Hits: 2500
Interviews and Performances - Video List
AP 60 to 51

Mar George Cardinal Alencherry in conversation with Dr. Joseph J. Palackal , CMI.

This image for Image Layouts addon
AP 60 - Mar George Cardinal Alencherry in conversation with Dr. Joseph J. Palackal , CMI.
Call Number

AP 60

Part Number Part I - Syro Malabar Church
Title Mar George Cardinal Alencherry in conversation with Dr. Joseph J. Palackal , CMI.
Duration 36:29
Place of Recording Major Arch Bishop’s House Ernakulam.
Date of Recording July 15, 2016
Youtube URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lgL0hEvlLg
Video Segment (s)

AP 60a to 60c

Notes

Mar George Cardinal Alencherry in conversation with Dr. Joseph J. Palackal.  CMI.

     “My desire is that this Syriac tradition should be kept up”
This interview is a glorious moment in the history of the Aramaic Project. Major Archbishop Mar George Cardinal Alencherry, who is the head of the Syro Malabar Church, was gracious enough to grant this interview, which took place in a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The Archbishop spoke candidly; his Eminence’s mind is very much in tune with the goals of the Aramaic Project. Surprisingly, the Cardinal went a step further in proposing a novel idea of bilingual singing of certain popular chants: alternating stanzas in the original Syriac and their Malayalam translations. If executed, this will dramatically alter the sonic spectrum of the Syro Malabar liturgy. It will also reconnect the worshippers to the long history of this liturgy that goes all the way back to the conversations between Jesus and the apostles at the last supper. If this experiment turns out to be successful (i. e., if the priests and people feel comfortable), the Syro Malabar priests in other linguistic communities in different parts of India can replicate this experiment in their celebrations. The first such experiment that we did during the celebration of the Qurbana in English--- with the Cardinal as the principal celebrant--- at the National Shrine and Basilica of Immaculate Conception in Washington, D. C, on September 7, 2013 was successful. The Cardinal accepted my suggestion to include two Syriac chants (Puqdānkōn and Qandišā Alāhā; recordings of both chants are included in the video). The 130-member choir of young Syro Malabar singers from different Syro Malabar Churches in America enjoyed singing the Syriac chants; these chants blended well with the rest of the hymns in English.
Dr. Joseph J. Palackal, CMI

Video Segments

 

User Comments

  • Fr. Joseph Palackal, congratulations on this great venture to record our great liturgical traditions which is lost to the new generations. I am a 20 year old girl from Mumbai and we in the Syro Malabar Kalyan diocese did have chapters in the catechism textbooks on the Syro Malabar traditions. It was really nice to learn those things and later when i discussed it with my grandfather in Kerala, he was pleasantly surprised and happy to know his grand kid's interest in the traditions. He got nostalgic about the pre Vatican Council 2 era and started singing Qandisha which i was able to join in singing.

    Thanks for this series! :) - Amala Maria George - 2018
  • Thank you Fr. Joseph Palackal for the great talk with our Major Arch Bishop and especially for referring our parish, St. Joseph Church Kadavanthra and for referring the names of our Vicars Fr. Thomas Perumayan and Rev. Fr. Joseph Kozhikkadan. Want to thank you specially for including the Syriac Hymns of our children. In fact you, Fr. Palackal are the inspiration and introducer of these hymns and chants to our community, when years back you celebrated Solemn High Mass in connection with the feast of St. Alphonsa. Your singing and style was a new experience for us and especially the introduction of Syriac chants like 'Puqdanakon' and 'Khandisa Alaha'. It did touch our hearts and the then Vicar Fr. Thomas Perumayan took a courageous step to include the hymn,' Kahandisha Alaha' in to the Sunday Mass for Children, feasts and special occasions, and it is still continued. He did train the children and included the hymn 'Lagu mara' too and is sung every sunday.

    Thank you once again and we feel proud being a part of your Aramaic Project and wish all success. - St.Joseph PFUCC - 2017
Print