The synod of the Syro Malabar Church has promulgated the new revised liturgy to ensure the uniformity in the celebration of holy mass across all dioceses. This is as per the exhortation of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. However, there are several elements in the church, especially from Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, who are opposing this decision and are openly defying the decree of the synod. An internal matter of the church is being dragged before news media, which is totally unnecessary and uncalled for. Saint Pope Paul VI in his decree on the Catholic churches of the eastern rite- ORIENTALIUM ECCLESIARUM , states " The patriarchs with their synods are the highest authority for all business of the patriarchate, including the right of establishing new eparchies and of nominating bishops of their rite within the territorial bounds of the patriarchate, without prejudice to the inalienable right of the Roman Pontiff to intervene in individual cases (11)”. As per this, the highest authority of the Syro Malabar Church is Cardinal George Allenchery and the Syro Malabar Synod. The synod has unanimously agreed on the revised liturgy and hence all members of the church are bound by the decisions of the synod. Further, ORIENTALIUM ECCLESIARUM states " All members of the Eastern Rite should know and be convinced that they can and should always preserve their legitimate liturgical rite and their established way of life, and that these may not be altered except to obtain for themselves an organic improvement. All these, then, must be observed by the members of the Eastern rites themselves. Besides, they should attain to an ever greater knowledge and a more exact use of them, and, if in their regard they have fallen short owing to contingencies of times and persons, they should take steps to return to their ancestral traditions." Saint Pope Paul VI exhorts the oriental churches to return to their ancestral traditions. The revised liturgy adopts a middle path and has combined the old and new.

Most importantly, the holy father, Pope Francis, in his letter,  ”LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
TO THE BISHOPS, CLERGY, RELIGIOUS AND LAITY
OF THE SYRO-MALABAR CHURCH" has stated "I willingly take the occasion of the recognition of the new Raza Qurbana Taksa to exhort all the clergy, religious and lay faithful to proceed to a prompt implementation of the uniform mode of celebrating the Holy Qurbana, for the greater good and unity of your Church. May the Holy Spirit foster harmony, fraternity and unity among all members of your Church as you work to implement the Synodal decision." This is a matter of holy obedience to the Synod Fathers and compliance with the wishes of the Holy Father. Please accept the revised liturgy and avoid reactions that scandalize the Church.