Difference between revisions of "Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church"

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#redirect [[Church in India]]
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The '''Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church''' is popularly known as '''Indian Orthodox Church''' in the International Orthodox Communion of Churches. This Church is believed to have been founded by [[Apostle Thomas]] in his mission to [[India]] in the first century AD.
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From the fourth century the Indian Church entered into a close relationship with the Persian or East Syrian Church. From the Persians, the Indians inherited East Syrian language and liturgies and gradually came to be known as Syrian Christians.
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In the sixteenth century Roman Catholic missionaries came to Kerala. They tried to unite the Syrian Christians to the Roman Catholic Church and this led to a split in the community. Those who accepted Catholicism are the present Syro-Malabar Catholics.
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In the seventeenth century the Church came to a relationship with the Antiochene Church. As a result of this relationship the Church received West Syrian liturgies and practices.
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At present the Church is using the West Syrian liturgy. The faith of the Church is that which was established by the three Ecumenical [[Council of Nicea]] (A.D. 325), [[Council of Constantinople]] (A.D. 381) and [[Council of Ephesus]] (A.D. 431).<ref>http://malankaraorthodoxchurch.in</ref>
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This Indian Orthodox Church was known as '''Jacobite Church''' from 1665, until the adoption of new constitution of the church in 1934. This change was made in confirmation with its theological and traditional connections with other Orthodox church bodies of the world.
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The church is theologically and traditional a part of the [[Oriental Orthodox]] Communion of Churches.The Indian Orthodox Church accepts the Alexandrian Christology, as does the [[Coptic Orthodox Church]] and its two sister churches, the  [[Ethiopian Orthodox Church]] and the [[Eritrean Orthodox Church]].
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==Hierarchy, distribution and doctrine==
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<!---apparently does not exist---
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[[Image:CATHOLICOSOFINDIA.jpg|left|thumb|200 px|Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Didymos I in Malankara Metropolitan vestments]]
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--->
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The spiritual regional head of the church is the [[Catholicos of the East]] and the temporal head over the church assets is Malankara [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan]]. Since 1934, both the titles vest in one person. The official title of the head of the Church is the "[[Catholicos of the East|Catholicos of the East and the Malankara Metropolitan]]". The present [[Catholicos of the East|Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan]] is [[Baselios Thoma Didymos I|Baselios Marthoma Didymos I]], who was enthroned on October 31, 2005, at Parumala Church by the Holy Synod. Didymos I is the 111th '''Catholicos of the East''' in the lineage of [[Apostle Thomas]]; 6th Catholicos after its re-instatement in India  and 19th Malankara Metropolitan.
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The church accepts only the first three [[Ecumenical Council|Ecumenical Synods]] like all other [[Oriental Orthodox Churches]].
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The church uses the [[liturgy of Saint James]], as does its sister church, the [[Syrian Orthodox Church]] of Antioch. The Church in India was connected to the Church of East through the Catholicos of the East, existed in [[Edessa, Mesopotamia|Edessa]], [[Selucia]], [[Tigris]] and [[Mosul]] in various intervals.  Today the Church conducts liturgy in [[West Syriac]], [[Malayalam]], [[Hindi]], and [[English language|English]].
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The church has theological seminaries at [[Kottayam]] and [[Nagpur]]. The Church has dioceses and churches in most parts of India as well as in the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[United Kingdom]], [[Western Europe]], [[Persian Gulf]] nations, [[Malaysia]], [[Singapore]], [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand.]]
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The name, Malankara Orthodox Church, refers to St.Thomas Christians of India, that come under Catholicate of the East whose Supreme Head is His Holiness The Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan,with headquarters at Devalokam, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
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==History==
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===First 17 centuries===
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{{Indian Christian History 52-1653}}
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Until 1599, it depended on the Assyrian (Persian) Church for prelates to ordain its priests.<ref>Page 618, Sabha Vijnanakosham(Church Encylopaedia)</ref>
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=====Archadyakons of Malankara (8th century - 17th cen*tury)=====
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Archdeacon or Arkadayakon in Malayalam was “the prince and head of the Christians of Saint Thomas” and had such titles as ''Archdeacon and Gate of All India, Governor of India''. He was the temporal ruler and administrator of the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala. The Archdeacon was more of a secular ruler, having sanction of local Hindu rulers and he is said to have carried around a small army of few hundred syrian christian soldiers.<ref> Page 55, Malankara Nasranikalude Jathiaulkrishtiyavum Rajyasevanathalparathayum</ref>
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The earliest historical documents that shows the existence of Archdeacons is around the year AD 800. The [[Nestorian]] Patriarch Timothy I (780-826) wrote to the Archdeacon ( Arken), the Head of the Faithful in India, about the right norms to be followed in the ordination of the priests, bishops, metropolitans and patriarch.<ref>Page 121, Ibn at- Taiyib II</ref>
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After the arrival of the Portuguese, the records next mention Archdeacons. The following is a known list of Archdeacons in Malankara:<ref>The list given in ” The Archdeacon of All India” by Dr. Jacob Kollaparambil.</ref>
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*Nestorian Patriarch Timothy I calls Archdeacon ( Arken), head of faithful of India c.780-826
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*Metropolitan Mar John appoints George Pakalomattam ( Ittikuriath) as Archdeacon 1502
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*Followed by Archdeacons Jacob and Alexander according to tradition (''Dates unknown'')
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*Archdeacon George of Christ ( Mentioned in 1552 documents onwards) c.1552-1585
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*Archdeacon John c.1585-1591
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*Archdeacon Jacob appointed by Mar Simon c. 1584-1596
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*Archdeacon George of the Cross appointed by Archbishop Mar Abraham 1593-1640
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*Archdeacon Thomas appointed by elders of Malankara. In 1653, after the [[Coonan Cross Oath]], Archdeacon Thomas was consecrated as Bishop Mar Thoma I, thus the role was changed  and his line continued until Mar Thoma VIII in 1815 among the Malankara Orthodox Syrians<ref>Page 657, Sabha Vijnanakosham(encylopaedia)</ref>.
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===Reign of the Marthomans(1653-1816)===
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In 1653, following the [[Coonen Cross Oath]] the Malankara Church felt the need to have an indigenous bishop. The parish elders (Idavaka Mooppens) of the Church met together and elected Archdeacon Thoma Kathanar as their leader. This was followed by a general meeting at Allangad on May 22, 1653 where Archdeacon Thomas was elevated to the status of bishop with the title [[Mar Thoma I]] by laying on of hands of 12 leading priests of the Church.
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<ref>http://malankaraorthodoxchurch.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=224</ref>
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The other section of christians under the Roman Catholic Church did not consider [[Mar Thoma I]] as a bishop due to the nature of his ordination and many of the revolters returned to the Roman Catholic Church between 1653 and 1665 as a result of the proseltysation efforts of the Carmelite missionaries send by Rome.<ref>MOSC Sabhavijnanakosham</ref>. To confirm this rank, the Metropolitan and leaders of the Church together wrote letters to the patriarchs of Alexandria and Antioch to send a higher authority<ref>http://indianchristianity.org/orthodox/forefathers.html</ref>.[[Mar Gregorios Abdul Jaleel]], the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem arrived in 1665 and regularised the ordination of [[Mar Thoma I]].<ref>Page 657, Sabha Vijnana Kosham</ref> This started the reign of the Marthoma methran of Pakalomattom family in Malankara.
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*''' [[Mar Thoma I]]''' (1653-1670)- In 1653, Kuravilangad Parampil Thomas Kathanar of Pakalomattam family was consecrated with the title Marthoma I by the Malankara Moopens. In 1665 his ordination was regularised by the [[Syriac Orthodox]] Patriarch Mar Gregorios of Jerusalem. Marthoma I survived a number of assassination attempts. He died on April 25, 1670 and was interred in Ankamali Marthommen Church.<ref>http://kottayamcheriapally.com/index/index/content/1493/History.html</ref>
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[[Image:Marthoma_I.jpg‎|right|thumb|200 px|Painting of [[Mar Thoma I]] at Ankamaly Syrian Orthodox Church]]
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* '''[[Mar Thoma II]]''' (1670-1686)- Before his demise in 1670, [[Mar Thoma I]] ordained his nephew as [[Mar Thoma II]]. According to a local tradition once the people of Niranam were suffering from severe drought and they appealed to Mar Thoma II for his special prayers. They believe that as a result of his prayers the village received plenty of showers. Mar Thoma II led the church for 16 years and died in 1686. His mortal remains were buried inside the St.Marys Orthodox Church,Niranam and every year his memorial day is celebrated on 16th  of April.<ref>http://niranamchurch.com/MarThomaMetropolitans.htm#marthomaII</ref> It was during his time that [[Eldho Mor Baselios]] & Hidayathullah Mar Ivanios from Syria visited Malankara.<ref>http://cheriapally.com/history/ortho.html</ref>
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* '''[[Mar Thoma III]]''' (1686-1688)- Consecrated by Mar Ivanios Hidayathullah (from Antioch). He could serve the Church only a few years, he died on April 21, 1688. He was laid to rest at Kadampanad Church, Near Adoor. <ref>http://niranamchurch.com/MarThomaMetropolitans.htm#marthomaII</ref>
