85-706: Archdeacon Thomas , Anjilimmoottil Ittythomman Kathanar Archbishop Francis Garcia, Portuguese missionaries The Coonan Cross Oath (alternatively spelled Koonan Cross Oath ), also known as the Great Oath of Bent Cross or Leaning Cross Oath , was taken on 3 January 1653, in Mattancherry , by a significant portion of the Saint Thomas Christian community in the Malabar region of India . This public declaration marked their refusal to submit to
170-500: A bishop from among their own people, and chosen by themselves. At this point of time, the Portuguese missionaries attempted reconciliation with Saint Thomas Christians but were not successful. Later, Pope Alexander VII sent a Carmelite priest Joseph Sebastiani as the head of a Carmelite delegation. The Carmelites claimed that the ordination of the archdeacon by the clergy was not in accordance with church law. He managed to persuade
255-540: A copyist, on the other hand, the poor Syriac of the letters and the content style may indicate that they were forged in order to prepare and/or to justify the Coonan Cross revolt, by Saint Thomas Christian priests, having learned Syriac from Francisco Ros . He further highlights that the second letter, which served as basis for the enthronement of the Archdeacon Thomas, does not mention him by name, but on
340-738: A formal split among the Saint Thomas Christians into two factions: the Pazhayakuttukar, or "Old Allegiance," loyal to the Catholic Church under Bishop Palliveettil Chandy , and the Puthankuttukar , or "New Allegiance," led by Thoma I. The Pazhayakuttukar evolved into the modern Syro-Malabar Church and Chaldean Syrian Church , while the Puthankuttukar branched into several denominations, including
425-833: A letter of Dionysious Punnathara ( c. d 1825 ) (a nineteenth century prelate of the Malankara Syrian Church ) to the head of the Anglican Church Missionary Society from a translation of it out of the Syriac original: Mar Dionysius, Metropolitan of the Jacobite-Syrians in Malabar, subject to the authority of our Father, Mar Ignatius, Patriarch, who presides in the Apostolic See of Antioch of Syria, beloved of
510-672: A mass upsurge that heralded the breaking off from the Padroado of the Portuguese Crown and the Jesuits. " In case the patriarch cannot be produced, he having been killed by the Paulists [Jesuits], let any other person of the four religious orders come here by order of the supreme pontiff, a man who knows Syriac, and can teach us in our offices, except the Paulists, whom we do not at all desire, because they are enemies of us and of
595-697: A relative of Geevarghese, was appointed as the next Archdeacon by Archbishop Stephen Britto . In 1653, Thomas and his followers took the Coonan Cross Oath, declaring that they would no longer obey Archbishop Garcia or any other prelate from the Society of Jesus , and they vowed to exclude the Jesuits from Malabar and their churches. After the Coonan Cross Oath, on 5 January 1653, the church elders gathered at St. Mary's Church in Edapally (now dedicated to Saint George ) and proclaimed Archdeacon Thoma as
680-544: A result, the Malankara Church split into two factions: one led by Mar Thoma I and the other by Bishop Palliveettil Mar Chandy , also known as Alexander de Campo. Both claimed to have Apostolic briefs of appointment as Bishop. To resolve the dispute, the case was referred to the King of Cochin. On 20 September 1661, the King requested that both parties present their Apostolic briefs in his court. The Apostolic Commissary
765-630: Is a town located in the Kottayam district of Kerala , South India . The town is situated in the Meenachil Taluk, about 22 km north of Kottayam . Pakalomattom family was one of the oldest families at Kuravilangad . Thomas who later became the first Mar Thoma, was born in this family. Pakalomattom Geevarghese Kathanar , the Archdeacon (Arkkadiyakkon) of the Saint Thomas Christians, passed away in 1637. Following his death, Thomas,
850-768: Is no longer our bishop and we are no longer the subjects of his diocese, unless the Patriarch comes to Malankara and we see him before our very eyes. In order for a bishop to rule our church according to the order of the holy church, it is imperative that Thomas Arcadiacon himself should rule from now on. For this cause the executives are Ittithoman Kathanar of Kallissery Church, Kadavil Chandi kathanar of Kaduthuruthy Church, Vengur Geevarghese Kathanar of Angamaly Church and Chandi kathanar of Kuravilangad Church, and all this four be in charge and they must assemble every three years [regularly] to discuss and to order. Kadavil Chandi Kathanar inscribes this as per this declaration. Sanpaloor
