The Impact of Yogam (Assembly) of St Thomas Christians on the Ecclesial Governance of the Syro-Malabar Church

Abstract

This study proposes to examine how far the heritage of yogam of the St Thomas Christians has found itself in the new institutions of the SMC such as major archepiscopal and eparchial assemblies and its palliyogam. In the ancient STC, laity had a prominent position in the administration of the Church. The institution called yogam, in which laity and clergy participated with equal rights, had decision-making power on important matters regarding Church administration. As an example, we have cited the yogam’s decision to send the Cariattil-Paremmakkal delegation to represent STC’s concerns before the pope. STC did not seek approval/confirmation for that decision from any authority, although the majority of participants in that yogam were laity. As a result of Latinisation, the power of yogam declined over the years and nearly disappeared from that Church. Yogam, with its ancient power, has not been resuscitated in the present law of SMC. The present Eastern code has only permitted its partial restoration at parish level, and accordingly, SMC has restored it in its particular law albeit with a limited power. However, its fuller and adapted restoration at all Church levels is yet to be accomplished for which it is necessary to know the advantages of yogam and the resources of the Catholic Church to reconcile with it.