Malankara Orthodox Church recognize H.E. Severius Mushe Görgün as bishop of Europe

March 20, 2009: The Holy Episcopal Synod of Malankara Orthodox Church held in Feb 2009, decided to recognize H.E. Severius Mushe Görgün, as the Primate of the Church, with the title Archbishop of the Independent Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of Europe. This recognition for Severius Mushe Görgün came after a delay of more than a year, mostly due to the continued dispute in the Malankara Orthodox Church over the validity of his consecration.

It was in 2007 Severius Mushe Görgün, an excommunicated monk of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch, was ordained as bishop by two Malankara (Indian) Orthodox bishops with the silent support of their Metropolitan of American Diaspora, which was at that time a matter of great controversy since the ordination was said to be held secretly and against the constitution of the Church. Consequently the Holy Synod of Malankara Orthodox Church warned the two bishops, but no further actions against these bishops were taken under pressure from a sizeable section of the Church. However the official recognition of Severius Mushe Görgün got delayed due to doubt over the legality of his ordination.

Before the bishop consecration, Severius Mushe Görgün, a monk of the Syrian Orthodox Church was under suspension due to his anti-Church activities. Later he came in contact with two bishops of the rival Malankara Orthodox Church who later elevated him as a bishop for the ‘Independent Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of Europe’ in a ceremony held in India. It is alleged that this ordination was held by the Malankara Orthodox bishops with the aim of creating a rebel Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese in Europe which led to his official excommunication from the parent Syrian Orthodox Church. However his mission in Europe has not became a success as he could not get much acceptance from the Syrian Orthodox community in Europe.

The disputes between the two divisions of the Oriental Orthodox Church of India, viz; the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (also known as Indian Orthodox Church) and the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church (also known as Jacobite Syrian Church), has a history of almost 100 years. Over the century there are many instances of primates switching loyalties from one Church to other. The beginning of Malankara Syrian Catholic Church is attributed to one such bishop who switched loyalty in 1930’s. Even now the two Oriental Orthodox Churches in India, with lot of similarities are in severe bottleneck over many issues. Both the Churches are headed by independent Catholicates with 25 odd bishops for each party.

H.E. Severius Mushe Görgün is now based in Europe administering the small congregation supported by him. Now with the official approval of the Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Church he has became part of this wing of the Indian Church. Though the designation that Severius Mushe Görgün uses is the Archbishop of the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of Europe, the congregation he leads has no connection with the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch or India.

Raj Jos, India