walter Casper who wrote to the Orthodox Church that such a title has not been given to me does not appear to know all this," he said.

Unity between Churches was important, but one should not compromise truth in the name of Church unity, the Major Archbishop said. A reply would be sent to Cardinal Casper and a copy of the letter would be sent to Rome, he added. The Auxiliary Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios was among those who were present at the press conference.

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