Saint · Modern

Mar Ivanios

1882–1953 · Malankara reunion; Antiochene monasticism

Servant of God Syro-Malankara

Geevarghese Mar Ivanios; founder of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church by the reunion of 1930; cause for beatification opened 2007.

A Malankara Orthodox bishop and founder of the Bethany ashram who, after study of the Fathers and the primacy, led a group of his clergy and faithful into full communion with Rome on 20 September 1930, keeping the West Syriac liturgy intact. As first Archbishop of Trivandrum he built a Church of schools, colleges and religious houses out of almost nothing.

Why he matters: The reunion of 1930 is the most successful corporate reunion of modern times and the model of “uniatism” done rightly: full fidelity to the Antiochene heritage within Catholic communion.

Reading

Girideepam (The Lamp on the Hill)

Mar Ivanios · His own spiritual autobiography of the road to reunion.

Journal
Reunion Movement in Malankara

Mar Ivanios (and documents of 1930) · The reunion in his own words.

Journal
Mar Ivanios: A Pioneer of Christian Unity

Margaret Gibbons · The classic English-language life.

Journal

Documented positions

Where this thinker stands on each dispute the test covers.

Settled teaching Its center Open question Beyond teaching, not condemned Condemned error

Faith, Reason and Truth · How we know, and whom we trust.

Who interprets revelation? Living Tradition and Magisterium

Private judgment Living Tradition and Magisterium

Are the world's learning and arts a danger or a gift? A gift to be baptized

A danger: Athens has nothing to do with Jerusalem A gift to be baptized

III

The Human Person · Soul, body, freedom and the Fall.

The body and its desires Contempt for the flesh

Contempt for the flesh Desire as its own law

The Moral Life · Law, virtue, conscience and the good.

What is happiness? Beatitude in God

Earthly flourishing Beatitude in God

Grace and Salvation · How God saves, and whom.

What is salvation for? Deification

Pardon and escape Deification

VII

Worship, Prayer and the Two Lungs · Liturgy, icons, the Spirit, and the See of Peter.

Liturgical development Receive and develop organically

Reconstruct and innovate Receive and develop organically

The way of prayer Stillness and the Jesus Prayer

Stillness and the Jesus Prayer Discursive meditation

The procession of the Holy Spirit From the Father through the Son

From the Father through the Son From the Father and the Son (Filioque)

The office of Peter Universal and immediate primacy

Conciliarism Universal and immediate primacy

When the Pope speaks Every word binds

Resist and judge Every word binds

Should the faith take the forms of each culture it enters? The Gospel in each people's own forms

One form everywhere The Gospel in each people's own forms

What are the Eastern Catholic Churches? Sister Churches with their own rights and theology

Rites of the one Roman Church Sister Churches with their own rights and theology

Contemplation or action? Between

Action: the apostolate and the works of mercy Contemplation: the one thing needful