{
  "book_metadata": {
    "book_name": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials",
    "book_author": "M. K. Kuriakose",
    "publisher": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge",
    "published_on": "2011"
  },
  "chunks": [
    {
      "chunk_index": 1,
      "chapter_name": "1971. A Common Statement from the Orthodox Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "page_numbers": [
        423
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00447-e494826c988db6dfb1ca.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Orthodox-Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "chunk_data": "197. A COMMON STATEMENT FROM THE ORTHODOX-MAR THOMA CONVERSATIONS (1971 A.D.)\nRepresentatives of the Syrian Orthodox Church and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church held a series of unofficial conversations in which their differences as well as points of agreement were considered. The Common Statement, reproduced here, indicates the points of agreement and was published in 1971. Fr. Paul Verghese and M. Thommen, Orthodox-Mar Thoma Conversations, pp. 5-7.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1971,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1971,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1971"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Paul Verghese",
          "M. Thommen"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "The Syrian Orthodox Church and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church held unofficial conversations and published a common statement.",
        "tags": [
          "Christianity",
          "Ecumenism",
          "Church Relations"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 2,
      "chapter_name": "1971. A Common Statement from the Orthodox Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "page_numbers": [
        423
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00447-e494826c988db6dfb1ca.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "A Shared Christian Statement",
      "chunk_data": "A few of us belonging to the Syrian Orthodox Church and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church have been meeting together in the name of Christ, several times in the last three years. We want to place before our Christian Brethren this agreed statement of some of the things which we hold in common with each other as Christians.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1971,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1971,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1971, following three years of meetings"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Members of the Syrian Orthodox Church",
          "Members of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "Representatives of the two churches described the beliefs they held in common after meeting over three years.",
        "tags": [
          "Christianity",
          "Ecumenism",
          "Church Relations"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 3,
      "chapter_name": "1971. A Common Statement from the Orthodox Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "page_numbers": [
        423
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00447-e494826c988db6dfb1ca.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Common History of the Churches",
      "chunk_data": "1. Common History:\nOur two Churches shared a common history till the later half of the nineteenth century. This common history in one undivided Church for some eighteen centuries or more still exists as a strong bond between our two Churches.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 100,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1850,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "c. 100-1850"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Members of the Syrian Orthodox Church",
          "Members of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "The two churches acknowledged their shared history in one undivided church for approximately eighteen centuries.",
        "tags": [
          "Church History",
          "Christianity",
          "Ecumenism"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 4,
      "chapter_name": "1971. A Common Statement from the Orthodox Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "page_numbers": [
        423
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00447-e494826c988db6dfb1ca.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Reform and Church Division",
      "chunk_data": "The demand for reform in the undivided Syrian Church was the occasion for our division. At least as early as the beginning of the 19th century these demands were made both by Anglican missionaries and by Syrian Christian leaders. There were abuses in the Church; the priests were often uneducated and unable to give spiritual leadership. The demands for reform were often justified; sometimes they resulted from lack of understanding of Eastern tradition.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1800,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1899,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "19th century"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Anglican missionaries",
          "Syrian Christian leaders"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "Reform demands by Anglican missionaries and Syrian Christian leaders contributed to the division of the undivided Syrian Church.",
        "tags": [
          "Reform",
          "Church History",
          "Christianity"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 5,
      "chapter_name": "1971. A Common Statement from the Orthodox Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "page_numbers": [
        423
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00447-e494826c988db6dfb1ca.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "The Mavelikara Synod",
      "chunk_data": "The demand for reform was pressed by the missionaries. In 1836 the Mavelikara Synod unanimously rejected the demands, except for a solitary voice of protest. Many of these demands were subsequently complied with in both our Churches, but alas only after the separation.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1836,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1836,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1836"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Anglican missionaries",
          "Members of the Mavelikara Synod"
        ],
        "places": [
          "Mavelikara",
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "The Mavelikara Synod rejected the missionaries' reform demands, apart from one protesting voice.",
        "tags": [
          "Church History",
          "Reform",
          "Synods"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 6,
      "chapter_name": "1971. A Common Statement from the Orthodox Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "page_numbers": [
        423
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00447-e494826c988db6dfb1ca.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Shared Malayalam Liturgy",
      "chunk_data": "The liturgy is celebrated by both our Churches in Malayalam—one of the major demands of the reformers. Many of the demands of that time we both find now irrelevant. In major matters of faith we find ourselves substantially in agreement.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1971,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1971,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1971"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Members of the Syrian Orthodox Church",
          "Members of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "The two churches recognized their shared Malayalam liturgy and substantial agreement in major matters of faith.",
        "tags": [
          "Liturgy",
          "Christianity",
          "Ecumenism"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 7,
      "chapter_name": "1971. A Common Statement from the Orthodox Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "page_numbers": [