935-499: Is the equivalent of St. Paul's monastery or town, a Portuguese stronghold near Vaippikotta. It was so called because the Paulists or Jesuits resided there. After the Coonan Cross Oath, three letters were circulated, purportedly sent by Ahathalla. One of these letters, read at a meeting in Edappally on 5 February 1653, granted the Archdeacon certain powers of the archbishop. Following this, a large group recognized Archdeacon Thomas as
SECTION 10
#17327870547681020-476: Is the famous oath of the "Coonan Cross" (the open-air Cross which stands outside the church at Mattancherry ). The Saint Thomas Christians did not at any point suggest that they wished to separate themselves from the Pope. They could no longer tolerate the arrogance of Garcia. And their detestation of the Jesuits, to whose overbearing attitude and lack of sympathy they attributed all their troubles, breathes through all
1105-660: The Pazhayakūr . In 1665, Gregorios Abdal Jaleel , said to be a delegate of the Patriarch of Antioch (of the Syriac Orthodox Church ), regularized the consecration of Thoma, who would form the West Syriac oriented Malankara Church . In 1674, Chandy requested Rome to elect a coadjutor and proposed his nephew, Mathew Kunnel for the position. Carmelites arrived in India in 1676 with special Dutch passports (as
1190-528: The Archbishop of Cranganore . There was a plan to appoint Archdeacon Giwargis of Christ by Abraham of Angamaly (1568–1597) as Metropolitan of India. Thus Giwargis should have become, according to the plans of Abraham and supported by the Jesuits , the first indigenous Chaldaean metropolitan of the Saint Thomas Christians. However, from the last letter of Abraham, where he requests the Pope to confirm
1275-753: The Church of Rome through the Chaldean Patriarchate with the arrival of Metropolitan Mar Joseph Sulaqa and patriarchal delegate Mar Elias in AD 1554. Historically, the title of the head of the Church of Saint Thomas was the 'Metropolitan and the Gate of India'. After the Synod of Diamper in 1599, the Church of Saint Thomas Christians became subjected to Latin Church bishops. The Latin missionaries broke
1360-901: The Coonan Cross Oath in 1653 brought secession from the Portuguese Padroado . The faction soon returned to full communion with the Holy See as Eastern Catholics and would later become known as the Syro-Malabar Church . Chandy, whose efforts to reconcile the other dissident Indian factions ultimately failed, died in 1687 and his tomb is at the Marth Mariam Church in Kuravilangad . Historically Saint Thomas Christians were part of East Syriac Church. They came into direct communion with
1445-678: The East Church of Angamāly in the year 1596. Then the Sanpaloor padre [Jesuits priests] stopped the arrival of other Syrians, and oppressed our people, and ruled over them with an iron rule. However, another Syrian Metran [bishop, referring to Ahattalla] arrived at Cochin with the view of coming to us; but soon the news reached us that he had come to an untimely death by being drowned in the sea. Upon this our forefathers assembled at Mattancherry, and took an oath that neither they themselves, nor their descendants, should ever have anything to do with
1530-790: The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church , the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church , and the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church . Saint Thomas Christians of Malabar was in communion with the Church of the East from 300 to 1599 by Portuguese. Saint Thomas Christians looked to Catholicos-Patriarch of the Church of the East for ecclesiastical authority. Although the bishops from the Middle East were the spiritual rulers of
1615-664: The Oriental Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch . Bishop Abdul Jaleel regularised the Episcopal succession of Thoma I. With this, the split among the Saint Thomas Christians became formal. The faction affiliated with the Catholic Church under Bishop Palliveettil Chandy , referred themselves as Pazhayakuttukar , or "Old Allegiance", and called the branch affiliated with Thoma I as Puthankuttukar , or "New Allegiance". These appellations have been somewhat controversial, though, as both parties considered themselves
1700-615: The Society of Jesus (Jesuits), attempted to Latinise the Indian Christians. The Portuguese started a Latin Church diocese in Goa (1534) and another at Cochin (1558), and sought to bring the Saint Thomas Christians under the jurisdiction of the Portuguese padroado and into the Latin Church of the Catholic Church. A series of synods , including the 1585 Synod of Goa , were held, which introduced Latinized elements to
1785-663: The Syriac of these letters is very strange. The first two letters are written in a similar style, incidentally not so good Syriac, but the third one is written in a different style. Some of the historians in Kerala think that second and third letters are forgeries and some consider all three are genuine. Perczel says that it is difficult to conclude the authenticity of these letters; first and second letters are in poor Syriac, with possible Malayalam influences and moreover first letter contains so many absurd errors too; these may be simply due to
