Interviews and Performances - Video List
AP 80 to 71

Rev. Fr. Saji Mattathil in conversation with Dr. Joseph J. Palackal.

This image for Image Layouts addon
AP 71 - Rev. Fr. Saji Mattathil in conversation with Dr. Joseph J. Palackal.
Call Number

AP 71
Part Number Part I - Syro Malabar Church
Title Rev. Fr. Saji Mattathil in conversation with Dr. Joseph J. Palackal.
Duration 48:08
Place of Recording St. John Damasceno College, Via Boccea, Rome.
Date of Recording 19 Mach 2017
Youtube URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFZuUsMlXq0&t=315s
Video Segment (s)

AP 71a and 71b
Notes

Rev. Fr. Saji Mattathil in conversation with Dr. Joseph J. Palackal. Recorded at St. John Damasceno College, Via Boccea, Rome. 19 Mach 2017.

“God will not allow this [Syriac tradition] to die out.”Fr. Saji Mattathil

This interview with Fr. Varghese (a k a Saji) Mattathil is a great blessing for the friends and benefactors of the Aramaic Project. As can be heard at the opening of the video, Fr. Saji has a unique vocal inflection that we don’t hear from the younger generation of priest who celebrate sung Qurbana in Syriac. Fr. Saji’s training in Hindustani classical music, his exposure to Urdu gazhals, and his innate musical talent make him stand out among the new generation of Syriac singers in the Syro Malabar Church. The CD of Syriac chants, Thesbohtha, is a monument to his musical talent. It is rare to find someone who is equally passionate about the Syriac chant repertoire as well as the Syriac language.
The doctoral research on the East-Syriac tradition that Fr. Saji is currently involved in at the Santa Croce University in Rome will make him an all the more valuable treasure not only for the Syro Malabar Church, but also for the Syriac Christianity and the Universal Church. Ironically, Fr. Saji arrived at the Aramaic arena through a winding road that led him to the seminary in North India. While working on the committee to prepare the Hindi version of the Liturgy of the Hours of the Syro Malabar Church, Fr. Saji encountered problems in the lack of clarity in the Malayalam text. Therefore, he sought for the original intent in the Syriac source. This search led to further re-search. Thus, God directed his life journey for the benefit of not only the Syro Malabar Church, but also the Syriac Christianity. Fr. Saji says that God will not allow the Syriac tradition in Kerala to die out. During our conversation, Fr. Saji offered to be an active partner in the Aramaic Project. May God bless him. Ad majorem dei gloriam.

Joseph J. Palackal
New York
14June 2017

Topics:
2:30 About his doctoral dissertation
7:20 About his unique vocal inflection
10:43 Melody of "Qad Qayen" 1
21:32 About mentoring new singers of Syriac chants
23:10 Melody of "Lalam walam almin" from Raza
33:55 The Syriac alphabet in a song

Video Segments

User Comments

Indeed it was an experience worth cherishing in everyway - Dr. Amel Antony , Sept 10, 2018

  • Indeed it was an experience worth cherishing in everyway - not only in terms of evoking piety and elevating one into higher levels of spirituality, but also the way the Syriac language strikes an inner chord Heart felt thanks to Rev Mattathil Varghese Kathanar and the choir lead by Jones Kalarickal. Also appreciate the untiring efforts of Rev Palackal Ouseph Kathanar, who leaves no stone unturned in the path of revival of this ancient heritage of ours. As mentioned its a historic event and a heavenly blessing that happened on the feast of Dukhrana. Probably it would be the Diaspora thats going to be in the forefront of this movement. - This event being a source of inspiration for the young Syro Malabareans to reclaim their patrimony. Syriac could after all turn out to be a unifying factor and I suppose the concerned holding responsible offices would consider this -instead of pushing Malayalam. Even in Kerala , the new CBSE generation is not comfortable with Malayalam  - Dr. Amel Antony - Sept- 10 -2018

    • Related Videos

    Print   Email