        423,
        424
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00447-e494826c988db6dfb1ca.webp",
        "raw\\pages\\00448-a2d4be7647c5e00462ff.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "The Common Christian Faith",
      "chunk_data": "2. Common Faith:\nMuch of the faith of the Christian Church we still hold in common. The great ecumenical creed of Nicea and Constantinople still remains fundamentally the formulation of our faith.\nOur common faith is in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God; in the Father, the creator of all; in the Son of God who became incarnate, was made man and was born of the Virgin Mary, who lived and taught and died on the cross on behalf of us all; who rose again from the dead, who sits at the right hand of the Father, and who will come in the fulness of his glory to judge the living and the dead; in the Holy Ghost, who spoke in the Old and New Testaments by the prophets and apostles, who proceeds from the Father alone, who is worshipped and adored with the Father and the Son; and in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. We confess one baptism for the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead and life eternal in the world to come.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 381,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1971,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "381-1971"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Jesus Christ",
          "Virgin Mary"
        ],
        "places": [
          "Nicaea",
          "Constantinople"
        ],
        "event": "The two churches affirmed the Nicene-Constantinopolitan creed and their shared Trinitarian and apostolic faith.",
        "tags": [
          "Christian Doctrine",
          "Creeds",
          "Ecumenism"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 8,
      "chapter_name": "1971. A Common Statement from the Orthodox Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "page_numbers": [
        424
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00448-a2d4be7647c5e00462ff.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Common Prayer and Service",
      "chunk_data": "These fundamental realities which we hold together give us a basis for common prayer and common labours for the glory of God in the service of man.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1971,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1971,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1971"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Members of the Syrian Orthodox Church",
          "Members of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "Shared Christian beliefs provided the basis for common prayer and service.",
        "tags": [
          "Christianity",
          "Worship",
          "Ecumenism"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 9,
      "chapter_name": "1971. A Common Statement from the Orthodox Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "page_numbers": [
        424
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00448-a2d4be7647c5e00462ff.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "The Bible as Sacred Authority",
      "chunk_data": "3. The Bible:\nWe both hold the Bible in high reverence as the Spirit-inspired Word of God, the Apostolic testimony to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Both Churches agree that while the Holy Scriptures are unique in their status and authority and that no other documents can be placed on the same level in the Church, it is also accepted that the Bible is not the sole authority for the whole faith and practice of the Church.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1971,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1971,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1971"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Jesus Christ",
          "Members of the Syrian Orthodox Church",
          "Members of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "The two churches affirmed the Bible's unique authority while rejecting the view that it is the sole authority for all church faith and practice.",
        "tags": [
          "Bible",
          "Christian Doctrine",
          "Ecumenism"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 10,
      "chapter_name": "1971. A Common Statement from the Orthodox Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "page_numbers": [
        424
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00448-a2d4be7647c5e00462ff.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "The Church as Christ's Body",
      "chunk_data": "4. The Church:\nWe both believe that the Church is the body of Christ, the divine society into which members are incorporated by Baptism and Chrismation. It is the communion of Saints in which members united to Christ and to each other in Christ, share in one common life by the Holy Spirit.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1971,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1971,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1971"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Jesus Christ",
          "Members of the Syrian Orthodox Church",
          "Members of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "The two churches defined the Church as Christ's body and the communion of saints formed through Baptism and Chrismation.",
        "tags": [
          "Church",
          "Sacraments",
          "Christian Doctrine"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 11,
      "chapter_name": "1971. A Common Statement from the Orthodox Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "page_numbers": [
        424
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00448-a2d4be7647c5e00462ff.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "The Eucharist and Calvary",
      "chunk_data": "5. The Eucharist:\nBoth our Churches are agreed that the Eucharist is the central act of worship of the Church in which we share in the one eternal and unrepeatable sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. We have agreed that the Eucharist is a sacrifice, not in the sense that it repeats the unique sacrifice of Calvary, but that it makes the sacrifice of Calvary present in our time and enables us to participate in the saving power of the cross and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 33,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1971,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "c. 33-1971"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Jesus Christ"
        ],
        "places": [
          "Calvary"
        ],
        "event": "The two churches agreed that the Eucharist makes Christ's unique sacrifice at Calvary present and enables participation in its saving power.",
        "tags": [
          "Eucharist",
          "Sacraments",
          "Christian Doctrine"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 12,
      "chapter_name": "1971. A Common Statement from the Orthodox Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "page_numbers": [
        424,
        425
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00448-a2d4be7647c5e00462ff.webp",
        "raw\\pages\\00449-c246bca1234dab4d8164.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Eucharistic Presence",
      "chunk_data": "We are also agreed that Jesus Christ gives himself his own body and blood, in the Eucharist and that we partake truly of Christ's body and blood. We are also agreed in rejecting the terminology and underlying philosophical concepts of the Western doctrines of transubstantiation and Consubstantiation. We have agreed that in the Eucharist by the action of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine after consecration, are the body and blood of our Lord, though we are unable to explain the precise sense in which that is so.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1971,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1971,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1971"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Jesus Christ"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "The two churches affirmed the Eucharistic participation in Christ's body and blood while rejecting Western explanations of transubstantiation and consubstantiation.",