SECTION 20
#17327870547681870-503: The Syrian churches ; and when he had assembled all the priests, students and Christians, they heard that Portuguese had brought Mar Ignatius , the patriarch to Cochin. They all immediately arose and went to Cochin Rajah, decalared to him their grievances, and entered him to deliver their patriarch out of the hands of the Portuguese. The Rajah replied that he would certainly deliver him to them
1955-512: The 116 churches in existence were in favor of Sebastiani, leaving only 32 churches in favor of Thoma I. However, in 1663, with the conquest of Cochin by the Dutch , the control of the Portuguese on the Malabar coast was lost. The Dutch declared that all the Portuguese missionaries had to leave Kerala. Before leaving Kerala, on 1 February 1663 Sebastiani consecrated Palliveettil Chandy as the Metran of
2040-554: The 54-year-old Padroado supremacy of the Portuguese Crown over the Thomas Christians which was imposed at the Synod of Diamper in 1599. The exact wordings of the Coonan Cross Oath is disputed. There are various versions on the wording of swearing. Stephen Neill , a Scottish Anglican Protestant missionary and historian, in his book A History of Christianity in India: The Beginnings to AD 1707 explains
2125-588: The Archdeacon Parambil Thoma as the Bishop of Thomas Christians. This revolt was nearly complete and that changed the politics. A protest took place in 1653 with the Coonan Cross Oath . Under the leadership of Archdeacon Thomas, the Thomas Christians publicly took an oath that they would not obey the Jesuit bishops. There are various versions about the wording of oath, one version being that
2210-690: The Catholic faction disputed the validity of this consecration, arguing that it was irregular. It is claimed that the consecration was regularized by Gregorios Abdal Jaleel , a delegate of the Patriarch of Antioch , in 1665, although the exact place and date remain unknown. Thomas adopted the name Mar Thoma, asserting his role as the successor of St. Thomas the Apostle . This consecration was not accepted by two Southist churches, one at Kaduthuruthy and another at Udayamperoor . Later, Bishop Sebastiani, who
2295-501: The Church of Antioch. His episcopal consecration was formally recognized in 1665 by Mar Gregorios Abdal Jaleel , a delegate of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch , though the exact date and location of this event remain unknown. During his tenure, Mar Thoma was advised by Palliveettil Mar Chandy , Kadavil Chandy Kathanar , Vengoor Geevargese Kathanar, and Anjilimoottil Ittithomman Kathanar. Kuravilangad
2380-414: The Church, the general administration of the Church of Kerala was governed by the indigenous Archdeacon. The Archdeacon was the head of Saint Thomas Christians. Even when there were more than one foreign bishop, there was only one Archdeacon for the entire Saint Thomas Christian community. However, with the establishment of Portuguese power in parts of India, the clergy of that empire, in particular members of
2465-557: The Coonan Cross Oath in his letter entitled " The antiquity of the Syrian Christians, and Historical events relating to them " addressed to Jacobus Canter Visscher , a Dutch chaplain at Kochi (1717 –1720). Following is the excerpt from the letter: In the meantime a priest called Mar Matti [referring to Ahattalla] came to Maliapore sent by the Catholic Patriarch. The Portuguese apprehended him and brought him into
2550-670: The Governor of the Church. Four priests— Anjilimoottil Itty Thomman , Kadavil Chandy , Vengoor Geevarghese, and Palliveettil Chandy —were selected as his advisors. Of these, three later returned to the Catholic faction of the St. Thomas Christians. Four months after the Coonan Cross Oath, on 22 May 1653, twelve priests ordained Thomas as the first Bishop of the Malankara See through the act of laying hands on him collectively. However,
2635-581: The Messiah. Love from Christ and the people of all the churches to Lord Gambier and .... In the year of our Lord 1653, came our Spiritual Father, Mar Ignatius, the Patriarch, from Antioch to Malabar: but, when the Franks knew this, they brought the Holy Man to the walls of Cochin, imprisoned him in a cell and gave no small money to the King of Cochin. They then brought out the good man, and the drowned him in
Coonan Cross Oath - Misplaced Pages Continue
2720-627: The Oath, Thoma was elected as a Bishop by the Malankara Yogam (Association) and was consecrated at St. Mary's Church, Alangad, by the laying on of hands by 12 priests on 22 May 1653. However, certain factions within the community, including two Southist churches in Kaduthuruthy and Udayamperoor , did not recognize his episcopal authority. Despite this, Thoma began to exercise episcopal powers and sought to regularize his consecration with