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* '''[[Mar Thoma IV]]'''(1688-1728)- Consecrated by Mar Ivanios Hidayathullah. He ruled the Church for four decades. The East Syrian Catholicos-Patriarch of Babylon, hearing of members lost to the Roman Catholics, sent Mar Gabriel to Kerala to try to reclaim them.
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:It was important for [[Mar Thoma IV]] to monitor this bishop doctrinally and administratively. In confronting Mar Gabriel however, Marthoma IV found himself incompetent. He sent several appeals to the West Syrian Patriarch asking for help. But no reply or help came. He died on March 24, 1728 and is entombed at St.Mary’s Orthodox Church, Kandanadu.<ref>http://malankaraorthodoxchurch.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=96</ref>
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* '''[[Mar Thoma V]]''' (1728-1765)– Consecrated by Marthoma IV.  In 1752 when Mar Baselios and Mar Gregorios came to Malankara, they insisted that he should receive their Kaiveppu (laying of hands) but he refused to comply fearing Antiochean domination.<ref>http://indianchristianity.org/orthodox/forefathers.html</ref> Not only that, he concecrated his successor [[Mar Thoma VI]] without any assistance from foreign bishops thus severing all allegiance to foreign bishops.Until Mar Thoma V,Malankara Church followed almost entirely East Syriac language, liturgy and practices. He died on May 8, 1765 and was buried at St.Marys Orthodox Church, Niranam.
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* '''[[Mar Thoma VI]]''' (1765-1808)- (1765-1808) Consecrated by Marthoma V.  On June 1770, to avoid a split in the Church, he accepted re-consecration and the title Dionysius from Antiochan bishops.<ref>http://kottayamcheriapally.com/index/index/content/1493/History.html</ref> He also agreed with Mar Ivanios the visiting West Syrian bishop to follow in his Church certain traditions  of the West Syrian Church along with the prevalent East Syrian traditions. The invasions of [[Tippu Sultan]] and devastation of many Christians and churches from Koodungallur to Kunnamkulam and forced conversions of Thomas Christians to Islam happened in this period.<ref>http://malankaraorthodoxchurch.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=96</ref>
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:Mar Dionysius(Marthoma VI) was captured by [[Thachil Matthoo Tharakan]] a prominent Roman Catholic St. Thomas Christian and forced to conduct a Latin Catholic mass. But he escaped because of a Hindu revolt led by [[Velu Thampi Dalawa]].<ref> Sankunny Menon, P. (1878) A History of Travancore from the Earliest Times, (Thiruvithancore Charitram).Page 246.</ref> Died on April 8, 1808 and laid to rest at [[St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu]].
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* '''[[Mar Thoma VII]]'''(1808-1809)- Consecrated by Marthoma VI in 1796. Unfortunately he had a very short span of life as metropolitan. The only events worth recording are the deposit of the Trust Fund money with the [[East India Company]] and withdrawal of the interest thereon for the first time.<ref>http://malankaraorthodoxchurch.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=96</ref> Marthoma died on July 4,1809 and was interred at Kolencherry St. Peter's and St. Pauls Orthodox Church.
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*'''[[Mar Thoma VIII]]'''((1809-1816)- Consecrated on July 2, 1809 by Marthoma VII. During his time [[Orthodox Pazhaya Seminary]] or "Old Syrian Seminary" was opened and modern education began in Kerala. Marthoma died on January 26 1816 and was interred at [[St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu]] .<ref>http://kottayamcheriapally.com/index/index/content/1493/History.html</ref> The establishment of Seminary and the rise of Pulikootil Joseph Ramban who was in charge of it weakened the prestige and power of the Mar Thoma considerably.
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* '''[[Mar Thoma IX]]'''(1816-1817)- Consecrated by Marthoma VIII without the consent of the people. So he retired to [[Kadamattom Church]] and spent the rest of his days there.<ref>http://kottayamcheriapally.com/index/index/content/1493/History.html</ref>
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Until Marthoma IX, all Metropolitans came from the Pakalomattom family. The rise of Pulikottil Joseph Ramban changed this and the people identified him as their new leader. With him the tradition of Marthoma Metrans from Pakalomattom family came to an end.
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*'''[[Mar Thoma X]]''' (Malankara Metropolitan) (1816-1816)- Also known as Pulikottil Joseph Mar Dionysius, was consecrated by Mar Philoxenos II, of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church (Thozhiyoor Sabha). He died on November 25, 1816 and was buried at Seminary Church.
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The new bishops after Marthoma IX came from different families and they came to be known more popularly with the title [[Malankara Metropolitans]] rather than as Mar Thoma. Malankara Metropolitans started to be recognised by the secular rulers of Travancore and Cochin kingdoms, by a Royal Proclamation.<ref>http://kottayamcheriapally.com/index/index/content/1493/History.html</ref> Neverthless the title ''Marthoma'' continues to be used by the Catholicos of the Indian Orthodox Church.<ref>http://malankaraorthodoxchurch.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=261</ref>
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===19<sup>th</sup> century===
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In 1795 the British captured Malabar, Kerala. In 1806, the British Governor General of India sent the Rev. Claudius Buchanan, an Anglican priest, to conduct research into the life of the ancient Church of St.Thomas in India. The Anglican missionaries were interested in the welfare of the Malankara Church, and they helped the church to start a theological seminary at Kottayam in 1815. Soon, however, the missionaries began to impose Protestant doctrines on the seminarians.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} As a result the Malankara church discontinued the association.
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This eventually gave rise to the division of the community into three bodies.
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:One of them set out to bring about major reforms in the liturgy and practices of the Church, but failed. After about half a century of conflict within the Church, this body withdrew, and organized itself as the [[Mar Thoma Church]].
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:A smaller body of the Malankara Church opted to join with the missionaries and be absorbed into the [[Anglican Church]]. A large majority of the community continued in the Malankara Orthodox Church without accepting the reforms.<ref> See verdict of Royal Court in 1899, all churches except 3 were vested with the Malankara Church. Also see discussion under "total population" title on the talkpage of Marthoma Church</ref>
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The London Missionary Service was active in India. Bishop Norton inaugurated the first Anglican Church in Kerala at Thalavady in the house of one Itty Matthan Panickar. This church was later known as Christian Missionary Service and after Indian Independence it became the [[Church of South India]]. Later in the 19<sup>th</sup> century, exposure to the doctrines of the [[Church of England]] inspired a reform movement led by Abraham Malpan. This led to the formation of the [[Mar Thoma Church]].
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===20<sup>th</sup> century===
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In 1912, the Catholicate of the East was revived in India. The Malankara Orthodox Church wanted to retain its autocephalous nature. It appealed to Patriarch Ignatius Abdul Masiha II of the Syriac Orthodox Church, who ordained Murimattathil Paulose Mar Ivanios as Baseliose Paulose, Catholicos of the East. The ceremony was held at St. Mary's Church, Niranam in 1912 <ref>http://niranamchurch.com/</ref>.
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The Metropolitan Bishopric of the United States and Canada was created in 1979 with the appointment of Thomas Mar Makarios to the new diocese. The first church of this diocese was consecrated in 1980 as the St. George Malankara Orthodox Church, located in New York.
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==Catholicate==
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s Designate.]]The word "Catholicos" means "The General Head". It can be considered as equivalent to "Universal Bishop". There were only three ranks of priesthood in the early Church: Episcopos (Bishop), Priest, and Deacon. By the end of the third century certain bishops of certain important cities in the Roman empire gained pre-eminence over other bishops and they came to be known as Metropolitans. The Ecumenical councils of the fourth century recognized the supreme authority of these Metropolitans. By the fifth century, the Bishops in major cities like Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch etc. gained control over the churches in the surrounding cities. Gradually they became the heads of each independent regional church and were called Patriarch which means ''common father''. The same rank in the Churches outside the Roman Empire was called Catholicos. There were three ancient Catholicates in the Church before the fifth century. They were the Catholicate of the East, the Catholicate of Armenia and the Catholicate of Georgia. None of these ranks and titles are the monopoly of any church. Any Apostolic and national church has the authority to declare and call its head, Catholicos, Pope, or Patriarch.
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St.Thomas established the church in India and is recognized as its first Head or Catholicos.
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The reign of the Archdeacons started from the fourth century and lasted until the sixteenth century. The third stage started when the archdeacon was elevated to the position of a Bishop by the community with the name Marthoma I in 1653. Since then the head of the community was the Marthoma Metrans and later the position was developed to Malankara Metropolitan with more recognition.
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In 1912, the Catholicate of the East was relocated to India, and [[Baselios Paulose I]] was seated on the Honorary Apostolic Throne of St.Thomas as the Catholicos of the East.
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====Catholicate Palace====
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<!---[[Image:Devalokamaram.jpg‎|200px|thumb|Devalokam Aramana|right]]--->[[Image:Kabar.jpg‎|200px|right|Sanctuary of Catholicoses|thumb]]
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The Headquarters of the Indian Orthodox Church, named Devalokam is located at Kottayam, in Kerala.
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It is the official headquarters of the Catholicos Of The East who reigns on the Honorary Throne of St. Thomas, the Apostle, and was established on 31 December 1951.
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The new Aramana which was built in 1961 was inaugurated by the visiting Armenian Catholicos [[Vazgen I]].
