(UCAN): St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese in the southern state of Kerala, India—the cathedral of the Eastern rite Syro-Malabar Church—has resumed regular Eucharistic celebrations, nearly four years after they were discontinued following a protracted dispute over synod-approved rubrics.
Four Masses [Holy Qurbanas] were celebrated on August 30 for the first time since 27 November 2022.
The cathedral, the seat of Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil, was closed following physical violence inside it due to the liturgy dispute.
A majority of priests and laypeople in the archdiocese opposed a synod-approved order requiring priests to face the altar during the Eucharistic prayer, preferring that celebrants face the congregation throughout Mass. A similar decision was made by the Church’s synod in 1999 but was abandoned due to strong resistance from bishops, priests, and laity in several dioceses.
“We are happy that our cathedral has resumed regular Eucharistic services now,” Riju Kanjookaran, spokesperson of Archdiocesan Movement for Transparency [AMT], said.
The AMT spearheaded the protests against the synod’s August 2021 order mandating that all 33 of its dioceses in India and abroad adopt a uniform mode of Mass, aiming for greater unity within the Church.
“From now on, it is going to be a new chapter for the parishioners of the cathedral church and also of the Syro-Malabar Church,” Kanjookaran said on August 31.
The dispute was settled at the synod in August 2025, allowing the archdiocesan priests to continue with their traditional liturgy, while requiring that one synod-approved Mass be celebrated in all parishes of the Archdiocese on Sundays and major feast days, except in the Cathedral Church.
Accordingly, “four Masses will be held on Sundays and feast days,” Father Thomas Mangattu, the administrator of the Cathedral Church, explained.
“One Mass at 5.00pm will be exclusively a synod Mass and the rest will be traditional Masses,” Father Mangattu said in a statement.
The resolution also allows the parish priest to offer the synod Mass as a memorial service, should any parishioner request it.
“The resolution was finalised with the approval from the synod,” Kanjookaran said, adding that it was agreed to take action against “anyone who violates this agreement and creates trouble in the smooth running of the cathedral as per the provisions of the Canon law”.
The laity also agreed to withdraw the court cases they had filed against Church authorities as soon as possible, completing the legal formalities necessary to restore full peace in the cathedral.