2805-690: The Patriarchate of the Chaldeans and the Patriarchate of the Assyrians . The missionaries used their political power to prevent Thomas Christians from contacting with any Oriental Churches and they even arrested and deported Ahatalla , a bishop of West Syriac Rite arrived in Mailappore . Thomas Christians rose up and revolted against the Portuguese in AD 1653 and consecrated (invalidly)
2890-472: The Pfarangi Church of Rome. Here, the oath is narrated as an opposition to the Church of Rome itself. István Perczel , a Hungarian scholar of early Christianity and a leading expert on the Saint Thomas Christians, describes the oath as follows: Yet, under the Jesuit archbishops that followed him [Francisco Ros] in the see of Cranganore, the situation deteriorated, finally leading to a revolt of
2975-514: The Portuguese referred to as "Nestorians," largely resisted these latinizations, as they were seen as an infringement on their longstanding religious customs. A key figure in this resistance was Ahatallah , a Syrian bishop who arrived in India and was regarded by many Saint Thomas Christians as a potential leader capable of restoring their traditional practices. His capture by Portuguese authorities, who feared his influence, and his subsequent mysterious disappearance only fueled further resistance among
3060-629: The Portuguese. In Angamaly Padiyola , declaration of the Syrian Catholics (Pazhayakoor faction of Saint Thomas Christians) proclaimed in 1787, narrates the oath as the following: Our forefathers received the true faith of Jesus Christ at the hands of the Apostle Saint Thomas. Upon this, Chaldean Syrian bishops ruled over us up to the time of the death of the Metropolitan Mar Abraham, which took place in
3145-554: The Saint Thomas Christians. By 1653, dissatisfaction with the Latin Church’s increasing control had grown significantly. The disappearance of Ahatallah played a direct role in prompting the Coonan Cross Oath, as the community feared the complete erosion of their traditions under Portuguese rule. After the oath, Thoma I sought canonical consecration as a bishop, leading to Gregorios Abdal Jaleel 's arrival in India in 1665, who regularized Thoma I's Episcopal succession. This established
3230-453: The Sanpaloor padre. They subsequently assembled at Allangād church, where they duly nominated Archdeacon Thoma as their bishop. The Church Missionary Society (CMS) report for the year 1818-19 (page 319) includes an abstract of a brief history of Malankara Syrian Church (Puthenkoor faction of Saint Thomas Christians) preserved among themselves as their history. Here the situation is explained as below: The archdeacon addressed letters to all
3315-471: The Thomas Christians back. Carmelites could convince the majority that the local church needs bishops and the consecration of the Archdeacon Thomas was claimed to be invalid as the consecration was conducted not by any bishop, but by twelve priests. Many leaders of the community rejoined the missionaries and later, due to political reasons. He belonged to the Parambil house of Pakalomattam family at Muttuchira . Parambil Kuriakose married into Kudukkasserry and
3400-443: The Thomas Christians became extremely exasperated. On 3 January 1653, Archdeacon Thomas and representatives from the community assembled at Our Lady of Life Church, (Nossa Senhora da Vida) at Mattancherry to swear "never to submit to the Portuguese". Standing in front of a granite cross, the oath was read aloud with lighted candles, with the Archdeacon and the leading priests touching the Bible. The number of people who took part in
3485-464: The Thomas Christians were subjected to Latin Church prelates in the hierarchy, the community consolidated under the leadership of the archdeacons as a separate rite with its own liturgy and traditions. The missionaries began to impose Latinisations in their rite of worship and tried to eliminate the authority and status of the Archdeaconate and thereby dishonour the status of their ancient Church of Malabar . The community secretly tried to get prelates from
Coonan Cross Oath - Misplaced Pages Continue
3570-431: The Thomas Christians were very real and could not be contained for long. Archdeacon Thomas , the leader of the Saint Thomas Christians had come to the conclusion that no remedy for their sufferings, other than the arrival of an Eastern bishop of the tradition to which they had been accustomed through the centuries. He wrote letters to the Coptic patriarch in Alexandria, the Jacobite patriarch of Antioch asking them to provide
