SYRO MALABAR
CATHOLIC CHURCH

Chancellor and Members

Chancellor

Rev. Dr. Vincent Cheruvathoor

Vice-Chancellor

Rev. Dr. Abraham Kavilpurayidathil

Notary

Sr. Soja

Chancery

Major Archiepiscopal Chancery is the office where the Chancellor and his collaborators function.According to CCEO c. 123, the Major Archbishop is to appoint a chancellor for the Major ArchiepiscopalCuria, which is distinct from the curia of the Eparchy of the Major Archbishop. He must be a priest or adeacon. In consideration of the responsibilities attached to the office and since the chancellor is also ex officio a notary of the Major Archiepiscopal Curia, he must also possess the moral qualification that hebe known to be a of good character and above reproach. As Chancellor, he presides over the Chancery and the Archives of the Curia. The principal tasks of the Major Archiepiscopal Chancellor are to authenticate, gather, arrange, and preserve the acts of the Major Archiepiscopal Curia in the Major Archiepiscopal Archives with a possible enlargement of responsibilities through particular law. The Chancery works in close collaboration with the Major Archbishop in his coordinating mission of the various eparchies and the efforts to provide pastoral care to the migrants as well as in coordinating the activities of the various Major Archiepiscopal Commissions and departments and offices. An important function of the Chancery is the conduct of the Synod of the Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Bishops and the Permanent Synod. To assist the Chancellor, a Vice-Chancellor can be appointed by the Major Archbishop who is ipso iure a notary of the curia. In addition to the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor, who are notaries ex officio, the Major Archbishop can appoint other notaries. The signature of the notaries authenticate public documents, whether in respect to all acts alone or only for acts of certain issue or business.

Chancellor, Vice Chancellor & Notaries

1. The Major Archbishop appoints a priest or a deacon ‘above all reproach’ as Major Archiepiscopal Chancellor.
2. The Chancellor “presides” over the chancery and the archives of the Major Archiepiscopal Curia (CCEO c. 123)
3. Besides the Chancellor, the Major Archbishop may appoint another priest or deacon Vice Chancellor to assist the Chancellor and to substitute him in his absence. (c 123: 2).
4. In addition to the Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor, who are notaries’ ex-officio, the Major Archbishop may appoint other notaries as per need (CCEO 123: 2). These can be freely removed by the Major Archbishop from the office (C. 123: 2).
5. The principle obligation of the Chancellor, unless established otherwise by law, is to see that, the acts of the curia are drawn up and dispatched, and that they are conserved in the archives of the curia (c. 121: 1), and to ensure their safe custody (c. 256:2).
6. The signature of the notaries authenticate public documents, whether in respect to all acts alone or only for acts of certain issue or business (c. 253:1).
7. Notaries are to be of unblemished reputation. In cases that could involve the reputation of a cleric the notary must be a cleric (c. 253:2).
8. The Chancellor of the curia may be appointed as assistant secretary of the Synod and the vice-chancellor as additional assistant secretary.
9. The Chancellor is the ex-officio secretary of the meetings of the Major Archiepiscopal Curia. He shall inform the persons concerned the time, place and agenda of the meeting on time, prepare the minutes reports and other documents of the meetings.