The Liturgy of Holy Qurbana in the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church: A Historical Review

By Rev. Dr. Jameson K. Pallikunnil

The celebration of the Holy Qurbana is the central and focal point of the faith life of the Holy Church. Holy Qurbana contains the whole spiritual wealth of the Church. The translation and revision of the Eucharistic liturgy is the basic visible expression of reformation in the Malankara Church. The formation and development of the Eucharistic liturgies in the churches has distinct story and relevance to share. The churches in Malankara also have their own unique trajectory of the development and existence of the Eucharistic Liturgy. In this book, the writer attempts to put forth the historical development of the Eucharistic Liturgy in the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. The writer has examined the historical evolution and the developmental process of the Eucharistic liturgy of the church, which is a revised version of the liturgy of St. James. This book depicts a new set of reflections on the history of liturgy and worship in the Malanakara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. The study helps us to identify the historical roots and ecclesiastical relationship in the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church through the readings of the liturgical formations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jun 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9798823083423

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© 2023 Rev. Dr. Jameson K. Pallikunnil. All rights reserved.

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Published by AuthorHouse 06/28/2023

ISBN: 979-8-8230-8341-6 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-8230-8342-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023911950

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CONTENTS

Foreword

General Introduction

I The West Syrian Liturgical Tradition

a The Early Syrian Tradition: An Outlook

b Historical Groupings

c The West Syrian Liturgical Tradition: What is it?

d Distinctive Features of the West Syrian Liturgy

II The Liturgy of St. James and its Importance

a Authorship and Date of Composition

b Different Version of the Liturgy: A Historical Outline

III The Church Missionary Society (CMS) and the Malankara Church

IV The Malankara Reformation and the Dawn of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church

a The Reforms Made by Palakkunnathu Abraham Malpan

V Liturgical Revisions in the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church: A Historical Summary

a Liturgical Reforms and Revision in the Malankara Church: 1835-1840

b The Malankara Church Reforms and Liturgical Revision After 1840

c The Church Reforming Efforts of Mathews Mar Athanasius

d The Holy Qurbana Thaksa of 1872/73

e The First Thaksa Formation Committee - 1900

f The Second Prayer Book Revision Committee - 1913

g The Third Liturgy Revision Committee - 1924

h The Fourth Thaksa Revision Committee - 1945

VI Changes in the Liturgical Prayers and its Theological Significance

VII Theology of the Holy Qurbana

VIII Liturgical Translations: A Historical Sketch

Conclusion

Bibliography

FOREWORD

The celebration of the Holy Qurbana is the central and focal point of the faith life of the Holy Church. All sacraments and ecclesiastical ministries of the Holy Church are connected with the Holy Qurbana. Holy Qurbana containes the whole spiritual wealth of the Church. Eucharistic Liturgy opens the window to the uniqueness of the Sacrament of Holy Qurbana. By the celebration of the Eucharist, the Church proclaims the salvific act of Jesus Christ. In the Eucharist, the faithful are united with God and each other by receiving the holy mysteries. By participating in this communion the faithful commit themselves to restore the Divine goodness to the whole of creation.

The formation and development of the eucharistic liturgies in the churches has distinct story and relevance to share. The churches in Malankara also have their own unique trajectory of the development and existence of the Eucharistic Liturgy. In the book ‘The Liturgy of Holy Qurbana in the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church: A Historical Review’, Dr. Jameson tries to put forth the historical development of the Eucharistic Liturgy in the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church.

There are many studies on the St. James Liturgy, but a focused attempt to study the historical development of the Eucaristic Liturgy in the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church is a rare attempt. In this book Rev. Dr. Jameson, has delineated such a study on the liturgical life of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church exploring the chronological data and resources. Therefore, this study deserves our attention and appreciation. This book depicts a new set of reflections on the history of liturgy and worship in the Malanakara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. The study helps us to identify the historical roots and ecclesiastical relationship in the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church through the readings of the liturgical formations.

I am indeed glad to know that this book is being published for the wider Christian community to understand the historicity behind the Eucharistic liturgy of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church and I appreciate Rev. Dr. Jameson for his effort in writing this book. I wish and pray that this book may invite students of theology, history and liturgy of religion and anyone who is interested in the deeper search of religion to engage with the method and emulate the wisdom shared in this book.