3655-407: The Thomas Christians who adhered to the Church of Rome. Thoma I, meanwhile sent requests to various Oriental Churches to receive canonical consecration as bishop. In 1665, Gregorios Abdal Jaleel , a bishop sent by the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, arrived in India and the faction under the leadership of Thoma I welcomed him. The bishop was sent in correspondence to the letter sent by Thoma to
3740-466: The Thomas Christians, including advisors of Thoma I metran Palliveettil Chandy and Kadavil Chandy Kathanar . As the validity of Thoma I's consecration was questioned, he began to lose followers. In the meantime, Sebastiani returned to Rome and was ordained as bishop by Pope on 15 December 1659. Joseph Sebastiani returned to Kerala in 1661 and within a short time period he restored most of the churches that had been with Thoma I to Rome. Thus, by 1663, 84 of
3825-419: The absence of a bishop, twelve priests could lay hands on Archdeacon Thomas, which would suffice for episcopal consecration. The authenticity of these letters remains debated. Some believe the letters may have been forged by Anjilimoottil Itty Thommen Kathanar, a skilled Syriac writer. Others suggest that the letters may reflect an ancient Alexandrian Church tradition of elevating a presbyter to patriarch through
3910-453: The archdeacon's election as Bishop of Palayur and his successor, is dated 13 January 1584, while from another letter of the same Abraham we learn that the would-be archdeacon died before his consecration. Chandy had an instrumental role in claiming eighty-four churches onto the Catholic side after the Coonan Cross Oath . After his death from 1678 till 1783 there were no native bishops in the Catholic faction of Saint Thomas Christians known as
3995-1062: The authority of the Jesuits and the Latin Catholic hierarchy, as well as their rejection of Portuguese dominance in both ecclesiastical and secular matters. Saint Thomas Christian denominations Syro-Malabar Catholic , Syro-Malankara Catholic , Latin Catholic Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church , Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Malabar Independent Syrian Church Chaldean Syrian Mar Thoma Syrian , St. Thomas Evangelical Protestant denominations Andhra Evangelical Lutheran , Assemblies Jehovah Shammah , Christian Revival Church , Church of North India , Church of South India , Garo Baptist , Indian Brethren , Indian Pentecostal Church of God , Church of God (Full Gospel) , North Bank Baptist Christian , Northern Evangelical Lutheran , Methodist Church , Presbyterian , The Pentecostal Mission , Seventh-day Adventist , United Evangelical Lutheran The Portuguese had established political and religious control over parts of India, seeking to enforce Latin Catholic practices upon
4080-425: The bishopric had to distort the contents of this letter to justify what they did among others they attributed to Archdeacon Thomas the rights given by the letter to George Parambil. After the consecration of Thoma I, The information about this consecration was then communicated to all the churches. The vast majority of churches accepted Thoma I as their bishop. Thus, for the first time in history, Thomas Christians had
4165-412: The church of Rome; with that exception let anybody come, and we are ready to obey without hesitation. " The Thomas Christians made one more attempt to reach some kind of compromise before proceeding to extreme measures. They wrote to Archbishop Garcia, requesting him to come and meet them but Garcia refused to accept the invitation. Seeing that the Archbishop thus turned a deaf ear to their insistent pleas,
4250-452: The city of Mylapore thinking that many people come here, and that priests would get me to your place of the Indias. In the year 1652 of our Lord, in the month of August, on Monday, I arrived in Mylapore in the monastery of the Jesuits. In the same monastery I stay, and they help me very much; may their reward increase here and there. Peace be with them, with you, and with us now and always. Amen. I, Ignatius, Patriarch of All India and China. He
4335-437: The city, and afterwards dragged him to the harbour and cast him into the water. On hearing this, the Christians of Malabar assembled in the church of Mar Tancheri [Mattancherry], took counsel together, bound themselves by oath, and thus threw off the Portuguese yoke from their necks; having first written and signed a letter declaring that from that time forward and for ever, they would have nothing more to do, for good or evil, with
SECTION 50
#17327870547684420-419: The civil and religious authorities in Cochin, for at least an opportunity to visit Ahatallah, to examine his credentials and to verify his identity, promising that if he was found an imposter, they would be the first to press for his punishment. Due to the staunch and intransigent opposition of Archbishop Garcia and the Jesuit priests it did not happen. They informed him that the ship had already sailed for Goa. It