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A burial place for the interment of the Holy Fathers was constructed next to the Aramana by Baselios Ougen I Catholicos. The burial places of Baselios Geevarghese II and Baselios Ougen I were embossed with marble and made beautiful with ornate engravings. The room for tombs was widened in order to facilitate the interment of successors of the Catholicos.
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The mortal remains of Baselious Geevarghese II, Baselious Augen I Baselious Marthoma Mathews I, and Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios Great Metropolitan of the West are entombed in the Catholicate Chapel. A portion of the holy relics of St. Thomas, the Apostle of India and Founder of the Church, is also kept in the chapel.
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==List of Catholicos==
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The Catholicos lineage starts from the Apostle Thomas, continuing with the bishops of [[Edessa, Mesopotamia|Edessa]] and Archbishops in [[Selucia-Ctesiphon]]. In 410 AD,  Isaac first used the title Catholicos. Since then, the Catholicos has claimed jurisdiction over all Christians of the East outside the Roman Empire.
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This Catholicate resided in Persia until the end of the 19th century. In 1912 , the senior Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch
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<ref>Existing Patriarch was deposed uncanonically by a muslim ruler. This led to two Patriarchs in the same period. Refer website [http://www.stmarysbronx.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=81] </ref>relocated the Catholicate to India. Catholicos Didymos I is the 111th Catholicos sitting on the throne of Saint Thomas.<!---there are FIVE Patriarchs of Antioch. Need to name the one that gave the order here---> The Orthodox Catholicos is known also known as [[Maphrian]] to distinguish this church from the schismatic lineage formed in the latter half of the 5th century due to Nestorian influence.
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To see the lineage of Catholicos: [[List of Catholicos of the East]]
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*[[Baselios Paulose I]] (1912-1914) (Catholicos of the East)
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*[[Baselios Geevarghese I]] (1925-1928) (Catholicos of the East)
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*[[Baselios Geevarghese II]] (Catholicos of the East, 1929-1964 & Malankara Metropolitan, 1934-1964)
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*[[Baselios Augen I]] (1964-1975) (Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan)
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*[[Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I]] (1975-1991) (Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan)
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*[[Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II]] (1991-2005) (Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan)
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*[[Baselios Thoma Didymos I]] (2005-present) (Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan)
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<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:catholicos1.jpg|100px]] -->
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[[Image:catholicos2.jpg|100px]]
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[[Image:catholicos3.jpg|100px]]
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[[Image:catholicos4.jpg|100px]]
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[[Image:catholicos5.jpg|100px]]
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[[Image:catholicos6.jpg|132px]]
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==Saints of the Church ==
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*[[Parumala Thirumeni]] (Gheevarghese Mor Gregorious) (Declared by the Holy Synod, in 1947, by Catholicos Baselios Gheevarghese II)
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*[[Eldho Mor Baselios]] of [[Kothamangalam]]  (Declared by the Holy Synod, in 1947, by Catholicos Baselios Gheevarghese II)
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*[[Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril]]  (Declared by the Holy Synod, in 2003 by Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews II)
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==Current Metropolitan==
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[[File:St_Thomas_Christians_divisions.png‎ |thumb|Right|450px|Relationship of the Nasrani ([[Saint Thomas Christians]]) groups]]
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<!---please do not use HH, HB, Moran Mar or other honorifics with titles. This is contrary to [[WP:MOS]]--->
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* [[Baselios Thoma Didymos I]] (Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan)
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* Paulose Milithios (Catholicos Designate)
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* Dr. Geevarghese Osthathios               
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* Mathews Barnabas
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* Thomas Athanasius
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* Geevarghese Ivanios
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* Dr. Thomas Athanasius
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* Dr. Yuhanon Milithios
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* Kuriakose Cleemis
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* Zachariah Anthonios
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* Dr. Mathews Severius
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* Job Philoxenos
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* Geevarghese Coorilos
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* Paulose Pachomius
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* Dr. Yakoob Irenaeus
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* Zachariah Nicholovos
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* Dr. [[Gabriel Mar Gregorios]]
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* Dr. Zachariah Theophilos
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* Dr. Yuhanon Chrysostomos
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* Yuhanon Policarpos
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* Mathews Theodosius
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* Joseph Dionysius
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* Abraham Ephiphanios
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* Dr. Mathews Timothios
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* [[Alexios Eusebios]]
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* Dr. Yuhanon Dioscoros
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==Theological seminaries==
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*[[Orthodox Pazhaya Seminary]](Old Syrian Seminary), Kottayam
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*[[Nagpur St. Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary]] (St.Thomas Theological Seminary, Nagpur)
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==Ecumenical relations==
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The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church takes an active role in various ecumenical activities at national and international levels. It was a founding member of the [[World Council of Churches]].<ref>The Encyclopedia of Christianity By FAHLBUSCH, Erwin Fahlbusch, Geoffrey William Bromiley page285</ref>
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Various theologians were involved in negotiations between the [[Oriental Orthodox]] and the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Byzantine church]]es. The Indian Orthodox Church participated in the Ecumenical Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches held in Addis Ababa, in 1965.
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[[Paulos Mar Gregorios|Metropolitan Dr. Paulos Gregorios]] was one of eight presidents of World Council of Churches.<!---the organization is really run by the general secretary. Presidential titles are honorary, apparently. I think this should mostly be deleted and merged into the above. The only conclusion that anyone can reasonably reach is that the WCC is vastly more important than the Indian Orthodox church. This is NOT what we are trying to convey with this article--->
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Other organizations to which the church belongs are
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*Faith and Order Commission
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*Christian Conference of Asia.
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*Global Christian Forum
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== Monasteries of the Church==
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*[[Vallikkattu Syrian Dayara, Vakathanam]]
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*[[St.Thomas Dayara, Bhilai]]
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*[[Mount Tabor Dayara, Pathanapuram]]
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*[[Mar Kuriakose Dayara, Pampady]]
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*[[Bethany Ashram, Perunad]]
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*[[Christushishiya Ashram (Thadakam), Coimbatore]]
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*[[Mar Kuriakose Ashram, Mylapra]]
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*[[Mar Basil Dayara, Pathanamthitta]]
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*[[St.George Dayara, Othara]]
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*[[St.Pauls Ashram, Puthuppady]]
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*[[Bethlehem Ashram, Chengamanad]]
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*[[Chayalode Ashram, Pathanmthitta]]
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*[[Holy Trinity Ashram, Ranni]]
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*[[Mar Baselios Ashram, Njaliakuzhy]]
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*[[Bethel Ashram, Kuttikonam]]
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*[[Calvary Ashram, Pattazhi]]
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*[[St.Thomas Ashram, Sooranad]]
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*[[Mount Carmel Ashram, Kallada]]
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*[[St.Thomas Ashram, Attapadi]]
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*[[St.Thomas Syrian Dayara, Vettikal]]
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*[[Thrikkunnathu Jacobite Seminary, Aluva]] (Head Quarters of Angamali Diocese)
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*[[Mount Horeb Sasthamcotta]] (Tomb of Baselious Marthoma Mathews II)
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==Pilgrim sites==
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<!---these need some kind of organization. Alphabetical, geographical, whatever. This is a junkpile collection--->
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====Founded by St.Thomas====
 +
[[Image:Parumalchurch.jpg‎ |150px|right|thumb|Parumala Church]]
 +
*St.Mary's Church, Niranam<ref>[http://www.niranamchurch.com/ St. Mary's Church, Niranam]</ref>
 +
*[[Thiruvithancode church]]
 +
 
