George Nedungatt

Nedungatt is the middle child of four brothers. He was born to a Christian family. He was intelligent and enthusiastic at younger age.

Nedungatt joined the Society of Jesus in 1950. As a novice, he was assigned during his "Mission Experiment" to preach at popular retreats.

George Nedungatt arrived in Rome in 1967. By 1973 he had obtained his doctorate in Oriental Canon Law with a thesis on "Figli e le figlie del Patto in Afraate". Several abstracts were published in the Institute learned Journal Orientalia Christiana Periodica.

However he had started teaching earlier. Beginning in 1972 he teaches Canon Law. For 6 years (1982–1988) he will be the dean of the faculty.[2]

Besides being a professor, he is the author of many books and articles. Nedungatt's name has been in the Annuario Pontificio for many years: as Consultor of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches (1989–2000); and of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, and of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts.[3] He is the editor (since 1992) of the series Kanonika published from the Oriental Institute, Rome. He has done work as the President of the Apostolic Tribunal (1980) in the cause of St. Alphonsa, whose canonisation took place in 2008,[4] and since 1997 as postulator in the cause of Blessed Mariam Thresia. He also serves as the postulator of the cause of canonization of servant of God Devasahayam Pillai.[5]

Among the many projects in which he was involved a particularly important one was the updating and unifying of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches [CCEO], that was ultimately promulgated by pope John Paul II in 1990. Following which he became the editor of the journal 'Kanonika', launched in 1992 with the purpose of helping canonists assimilate and clarify difficulties that might emerge in the implementation of the new Easter code.

Nedungatt has published many books and hundreds of articles in various theological journals.[6][7][8] His major works are the following:

• The Covenanters of the Early Syriac-Speaking Church (1973);[9]
• The Spirit of the Eastern Code, (1992);[10]
• Laity and Church Temporalities: Appraisal of a Tradition, (2000);[10]
• A Companion to the Eastern Code, (1994);[11]
• The Council in Trullo Revisited, (1995);[12]
• The Synod of Diamper Revisited, (2001);[13]
• A Guide to the Eastern Code: Commentary on the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (Ed.), (2002).[14]

• A Festschrift was published in his honour in 2003: The Syro-Malabar Church since the Eastern Code, (Ed.: Francis Eluvathingal), 2003.

• Classified Bibliography of Prof. George Nedungatt upto (sic) April 2009