4505-401: The community against the Portuguese and the Jesuits, the celebrated Oath of the Slanting Cross (kūnan kuriśu satyam). The Christians rejected their obedience to the Portuguese and the Jesuits, the then archdeacon, Thomas Pakalomaṭṭam, was consecrated metropolitan of India with the name Mar Thoma, and the community pledged their obedience to the Chaldean patriarch. Mar Gabriel gives a narrative of
4590-408: The contrary instructs the Saint Thomas Christians to appoint Deacon George Parambil as the Archdeacon and to establish a body consisting of 12 presbyters in order to elect the Metropolitan after the death of Francis Garcia. Perczel comments that this contradicts the hypothesis of a forgery by the authors of the Coonan Cross revolt. In fact, those who conducted the revolt and ordained Archdeacon Thomas to
4675-402: The documents of the time. But let the Pope send them a true bishop, not a Jesuit, and they will be pleased to receive and obey him. Stephen Neil describes the oath only as an expression of anger against Archbishop Garcia and the Jesuits. Another Church historian Dietmar W. Winkler also shares the opinion that Coonan Cross Oath was not against the see of Rome, but against the Latin archbishop and
4760-420: The faith of the Pope. Here, the oath is interpreted as an opposition to the Pope himself. As per the Idavakapathrika magazine (book 5, volume 3, Meenam ) published in 1896 edited by E.M. Philip, a Syriac Orthodox historian and author, the Mattancherry Padiyola describes the oath as the following: On the 3rd of Makaram of the 1653rd year after the birth of Māran [Lord] Isho Mishiha [Jesus Christ], this
4845-521: The first letter, Ahathalla informs Saint Thomas Christians of his coming to India and his detention by the Jesuits; in the second letter, he gives the order for Deacon George (George Parampil, one of his visitors at Mylapore) to be ordained Archdeacon and for the Saint Thomas Christians to establish a body consisting of 12 presbyters, one of whom should be elected as bishop; and in the third letter he legislates that Metropolitan Thoma I should be nominated as Patriarch of all India. István Perczel, observes that
4930-447: The following morning. He immediately sent for the Portuguese governor of Cochin fort, and said to him "You have confined the patriarch of our Christians, and nothing will satisfy me but your delivering him up to them without any delay". The Portuguese however, gave the Rajah a great sum of money, by the consideration of which he allowed them to retain the prisoner. The same night they tied a great stone to patriarch's neck, and threw him into
5015-428: The following words "There remains in this city a good old man of eighty years, a foreigner, who was lodging with the late monsignor Archbishop of Myra. They say he is the Patriarch of Antioch. Be that it may, he is alone and has no mark of prelacy". Thekkedath also adds that most probably, Ahatalla died in Paris. The treatment of Ahatalla, shocked the Thomas Christian community, and their wounded feelings effervesced into
5100-401: The historic connection of Thomas Christians with the Patriarch of Babylon and downgraded the ancient Church of Christians of Saint Thomas into a mere suffragan of the archdiocese of Goa of the Latin Church. Later, the Metropolitanate was reinstated and the Archdiocese of Angamaly was renamed as the Archdiocese of Kodungalloor and its seat moved to Kodungalloor with Latin prelates. Even though
5185-418: The last Archdeacon of the undivided St. Thomas Christians of Malankara. Following the death of Archdeacon George of the Cross on 25 July 1640, Parambil Thoma Kathanar was elected and enthroned as the new Archdeacon while still under 30 years old. He played a significant role in leading the Church during the Coonan Cross Oath on 3 January 1653, an event that led to a schism within the Nasrani Church. After
SECTION 60
#17327870547685270-414: The laying on of hands by fellow presbyters. Archdeacon Parambil Thomas was ultimately consecrated as Metropolitan by twelve priests, taking the title Thoma I . Copies of three letters which are said to be written by said to be written by Ahathalla to Saint Thomas Christians are preserved in the archives of the Propaganda Fide and were published in facsimile by Jacob Kollaparambil, a Church historian. In
5355-419: The leader of their church. Four senior priests— Anjilimoottil Itty Thommen Kathanar of Kallisseri, Parambil Palliveettil Chandy Kathanar of Kuravilangad , Kadavil Chandy Kathanar of Kaduthuruthi , and Vengur Giwargis Kathanar of Angamali —were appointed as his advisors. At a subsequent meeting in Alangad on May 23, 1653, another letter, also attributed to Ahathalla, was read. This letter advised that in