 +
====Tomb Churches====
 +
*[[St.Peter's & St.Paul's Syrian Orthodox Church, Parumala]]<ref>[http://www.parumalachurch.com/]</ref>
 +
*Pampady Dayara
 +
*Thevalakkara Mar Abo church <ref>http://www.marthamariamorthodoxsyrianchurch-thevalakara.in/</ref>
 +
*Kallada Valiyapalli
 +
*Relics of [[Julius Mar Alvares]], St. Marys Orthodox Church, Panjim, Goa
 +
 
 +
====Churches with Historical Importance====
 +
*[[Mulanthuruthy marthoman church|Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Cathedral]]
 +
*[[Kottayam Cheriapally]]<ref>[http://www.cheriapally.com]</ref>
 +
*Pampakuda Cheriapally (St.Thomas Church)
 +
*Kallooppara St. Marys Orthodox Church <ref>www.kalloopparachurch.com</ref>
 +
*Vakathanam Vallikkattu Syrian Dayro
 +
*Paliyekkara Palli
 +
*[[Kadamattom Church]]
 +
*[[Puthupally Palli]]<ref>[http://www.puthuppallypally.in]</ref>
 +
*[[Coonan Cross Oath]] Memorial Holy Cross, St. George Orthodox Church, Mattancherry
 +
 