        "tags": [
          "Eucharist",
          "Sacraments",
          "Christian Doctrine"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 13,
      "chapter_name": "1971. A Common Statement from the Orthodox Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "page_numbers": [
        425
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00449-c246bca1234dab4d8164.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "The Episcopal Ministry",
      "chunk_data": "6. The Ministry:\nWe are agreed that the episcopal ministry with the presbyters and deacons to assist the bishops, belongs historically to the life of the Church. We both believe that the Holy Spirit bestows special grace and power through the sacrament of ordination.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1971,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1971,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1971"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Bishops",
          "Presbyters",
          "Deacons"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "The two churches affirmed the historical episcopal ministry and the sacramental bestowal of grace through ordination.",
        "tags": [
          "Ministry",
          "Sacraments",
          "Church"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 14,
      "chapter_name": "1971. A Common Statement from the Orthodox Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "page_numbers": [
        425
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00449-c246bca1234dab4d8164.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "The Communion of Saints",
      "chunk_data": "7. The Place of the Departed:\nWe both agree that belief in the communion of the saints belongs to the faith and practice of both our Churches; that all those who belong to Christ are united to Christ and to each other in the Body of Christ; that death does not separate the believer from Christ or his Body; that the living and the departed belong together to the same Body of Christ though in different ways that we should commemorate the faithful departed and especially those departed whose lives have been an inspiration to the Church.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1971,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1971,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1971"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Faithful departed",
          "Members of the Syrian Orthodox Church",
          "Members of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "The two churches affirmed the communion of saints, the unity of the living and departed in Christ, and remembrance of the faithful departed.",
        "tags": [
          "Saints",
          "Death",
          "Christian Doctrine"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 15,
      "chapter_name": "1971. A Common Statement from the Orthodox Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "page_numbers": [
        425
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00449-c246bca1234dab4d8164.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Intercession of Departed Saints",
      "chunk_data": "We are all agreed that Christ is the sole mediator between God and Man, but that asking the departed saints for their prayer on our behalf would be no more a violation of the sole mediatorship of Christ than asking our living Christian friends to pray for us.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1971,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1971,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1971"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Jesus Christ",
          "Departed saints",
          "Living Christian friends"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "The two churches distinguished Christ's sole mediation from requests for prayer addressed to departed saints.",
        "tags": [
          "Saints",
          "Prayer",
          "Christian Doctrine"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 16,
      "chapter_name": "1971. A Common Statement from the Orthodox Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "page_numbers": [
        425
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00449-c246bca1234dab4d8164.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Disagreements About the Departed",
      "chunk_data": "There are many significant disagreements among us in this field, but on the points mentioned here, we find a remarkable area of agreement. The disagreement relates to the questions—firstly, whether our departed are in a state where they can pray to God or benefit from our prayer; secondly, whether we can communicate with them.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1971,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1971,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1971"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Members of the Syrian Orthodox Church",
          "Members of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "The churches identified continuing disagreements concerning the condition of the departed and communication with them.",
        "tags": [
          "Theology",
          "Saints",
          "Church Relations"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 17,
      "chapter_name": "1971. A Common Statement from the Orthodox Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "page_numbers": [
        425
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00449-c246bca1234dab4d8164.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Shared Church Practices",
      "chunk_data": "8. Practice:\nThere is much else that is common between us in practice. The Eucharistic and other liturgies we use are similar in many respects. We both face east for public worship, make the sign of the cross, and genuflect in adoration of God. Our episcopal and clerical vestments are similar. We both give the kiss of peace in much the same manner. We both use the mother tongue for worship. We have many of the feast and fast days in fact much of the Church calendar in common.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1971,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1971,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1971"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Members of the Syrian Orthodox Church",
          "Members of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "The two churches described their shared liturgies, worship practices, vestments, language, and ecclesiastical calendar.",
        "tags": [
          "Liturgy",
          "Worship",
          "Church Practice"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 18,
      "chapter_name": "1971. A Common Statement from the Orthodox Mar Thoma Conversations",
      "page_numbers": [
        425
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00449-c246bca1234dab4d8164.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Apostolic Succession and Membership",
      "chunk_data": "We both believe in and claim apostolic succession. We both insist on celibacy of bishops and allow married people to be priests. We are both members in the World Council of Churches.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1971,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1971,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1971"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Bishops",
          "Priests",
          "Members of the Syrian Orthodox Church",
          "Members of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "The two churches affirmed apostolic succession, episcopal celibacy, married priesthood, and membership in the World Council of Churches.",
        "tags": [
          "Church Governance",
          "Ecumenism",
          "Christianity"
        ]
      }
    }
  ]
}