5440-427: The local Christian community, which followed its own traditions. At the Synod of Diamper in 1599, led by Archbishop Aleixo de Menezes , the Latin Church imposed several changes, including the use of Portuguese bishops, the Latin liturgy , Roman vestments, clerical celibacy , and the establishment of the Portuguese Inquisition in Goa , which also extended its jurisdiction to Cochin . The Saint Thomas Christians, whom
5525-424: The local liturgy. In 1599 Aleixo de Menezes , Archbishop of Goa , led the Synod of Diamper , which finally brought the Saint Thomas Christians formally under the authority of the Latin Archdiocese of Goa. The independence of the ancient Church of Saint Thomas Christians was rescinded. The padroado rule of the Portuguese was only momentary, for the feelings of resentment and the desire to regain independence among
5610-528: The missionary work of the Jesuits. Robert Erick Frykenberg, an American historian, narrates the oath in his book Christianity in India From Beginnings to the Present as follows: At Koonen Cross, the assembly of priests (kattanars) and people formally stood before a crucifix and lighted candles and solemnly swore an oath upon the Gospel that they would strive, henceforth, to restore their ancient Church to its former full independence and that they would no longer obey Francis Garcia (SJ) or any other prelate sent by
5695-413: The necessary help. However no answer was received to any of the letters. In 1652, Ahatallah , a Syrian prelate visited India. He is said to have landed at Surat and thence came to Mylapore, where he was arrested by the Jesuits on 3 August 1652. While at Mylapore, Ahatalla met two Syrian Christian deacons, viz: Chengannur ltty and Kuravilangad Kizhakkedath Kurien from Malankara, who were on a pilgrimage to
5780-440: The oath was directed against the Portuguese, another that it was directed against Jesuits, yet another version that it was directed against the authority of the Church of Rome However, after this oath, Saint Thomas Christians elevated Archdeacon Thomas to Metropolitan by the laying on of hands by twelve kattanars and he took the title Mar Thoma I . At this point of time, Rome intervened and Carmelite missionaries were sent to win
5865-438: The oath was so significant that all of them could not touch the cross at the same time. Therefore, they held on to ropes tied to the Cross in all directions. Because of the weight, it is said that the cross bent a little and so it is known as Oath of the bent cross ( Coonen Kurisu Sathyam ) After this historic oath, out of a population of 200,000 St. Thomas Christians , only 400 remained loyal to Archbishop Garcia. The event broke
5950-483: The prison. Jacob Kollamparambil, a Church historian says that when the ship carrying Ahatallah reached Goa, he was handed over to the inquisition, and he was kept in close custody in the Jesuit house there. He was sent to Portugal on the ship "Nosa Senhora da Graca" from Goa and reached Lisbon on 14 July 1653. The king of Portugal decided to send him to Rome. Joseph Thekkedath, another Church historian narrates that Vincent De Paul , who met Ahatallah at Paris, mentions him in
6035-421: The sea, and so put him to death. But when we knew this, all the Jacobite Syrians in Malabar assembled in the Church of Mathancherry, which is in Cochin, and we swore a great oath, by the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, that henceforth we would not adhere to the Franks, nor accept the faith of the Pope of Rome: we accordingly separated from them. A short time after this, some of our people again joined them, and received
6120-524: The sea. In the hour that this was done the Rajah died. After this, all the Syrians assembled in the church at Muttoncherry and thus resolved – and "These Portuguese having murdered Mar Ignatius, we will no longer join them. We renounce them, and do not want either their love or their favour. The present Francis, bishop, shall not be our governor. We are not his children or followers. We will not again acknowledge Portuguese bishops." The version presented in
6205-458: The situation as follows: On [ sic ] January 1653, priests and people assembled in the Our Lady of Life Church at Mattancherry, and standing in front of a cross and lighted candles swore upon the holy Gospel that they would no longer obey Garcia, and that they would have nothing further to do with the Jesuits they would recognize the Archdeacon as the governor of their Church. This
6290-420: The son born to the couple later became the Bishop. "Alexander De Campo" is a Portuguese designation translated as "Alexander of the field" originating from " Parambil Chandy " in vernacular Malayalam . He was vicar of Kuravilangad Parish and later had Kuravilangad as his headquarters. He was a native of Muttuchira parish, in the present central Kerala. As a priest his original name was Father Parambil Chandy. He