With prayers and blessing

Dr. Joseph Mar Barnabas Suffragan Metropolitan

Mar Thoma Bishop’s House, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

In the Oriental Orthodox tradition, the Sacrament of Eucharist is generally known as the Holy Qurbana - the Sacrament of the Sacraments. It is considered not merely as one of the seven sacraments, but as the centre of all others. It is also called the "Queen of all Sacraments, because of its centrality in the life of the Church. The term Qurbana is derived from the Syriac word qurbo which means offering or sacrifice. It is also known as the qurbo implies access, signifying that it is through it that humans draw near to God. The Syrian Christians call it as roze, that denotes mysterious. It is called so, because Christ delivered it secretly to the disciples in the upper room and because by this he exposed to them the mysteries regarding his passion. In the celebration of the Eucharist, the Church commemorates the divine dispensation of God in Christ with the attitudes of confession, praise, adoration, thanksgiving, and supplication. Everything in the Church leads to the Eucharist and all the things flow from it.¹

The Mar Thoma Church mainly uses a revised form of the liturgy of St. James in its Eucharistic service. This revised version is a modification of the Syrian Orthodox liturgy in line with Biblical theology.² The revision of liturgy is based on scriptural principles. A distinguishing mark of this liturgy is its intimate connection with the Holy Bible. The prayers are resplendent with echoes and idioms of the Bible. The influence of the CMS missionaries (Church Missionary Society) motivated the reformers to study Scripture thoroughly. The Bible is the norm for the faith and practice of the Mar Thoma Church. Traditions that are considered contrary to biblical teachings were abandoned or amended. The Church has seriously taken the biblical authority over the liturgy and at the same time, they tried to uphold the traditions of the Malankara Church too. The content of this liturgy is simple and easy to follow. It is enriched with elements of solemnity, majesty and mystery. The use of the vernacular for most part of the liturgy helps to maintain a continuous dialogue between the celebrant and the community. The whole liturgy constantly brings before our mind the supreme importance of the mystery of the blessed Trinity in the Eucharistic worship. This liturgy is full of mystical symbolism. The vestments, the sacred ornaments and the revered rituals are very meaningful. The development of the Eucharistic liturgy, the major changes in the liturgical prayers and practices, and its theological significance had been a matter of study since the Church was open for accepting the theological position of the Anglican Church in its course of progress during the final decade of 19th century.

The intention of this book is to expose the origin, historical development and theological significance of the eucharistic liturgy of the Mar Thoma Church. Since the eucharistic liturgy of the Mar Thoma church is a revised form of the Syrian Orthodox church of Antioch, it is imperative to know the background and liturgical traditions of the Syrian church. Hence this book draw attention to the historical nature, theological developments, and distinctive features of the West Syrian liturgy. The influence of CMS missionaries played a vital role in the spiritual awakening of the Malankara community. The origin and contributions of CMS mission is dealt in detail. Major theological changes in the prayers and practices are highlighted and also the historical and theological progression of the liturgy and its various translations also enquired.

Thanking God Almighty for all Thy blessings!

I would like to record my indebtedness to the Mar Thoma Metropolitan Most. Rev. Dr. Theodosius Mar Thoma and the Hon. Episcopal Synod of the Mar Thoma Church for the constant support in my ministry and academic pursuits. I am indeed greatful to Dr. Joseph Mar Barnabas Suffragan Metropolitan who always remains as an inspiriation in my liturgical explorations and ministerial journey, and was kind enough to bless this book with a meanigful foreword note. My sincere gratitude also goes to Rev. Dr. Phillip Tovey, Dr. Dennis Hainsworth, Rev. Abraham Varghese, Rev. Arun Thomas A, Governing Council members of the JMM Study Centre Trivandrum, and all of my friends and well wishers who have helped me in various ways. The ardent support and prayers of my family especially my wife, Honey Jameson, children: Haaran, Darshan, and Mahal, my parents and brothers are beyond words. It is my earnest prayer that this humble effort may enlighten and motivate the readers for greater understanding about the Malankara