 +
==Dioceses==
 +
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
 +
|-
 +
| [[Angamaly Diocese]]
 +
| [[Chengannur Diocese]]
 +
| [[Idukki Diocese]]
 +
| [[Kandanad East Diocese]]
 +
|-
 +
| [[Kandanad West Diocese]]
 +
| [[Kollam Diocese]]
 +
| [[Kunnamkulam Diocese]]
 +
| [[Kottayam Diocese]] 
 +
|-
 +
| [[Malabar Diocese]]
 +
| [[Mavelikara Diocese]]
 +
| [[Niranam Diocese]]
 +
| [[Sulthan Bathery Diocese]]
 +
|-
 +
| [[Thumpamon Diocese]]
 +
| [[Trichur Diocese]]
 +
| [[Trivandrum Diocese ]]
 +
| [[Ahamedabad Diocese]]
 +
|-
 +
| [[Bangalore Diocese]]
 +
| [[Delhi Diocese]]
 +
| [[Kolkata Diocese]]
 +
| [[Madras Diocese]]
 +
|-
 +
| [[Mumbai Diocese]]
 +
| [[North East America]]
 +
| [[South West America]]
 +
| [[UK Europe & Africa]]
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
== See also ==
 +
* [[Brahmavar (Goan) Orthodox Church]]
 +
* [[Syriac Orthodox Church of Germany]]
 +
* [[Orthodox Church of the East]]
 +
* [[List of Orthodox Churches]]
 +
* [[List of Catholicos of the East]]
 +
* [[List of Patriarchs of Antioch]] - Until the Chalcedon Schism
 +
 
 +
== Footnotes ==
 +
{{reflist}}
 +
 
 +
==External references==
 +
*{{citation|last=Fahlbusch|first=Erwin Fahlbusch, Geoffrey William Bromiley|year=198|title= The Encyclopedia of Christianity|place=|publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2008|ISBN=080282417X,9780802824172}}
 +
===External links===
 +
<!---too many links. Need to think of a way to get rid of most of them--->
 +
* [http://www.indianchristianity.org/ Official website of the Indian Christian Churches]
 +
* [http://www.malankaraorthodoxchurch.in/ Official website of the Indian Orthodox Church]
 +
* [http://www.orthodoxherald.com/ Indian Orthodox Herald - Breaking Church News And Doctrinal Information]
 +
* [http://www.orthodoxchurch.fm/ Official Malankara Orthodox Church Radio]
 +
* [http://www.orthodoxchurch.tv/ Official  Malankara Orthodox Church TV]
 +
* [http://www.indianorthodoxchurch.in/ Complete website of the Indian Orthodox Church ]
 +
* [http://www.malankaraorthodox.tv/ Website of the Indian Orthodox Church]
 +
* [http://www.orthodoxsyrianchurch.com/ Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Website ]
 +
* [http://www.orthodoxchurch.in/ Live Malankara Orthodox Church News - Gregorian Voice - Powered by Gregorian News ]
 +
* [http://www.malankaravideos.com/ Malankara Orthodox Videos Portal - Powered by Gregorian TV]
 +
* [http://www.malankara.orthodoxchurch.in/ Malankara Orthodox Church Portal]
 +
* [http://www.parumalachurch.com/ Official  Site of Parumala Church]
 +
* [http://www.mgocn.org/ MGOCN (Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Network)]
 +
* [http://www.cheriapally.com Kottayam Cheriapally]
 +
* [http://www.icon.org.in ICON (Indian Christian Orthodox Network)]
 +
* [http://www.malankaraonline.com Malankara Online Community]
 +
* [http://www.marmakarios.org Dr. Thomas  Makarios' website]
 +
* [http://www.augenthirumeni.com Augen Dionysius' website]
 +
* [http://stmarysorthodoxcathedralekm.org Cochin City's Mother church]
 +
* [http://www.iods.org Indian Orthodox Diaspora Secretariat website]
 +
 
 +
 
 +
{{Syriac Christianity}}
 +
 
 +
{{Oriental Orthodoxy}}
 +
{{Churches in India}}
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Oriental Orthodoxy]]
 +
[[Category:Christianity in India]]
 +
[[Category:Syriac Orthodox Church|India]]
 +
[[Category:Saint Thomas Christians]]
 +
[[Category:National churches|India]]
 +
[[Category:Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church| ]]
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 +
[[frp:Égllése malancara ortodoxe]]
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[[bg:Индийска православна църква]]
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[[de:Malankara Orthodox-Syrische Kirche]]
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[[es:Iglesia Ortodoxa Malankara]]
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[[fr:Église malankare orthodoxe]]
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[[hu:Indiai Ortodox Egyház]]
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[[ml:മലങ്കര സഭ]]
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[[nl:Syro-Malankara-orthodoxe Kerk]]
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[[pl:Ortodoksyjny Kościół Malankaru]]
 +
[[st:marys orthodox chruch]]

Revision as of 03:46, March 2, 2010

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is popularly known as Indian Orthodox Church in the International Orthodox Communion of Churches. This Church is believed to have been founded by Apostle Thomas in his mission to India in the first century AD.

From the fourth century the Indian Church entered into a close relationship with the Persian or East Syrian Church. From the Persians, the Indians inherited East Syrian language and liturgies and gradually came to be known as Syrian Christians.

In the sixteenth century Roman Catholic missionaries came to Kerala. They tried to unite the Syrian Christians to the Roman Catholic Church and this led to a split in the community. Those who accepted Catholicism are the present Syro-Malabar Catholics.

In the seventeenth century the Church came to a relationship with the Antiochene Church. As a result of this relationship the Church received West Syrian liturgies and practices.

At present the Church is using the West Syrian liturgy. The faith of the Church is that which was established by the three Ecumenical Council of Nicea (A.D. 325), Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381) and Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431).[1]

This Indian Orthodox Church was known as Jacobite Church from 1665, until the adoption of new constitution of the church in 1934. This change was made in confirmation with its theological and traditional connections with other Orthodox church bodies of the world.

