Beyond Borders: The Ecumenical Heart of Mar Thoma Church

I didn’t initially plan to write something like this, but there’s been a lot of buzz lately about Suffragan Metropolitan Joseph Mar Barnabas receiving communion from the Patriarch. While many of the comments I’ve seen are derogatory and fail to reflect either Christian kindness or basic human respect, the issue seems to stem from a lack of understanding about the Mar Thoma Church’s ecumenical theology and teachings on the Holy Qurbana. I want to shed some light on that based on what I’ve come to learn.

𝑬𝒄𝒖𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑬𝒄𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒚

Central to Mar Thoma ecclesiology is the Pauline imagery of the "Body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:27), a theological construct that emphasizes unity within diversity and transcends denominational boundaries. A defining mission of the Church is "to unite all things in Jesus Christ," a commitment that explicitly eschews exclusivist frameworks, such as papal or patriarchal supremacy. This idea of enclave theology was seen within the Catholic Church before Vatican II.

This structural adaptability fosters an openness to recognizing and engaging with the diverse ministries of the broader Christian community. Dr. MM Thomas, a prolific theologian and ecumenist from our church, championed a unity rooted in "the Spirit in the diversity of gifts," a vision informed by India’s pluralistic socio-religious context and grounded in a servant-oriented ecumenism that privileges relational bonds over institutional dominance.

𝑬𝒖𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒚

1. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑯𝒐𝒍𝒚 𝑸𝒖𝒓𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒂

A pivotal aspect of this theology is the Mar Thoma Church’s inclusive stance on the Holy Qurbana. The Church teaches that the Eucharist is accessible to all baptized Christians who profess faith in the Triune God and trust in Christ. Unlike traditions that regard the sacrament as the exclusive possession of a single denomination—the Mar Thoma Church perceives the Qurbana as "God’s table," an open invitation to all believers. This ethos is not merely theoretical but has practical implications. I have regularly participated in communion at Catholic churches with the permission of Catholic priests.

2. 𝑯𝒐𝒍𝒚 𝑸𝒖𝒓𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒂- 𝑨 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚

Many on Facebook and other social media platforms, without understanding, preach that the theology regarding Holy Qurbana for Syriac Orthodox Church and Mar Thoma Church is different. However, this is far from the truth, and both affirm the concept of Roso (or Raza in East Syriac terminology), a term encapsulating the Eucharist’s profound mystery as a transformative encounter with the divine. This view has been explained in the book by Juhanon Mar Thoma Metropolitan. Mar Thoma Church preserves this sacramental mystery without yielding to the rationalistic tendencies often prevalent in Western theological discourse. Instead, it aligns with Oriental Christian traditions. (My humble request to all those who criticize would be to read it.) Let’s also not forget the fact that the liturgy used by both churches is also the same.

𝑨 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒈𝒆-𝑩𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏

The Mar Thoma Church is distinctive in its bridge-building mission. I don’t think any other Christian denomination can claim such extensive and diverse ecumenical relationships, spanning Anglicans, Old Catholics, Jacobites, Orthodox, Catholics, and beyond. Its approach to communion and faith transcends historical grievances or partisan loyalties, focusing instead on fostering unity. All our bishops living and those who went to be with Christ exemplify this ethos. We don’t look at the things that divide us but instead look for matters that unite us.

Barnabas Thirumenis’s participation in Qurbana with the Patriarch embodies the Church’s dedication to authentic unity—rooted in love and fidelity to Christ rather than division. We are called to embody these actions, reflecting a lived theology prioritizing reconciliation over separation.

When a bishop, priest, deacon, or layperson partakes in Holy Communion without regard for denominational lines, they bring the vision of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, “that they all may be one” (John 17:21), one step closer to fulfillment. I believe when we jump over our enclave theological ideals and work towards unity, heaven rejoices.

So, all this chatter about him receiving communion? It’s a chance to see the bigger picture. Qurbana is not a wall to keep people out—it’s a table to bring people in. It’s not about "our church versus theirs." It’s about God’s love pulling us all closer, no matter where we come from.

𝑺𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒏

𝓟𝓢: If anyone needs the reference regarding the things I mentioned, you can DM me or comment, and I can give you the books and our church writings regarding the things I discussed.