6375-461: The tomb of St. Thomas and sent a letter through them to the Church of Malankara saying: Behold, I Ignatius, Patriarch of All India and China, send to you a letter through the clerics who came here from your place. When you have read this letter diligently send me two priests and forty men. If however, you wish to send them from your place, send them cautiously, quickly and soon, so that seeing your people they would release me without hindrance. I came to
6460-695: The true heirs to the Saint Thomas tradition, and saw the other party as schismatic. Archdeacon Thomas Mar Thoma I , also known as Valiya Mar Thoma (Mar Thoma the Great) and Arkkadiyakkon Thoma (Archdeacon Thomas) in Malayalam , and referred to as Thomas de Campo in Portuguese , was the first native-born Metropolitan bishop of the Malankara Church in the 17th century. He was
6545-570: Was Metropolitan and Gate of All India. Parambil Chandy was appointed as a bishop when the community was divided under the Portuguese Padroado and his cousin, Thoma I , who was the then leader of the Puthenkūttukar . At first, Chandy was the counsellor of Thoma I. He had an instrumental role in the episcopal ascension of Thoma I. According to Portuguese and Jesuit reports, Chandy had defected with Thoma I against Francis Garcia,
6630-551: Was able to produce briefs from the Pope of Rome , while the Archdeacon's party failed to present any. On 9 October 1661 Bishop Sebastiani attempted to capture Mar Thoma with the assistance of Portuguese forces and local allies, but Mar Thoma and his followers managed to escape the night before, disguising themselves as soldiers to avoid recognition. The Dutch East India Company ( Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or VOC in old-spelling Dutch , literally "United East Indian Company")
6715-584: Was buried in St. Mary's Jacobite Soonoro Cathedral, Angamaly . Palliveettil Chandy Parambil Chandy ( Alexandre de Campo in Portuguese ; 1615 – 2 January 1687) was an Indian Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Cranganore from 1663 to 1687. He was the first known native Indian bishop. As archbishop, Chandy headed the East Syriac faction known as the Paḻayakūṟ , or "Old Allegiance", after
6800-462: Was claimed that a rumor was also spread at this time that Ahatallah was drowned by the Portuguese. What happened to Ahatallah in the midst of the Arabian Sea is still a mystery. The earlier historians have mentioned that Ahatallah was drowned by the Portuguese. Some other writers state that Ahatallah was not killed in 1653 and he was sent as a prisoner to Lisbon where he died a natural death in
6885-530: Was consecrated Titular Bishop of Megara in Achala and Vicar Apostolic and Administrator of the Archbishopric of Cranganore on 31 January 1663, at Kaduthuruthy . He celebrated his first pontifical Mass at Muttuchira Church. His appointment followed representations for the appointment of native Indians as bishops following the split in the church on account of the Coonan Cross Oath . His official title
6970-565: Was established in 1602. By 1652, VOC trading posts were established in Malabar Coast in India. On 7 January 1663, Cochin was attacked and the king of Cochin surrendered to the Dutch on 20 March 1663. By 1665, Cochin was under Dutch control. That year Gregorios Abdal Jaleel , a delegate of the Patriarch of Antioch came to Malankara as per the request of Mar Thoma and regularized his Metropolitan consecration. He died on 25 April 1670 and
7055-537: Was ordained on 15 December 1659, convinced many priests and laypeople, including the three advisors who had initially supported Mar Thoma, that the consecration was irregular. Due to political and financial pressures exerted by the Carmelite fathers through the Portuguese and native kings, many churches and laypeople withdrew their allegiance to Mar Thoma. They requested that he relinquish his episcopal dignity, but Mar Thoma continued to perform episcopal functions. As
7140-497: Was taken on board a Portuguese ship at Madras bound for Goa , and en route, it touched Cochin . Thomas Christians heard of the arrival of the ship at Cochin. The Archdeacon with a large number of Priests and several thousands of Saint Thomas Christians assembled at Mattancherry Cochin; their efforts to visit Ahatallah when the fleet arrived in Cochin intensified but ultimately, they were not fruitful. Several letters were sent to all
7225-558: Was the decision declared and executed by the Arcadiakon father and the vicars and native priests of the churches belonging to the diocese of Malankara and everyone else at the church in Mattancherry : that is, since the Patriarch who had been sent to Malankara for us from the holy catholic church was deprived from us by the bishop and the Sanpaloor padre for their interest, we pledge that Bishop Mar Francius who now rule Malankara
#767232