The church is theologically and traditional a part of the Oriental Orthodox Communion of Churches.The Indian Orthodox Church accepts the Alexandrian Christology, as does the Coptic Orthodox Church and its two sister churches, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Church.

Hierarchy, distribution and doctrine

The spiritual regional head of the church is the Catholicos of the East and the temporal head over the church assets is Malankara Metropolitan. Since 1934, both the titles vest in one person. The official title of the head of the Church is the "Catholicos of the East and the Malankara Metropolitan". The present Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan is Baselios Marthoma Didymos I, who was enthroned on October 31, 2005, at Parumala Church by the Holy Synod. Didymos I is the 111th Catholicos of the East in the lineage of Apostle Thomas; 6th Catholicos after its re-instatement in India and 19th Malankara Metropolitan.

The church accepts only the first three Ecumenical Synods like all other Oriental Orthodox Churches.

The church uses the liturgy of Saint James, as does its sister church, the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch. The Church in India was connected to the Church of East through the Catholicos of the East, existed in Edessa, Selucia, Tigris and Mosul in various intervals. Today the Church conducts liturgy in West Syriac, Malayalam, Hindi, and English.

The church has theological seminaries at Kottayam and Nagpur. The Church has dioceses and churches in most parts of India as well as in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Western Europe, Persian Gulf nations, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

The name, Malankara Orthodox Church, refers to St.Thomas Christians of India, that come under Catholicate of the East whose Supreme Head is His Holiness The Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan,with headquarters at Devalokam, Kottayam, Kerala, India.

History

First 17 centuries

Template:Indian Christian History 52-1653

Until 1599, it depended on the Assyrian (Persian) Church for prelates to ordain its priests.[2]

Archadyakons of Malankara (8th century - 17th cen*tury)

Archdeacon or Arkadayakon in Malayalam was “the prince and head of the Christians of Saint Thomas” and had such titles as Archdeacon and Gate of All India, Governor of India. He was the temporal ruler and administrator of the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala. The Archdeacon was more of a secular ruler, having sanction of local Hindu rulers and he is said to have carried around a small army of few hundred syrian christian soldiers.[3]

The earliest historical documents that shows the existence of Archdeacons is around the year AD 800. The Nestorian Patriarch Timothy I (780-826) wrote to the Archdeacon ( Arken), the Head of the Faithful in India, about the right norms to be followed in the ordination of the priests, bishops, metropolitans and patriarch.[4]

After the arrival of the Portuguese, the records next mention Archdeacons. The following is a known list of Archdeacons in Malankara:[5]

  • Nestorian Patriarch Timothy I calls Archdeacon ( Arken), head of faithful of India c.780-826
  • Metropolitan Mar John appoints George Pakalomattam ( Ittikuriath) as Archdeacon 1502
  • Followed by Archdeacons Jacob and Alexander according to tradition (Dates unknown)
  • Archdeacon George of Christ ( Mentioned in 1552 documents onwards) c.1552-1585
  • Archdeacon John c.1585-1591
  • Archdeacon Jacob appointed by Mar Simon c. 1584-1596
  • Archdeacon George of the Cross appointed by Archbishop Mar Abraham 1593-1640
  • Archdeacon Thomas appointed by elders of Malankara. In 1653, after the Coonan Cross Oath, Archdeacon Thomas was consecrated as Bishop Mar Thoma I, thus the role was changed and his line continued until Mar Thoma VIII in 1815 among the Malankara Orthodox Syrians[6].

Reign of the Marthomans(1653-1816)

In 1653, following the Coonen Cross Oath the Malankara Church felt the need to have an indigenous bishop. The parish elders (Idavaka Mooppens) of the Church met together and elected Archdeacon Thoma Kathanar as their leader. This was followed by a general meeting at Allangad on May 22, 1653 where Archdeacon Thomas was elevated to the status of bishop with the title Mar Thoma I by laying on of hands of 12 leading priests of the Church. [7]

The other section of christians under the Roman Catholic Church did not consider Mar Thoma I as a bishop due to the nature of his ordination and many of the revolters returned to the Roman Catholic Church between 1653 and 1665 as a result of the proseltysation efforts of the Carmelite missionaries send by Rome.[8]. To confirm this rank, the Metropolitan and leaders of the Church together wrote letters to the patriarchs of Alexandria and Antioch to send a higher authority[9].Mar Gregorios Abdul Jaleel, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem arrived in 1665 and regularised the ordination of Mar Thoma I.[10] This started the reign of the Marthoma methran of Pakalomattom family in Malankara.

  • Mar Thoma I (1653-1670)- In 1653, Kuravilangad Parampil Thomas Kathanar of Pakalomattam family was consecrated with the title Marthoma I by the Malankara Moopens. In 1665 his ordination was regularised by the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Mar Gregorios of Jerusalem. Marthoma I survived a number of assassination attempts. He died on April 25, 1670 and was interred in Ankamali Marthommen Church.[11]
File:Marthoma I.jpg
Painting of Mar Thoma I at Ankamaly Syrian Orthodox Church
  • Mar Thoma II (1670-1686)- Before his demise in 1670, Mar Thoma I ordained his nephew as Mar Thoma II. According to a local tradition once the people of Niranam were suffering from severe drought and they appealed to Mar Thoma II for his special prayers. They believe that as a result of his prayers the village received plenty of showers. Mar Thoma II led the church for 16 years and died in 1686. His mortal remains were buried inside the St.Marys Orthodox Church,Niranam and every year his memorial day is celebrated on 16th of April.[12] It was during his time that Eldho Mor Baselios & Hidayathullah Mar Ivanios from Syria visited Malankara.[13]
  • Mar Thoma III (1686-1688)- Consecrated by Mar Ivanios Hidayathullah (from Antioch). He could serve the Church only a few years, he died on April 21, 1688. He was laid to rest at Kadampanad Church, Near Adoor. [14]
  • Mar Thoma IV(1688-1728)- Consecrated by Mar Ivanios Hidayathullah. He ruled the Church for four decades. The East Syrian Catholicos-Patriarch of Babylon, hearing of members lost to the Roman Catholics, sent Mar Gabriel to Kerala to try to reclaim them.
It was important for Mar Thoma IV to monitor this bishop doctrinally and administratively. In confronting Mar Gabriel however, Marthoma IV found himself incompetent. He sent several appeals to the West Syrian Patriarch asking for help. But no reply or help came. He died on March 24, 1728 and is entombed at St.Mary’s Orthodox Church, Kandanadu.[15]
  • Mar Thoma V (1728-1765)– Consecrated by Marthoma IV. In 1752 when Mar Baselios and Mar Gregorios came to Malankara, they insisted that he should receive their Kaiveppu (laying of hands) but he refused to comply fearing Antiochean domination.[16] Not only that, he concecrated his successor Mar Thoma VI without any assistance from foreign bishops thus severing all allegiance to foreign bishops.Until Mar Thoma V,Malankara Church followed almost entirely East Syriac language, liturgy and practices. He died on May 8, 1765 and was buried at St.Marys Orthodox Church, Niranam.
  • Mar Thoma VI (1765-1808)- (1765-1808) Consecrated by Marthoma V. On June 1770, to avoid a split in the Church, he accepted re-consecration and the title Dionysius from Antiochan bishops.[17] He also agreed with Mar Ivanios the visiting West Syrian bishop to follow in his Church certain traditions of the West Syrian Church along with the prevalent East Syrian traditions. The invasions of Tippu Sultan and devastation of many Christians and churches from Koodungallur to Kunnamkulam and forced conversions of Thomas Christians to Islam happened in this period.[18]
Mar Dionysius(Marthoma VI) was captured by Thachil Matthoo Tharakan a prominent Roman Catholic St. Thomas Christian and forced to conduct a Latin Catholic mass. But he escaped because of a Hindu revolt led by Velu Thampi Dalawa.[19] Died on April 8, 1808 and laid to rest at St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu.
  • Mar Thoma VII(1808-1809)- Consecrated by Marthoma VI in 1796. Unfortunately he had a very short span of life as metropolitan. The only events worth recording are the deposit of the Trust Fund money with the East India Company and withdrawal of the interest thereon for the first time.[20] Marthoma died on July 4,1809 and was interred at Kolencherry St. Peter's and St. Pauls Orthodox Church.
  • Mar Thoma VIII((1809-1816)- Consecrated on July 2, 1809 by Marthoma VII. During his time Orthodox Pazhaya Seminary or "Old Syrian Seminary" was opened and modern education began in Kerala. Marthoma died on January 26 1816 and was interred at St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu .[21] The establishment of Seminary and the rise of Pulikootil Joseph Ramban who was in charge of it weakened the prestige and power of the Mar Thoma considerably.
  • Mar Thoma IX(1816-1817)- Consecrated by Marthoma VIII without the consent of the people. So he retired to Kadamattom Church and spent the rest of his days there.[22]

