Major archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church urges dioceses to follow synod approved text for Holy Week service

Kochi: Major archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church Mar Raphael Thattil has sent out a letter to all archbishops and bishops reminding them to ensure that the liturgical celebrations of Holy Week should be conducted following the text approved by the synod."I point this out to you, because it has come to my notice that certain other texts previously published are still in use in some places. Likewise, during the ceremonies, certain rubrics which are not in the approved text are also in practice," the letter says. It adds that he earnestly requests and reminds all the archbishops and bishops to ensure, in a spirit of communion and fidelity, that the liturgical celebrations of Holy Week in the archeparchies and eparchies are conducted faithfully following the text approved by synod and duly promulgated. "Kindly give directions to your priests, if you find it necessary, in your eparchy/archeparchy in this regard," the letter says. The major archbishop also highlighted the decision of synod (session held from Jan 6 to 11, 2025) to entrust the commission for liturgy with the task of preparing and publishing this revised text for the use of Holy Week. "Accordingly, the commission for liturgy prepared the revised Taksa of the Great Week in Malayalam, providing them in two formats: one integrating the text of Liturgy of the Hours and the other without such integration. I promulgated this revised Taksa, which came into effect on April 13, 2025, thus abrogating all previously used texts," the letter says.