Indian Syro-Malabar Cathedral Reopens After Nearly 4 Years Following Liturgy Dispute Resolution

The Mother Cathedral of the Syro-Malabar Church, an Eastern rite Catholic Church in communion with Rome, has reopened for regular Eucharistic celebrations after nearly four years. The St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica in Ernakulam-Angamaly, Kerala, held its first Masses since November 2022 on August 30, 2025. The decision followed a long-standing dispute over liturgical practices, which had led to the cathedral’s closure.

The conflict arose when the Church’s synod approved new rubrics for the Mass, requiring priests to turn to the altar during the Eucharistic prayer. This change was met with strong opposition from the archdiocese’s clergy and laity, who preferred the celebrants to face the congregation throughout the Mass. The dispute, which had roots in a similar synod decision in 1999, resurfaced in 2021 when the synod mandated a uniform liturgy across all 33 dioceses of the Syro-Malabar Church.

The archdiocese’s laity and priests resisted the change, leading to physical violence at the cathedral. The cathedral was subsequently closed, and protests were organized by groups like the Archdiocesan Movement for Transparency (AMT). The AMT led efforts against the synod’s order, which aimed to promote unity through a standardized Mass. While 12 dioceses initially opposed the change, all but Ernakulam-Angamaly eventually implemented the new liturgy.

The dispute was resolved at the synod in August 2025, allowing the archdiocese’s priests to continue with their traditional liturgy while also celebrating one Synod-approved Mass in all parishes on Sundays and major feast days, except at the cathedral. The cathedral’s priests and laity have since agreed on a compromise, with four Masses held on Sundays and feast days. One of these will be a Synod-approved Mass at 5 p.m., while the remaining will follow the traditional rite.

Father Thomas Mangattu, administrator of the cathedral, stated that the parish priest will also be permitted to offer the Synod Mass as a memorial service if a parishioner requests it. This agreement marks a renewed commitment to unity and tradition within the Syro-Malabar Church, reflecting the community’s desire to reconcile differences and move forward with shared purpose.

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