Until Marthoma IX, all Metropolitans came from the Pakalomattom family. The rise of Pulikottil Joseph Ramban changed this and the people identified him as their new leader. With him the tradition of Marthoma Metrans from Pakalomattom family came to an end.

  • Mar Thoma X (Malankara Metropolitan) (1816-1816)- Also known as Pulikottil Joseph Mar Dionysius, was consecrated by Mar Philoxenos II, of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church (Thozhiyoor Sabha). He died on November 25, 1816 and was buried at Seminary Church.

The new bishops after Marthoma IX came from different families and they came to be known more popularly with the title Malankara Metropolitans rather than as Mar Thoma. Malankara Metropolitans started to be recognised by the secular rulers of Travancore and Cochin kingdoms, by a Royal Proclamation.[23] Neverthless the title Marthoma continues to be used by the Catholicos of the Indian Orthodox Church.[24]

19th century

In 1795 the British captured Malabar, Kerala. In 1806, the British Governor General of India sent the Rev. Claudius Buchanan, an Anglican priest, to conduct research into the life of the ancient Church of St.Thomas in India. The Anglican missionaries were interested in the welfare of the Malankara Church, and they helped the church to start a theological seminary at Kottayam in 1815. Soon, however, the missionaries began to impose Protestant doctrines on the seminarians.Template:Citation needed As a result the Malankara church discontinued the association.

This eventually gave rise to the division of the community into three bodies.

One of them set out to bring about major reforms in the liturgy and practices of the Church, but failed. After about half a century of conflict within the Church, this body withdrew, and organized itself as the Mar Thoma Church.
A smaller body of the Malankara Church opted to join with the missionaries and be absorbed into the Anglican Church. A large majority of the community continued in the Malankara Orthodox Church without accepting the reforms.[25]

The London Missionary Service was active in India. Bishop Norton inaugurated the first Anglican Church in Kerala at Thalavady in the house of one Itty Matthan Panickar. This church was later known as Christian Missionary Service and after Indian Independence it became the Church of South India. Later in the 19th century, exposure to the doctrines of the Church of England inspired a reform movement led by Abraham Malpan. This led to the formation of the Mar Thoma Church.

20th century

In 1912, the Catholicate of the East was revived in India. The Malankara Orthodox Church wanted to retain its autocephalous nature. It appealed to Patriarch Ignatius Abdul Masiha II of the Syriac Orthodox Church, who ordained Murimattathil Paulose Mar Ivanios as Baseliose Paulose, Catholicos of the East. The ceremony was held at St. Mary's Church, Niranam in 1912 [26].

The Metropolitan Bishopric of the United States and Canada was created in 1979 with the appointment of Thomas Mar Makarios to the new diocese. The first church of this diocese was consecrated in 1980 as the St. George Malankara Orthodox Church, located in New York.

Catholicate

s Designate.]]The word "Catholicos" means "The General Head". It can be considered as equivalent to "Universal Bishop". There were only three ranks of priesthood in the early Church: Episcopos (Bishop), Priest, and Deacon. By the end of the third century certain bishops of certain important cities in the Roman empire gained pre-eminence over other bishops and they came to be known as Metropolitans. The Ecumenical councils of the fourth century recognized the supreme authority of these Metropolitans. By the fifth century, the Bishops in major cities like Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch etc. gained control over the churches in the surrounding cities. Gradually they became the heads of each independent regional church and were called Patriarch which means common father. The same rank in the Churches outside the Roman Empire was called Catholicos. There were three ancient Catholicates in the Church before the fifth century. They were the Catholicate of the East, the Catholicate of Armenia and the Catholicate of Georgia. None of these ranks and titles are the monopoly of any church. Any Apostolic and national church has the authority to declare and call its head, Catholicos, Pope, or Patriarch.

St.Thomas established the church in India and is recognized as its first Head or Catholicos.

The reign of the Archdeacons started from the fourth century and lasted until the sixteenth century. The third stage started when the archdeacon was elevated to the position of a Bishop by the community with the name Marthoma I in 1653. Since then the head of the community was the Marthoma Metrans and later the position was developed to Malankara Metropolitan with more recognition.

In 1912, the Catholicate of the East was relocated to India, and Baselios Paulose I was seated on the Honorary Apostolic Throne of St.Thomas as the Catholicos of the East.

Catholicate Palace

File:Kabar.jpg
Sanctuary of Catholicoses

The Headquarters of the Indian Orthodox Church, named Devalokam is located at Kottayam, in Kerala. It is the official headquarters of the Catholicos Of The East who reigns on the Honorary Throne of St. Thomas, the Apostle, and was established on 31 December 1951.

The new Aramana which was built in 1961 was inaugurated by the visiting Armenian Catholicos Vazgen I.

A burial place for the interment of the Holy Fathers was constructed next to the Aramana by Baselios Ougen I Catholicos. The burial places of Baselios Geevarghese II and Baselios Ougen I were embossed with marble and made beautiful with ornate engravings. The room for tombs was widened in order to facilitate the interment of successors of the Catholicos.

The mortal remains of Baselious Geevarghese II, Baselious Augen I Baselious Marthoma Mathews I, and Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios Great Metropolitan of the West are entombed in the Catholicate Chapel. A portion of the holy relics of St. Thomas, the Apostle of India and Founder of the Church, is also kept in the chapel.

List of Catholicos

The Catholicos lineage starts from the Apostle Thomas, continuing with the bishops of Edessa and Archbishops in Selucia-Ctesiphon. In 410 AD, Isaac first used the title Catholicos. Since then, the Catholicos has claimed jurisdiction over all Christians of the East outside the Roman Empire.

This Catholicate resided in Persia until the end of the 19th century. In 1912 , the senior Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch [27]relocated the Catholicate to India. Catholicos Didymos I is the 111th Catholicos sitting on the throne of Saint Thomas. The Orthodox Catholicos is known also known as Maphrian to distinguish this church from the schismatic lineage formed in the latter half of the 5th century due to Nestorian influence.

To see the lineage of Catholicos: List of Catholicos of the East

100px 100px 100px 100px 132px

Saints of the Church

Current Metropolitan

  • Baselios Thoma Didymos I (Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan)
  • Paulose Milithios (Catholicos Designate)
  • Dr. Geevarghese Osthathios
  • Mathews Barnabas
  • Thomas Athanasius
  • Geevarghese Ivanios
  • Dr. Thomas Athanasius
  • Dr. Yuhanon Milithios
  • Kuriakose Cleemis
  • Zachariah Anthonios
  • Dr. Mathews Severius
  • Job Philoxenos
  • Geevarghese Coorilos
  • Paulose Pachomius
  • Dr. Yakoob Irenaeus
  • Zachariah Nicholovos
  • Dr. Gabriel Mar Gregorios
  • Dr. Zachariah Theophilos
  • Dr. Yuhanon Chrysostomos
  • Yuhanon Policarpos
  • Mathews Theodosius
  • Joseph Dionysius
  • Abraham Ephiphanios
  • Dr. Mathews Timothios
  • Alexios Eusebios
  • Dr. Yuhanon Dioscoros

Theological seminaries

Ecumenical relations

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church takes an active role in various ecumenical activities at national and international levels. It was a founding member of the World Council of Churches.[28]

Various theologians were involved in negotiations between the Oriental Orthodox and the Byzantine churches. The Indian Orthodox Church participated in the Ecumenical Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches held in Addis Ababa, in 1965. Metropolitan Dr. Paulos Gregorios was one of eight presidents of World Council of Churches.

Other organizations to which the church belongs are

  • Faith and Order Commission
  • Christian Conference of Asia.
  • Global Christian Forum

Monasteries of the Church

Pilgrim sites

Founded by St.Thomas

File:Parumalchurch.jpg
Parumala Church

Tomb Churches

Churches with Historical Importance

Dioceses

Angamaly Diocese Chengannur Diocese Idukki Diocese Kandanad East Diocese
Kandanad West Diocese Kollam Diocese Kunnamkulam Diocese Kottayam Diocese
Malabar Diocese Mavelikara Diocese Niranam Diocese Sulthan Bathery Diocese
Thumpamon Diocese Trichur Diocese Trivandrum Diocese Ahamedabad Diocese
Bangalore Diocese Delhi Diocese Kolkata Diocese Madras Diocese
Mumbai Diocese North East America South West America UK Europe & Africa

See also

Footnotes

  1. http://malankaraorthodoxchurch.in
  2. Page 618, Sabha Vijnanakosham(Church Encylopaedia)
  3. Page 55, Malankara Nasranikalude Jathiaulkrishtiyavum Rajyasevanathalparathayum
  4. Page 121, Ibn at- Taiyib II
  5. The list given in ” The Archdeacon of All India” by Dr. Jacob Kollaparambil.
  6. Page 657, Sabha Vijnanakosham(encylopaedia)
  7. http://malankaraorthodoxchurch.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=224
  8. MOSC Sabhavijnanakosham
  9. http://indianchristianity.org/orthodox/forefathers.html
  10. Page 657, Sabha Vijnana Kosham
  11. http://kottayamcheriapally.com/index/index/content/1493/History.html
  12. http://niranamchurch.com/MarThomaMetropolitans.htm#marthomaII
  13. http://cheriapally.com/history/ortho.html
  14. http://niranamchurch.com/MarThomaMetropolitans.htm#marthomaII
  15. http://malankaraorthodoxchurch.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=96
  16. http://indianchristianity.org/orthodox/forefathers.html
  17. http://kottayamcheriapally.com/index/index/content/1493/History.html
  18. http://malankaraorthodoxchurch.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=96
  19. Sankunny Menon, P. (1878) A History of Travancore from the Earliest Times, (Thiruvithancore Charitram).Page 246.
  20. http://malankaraorthodoxchurch.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=96
  21. http://kottayamcheriapally.com/index/index/content/1493/History.html
  22. http://kottayamcheriapally.com/index/index/content/1493/History.html
  23. http://kottayamcheriapally.com/index/index/content/1493/History.html
  24. http://malankaraorthodoxchurch.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=261
  25. See verdict of Royal Court in 1899, all churches except 3 were vested with the Malankara Church. Also see discussion under "total population" title on the talkpage of Marthoma Church
  26. http://niranamchurch.com/
  27. Existing Patriarch was deposed uncanonically by a muslim ruler. This led to two Patriarchs in the same period. Refer website [1]
  28. The Encyclopedia of Christianity By FAHLBUSCH, Erwin Fahlbusch, Geoffrey William Bromiley page285
  29. St. Mary's Church, Niranam
  30. [2]
  31. http://www.marthamariamorthodoxsyrianchurch-thevalakara.in/
  32. [3]
  33. www.kalloopparachurch.com
  34. [4]


External references

  • citation needed

External links


Template:Syriac Christianity

Template:Oriental Orthodoxy Template:Churches in Indiafrp:Égllése malancara ortodoxede:Malankara Orthodox-Syrische Kirchehu:Indiai Ortodox Egyház ml:മലങ്കര സഭ nl:Syro-Malankara-orthodoxe Kerk pl:Ortodoksyjny Kościół Malankaru st:marys orthodox chruch