Saint Thomas Christian denominations
139-960: 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 Paḻayakūṟ ( Pazhayakoor ; English : "Old Allegiance"), also known as Romo-Syrians or Syrian Catholics of Malabar , are
278-540: A Christian community at Kokkamangalam and enshrined a cross for the faithful. Nilakkal is a village, roughly 52 km (32 mi) east to Ranni and near Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta district. This church area was discovered during the time of Malankara Metropolitan Pulikottil Thirumeni (then head of the Orthodox Church). For the harmony of ecumenism among St Thomas Christians, then leadership of
417-649: A Nestorian heretic. In 1709, he wrote a letter to the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch, pleading that bishops be sent to aid him in countering Gabriel's arguments. Gabriel strongly opposed the Portuguese but sought the support of the Dutch. His letter to Jacobus Canter Visscher , a Dutch chaplain at Kochi, gives an apologetic detail of the history of Christianity in India and expresses staunch opposition to
556-669: A bishop and regularised his episcopal succession. This led to the first lasting formal schism in the Saint Thomas Christian community. Thereafter, the faction affiliated with the Catholic Church under Bishop Palliveettil Chandy came to be known as Pazhayakuttukar (or "Old Allegiance"), and the branch affiliated with Thoma I came to be known as Puthenkūttukār (or "New Allegiance"). They were also known as Jacobite Syrians and they organized themselves as independent Malankara Church . The visits of prelates from
695-712: A declaration of the Pazhayakūr gave the history of Saint Thomas Christians up to 1787 and advocated for the appointment of a native bishop that adhered to the local traditions. Latin Catholic Carmelite clergy from Europe served as bishops, and the Church along with the Latin Catholics was under the Apostolic Vicariate of Malabar (modern-day Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Verapoly ). In 1887,
834-587: A golden crucifix. He lives with the utmost sobriety, abstaining from all animal food ... He holds the Nestorian doctrine respecting the union of the two natures in our Saviour's person. Following the arrival of West Syriac prelates in 1751, Thoma VI , the leader of the Puthenkūr was troubled by their increasing influence among his faction. Therefore, in order to reunite his faction with the Paḻayakūṟ and thus to prevent
973-1024: A half churches), are the seven major churches or Christian communities of Saint Thomas Christians across Malabar Coast of India that are believed to have been founded by Thomas the Apostle in the first century. According to Indian Christian traditions, the apostle Thomas arrived in Muziris ( Kodungallur ) in AD 52, established the Ezharappallikal (Seven royal churches or Seven and a half Churches) and evangelised in present-day Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Many of these churches built near Jewish and Brahmin settlements. These were at Maliankara ( Kodungallur ), Kollam , Palayoor , Kottakkayal ( North Paravur or Kottakkavu), Kokkamangalam , Niranam and Nilackal (Chayal). Thiruvithamcode church in Kanyakumari
1112-551: A new bishop to replace Pandari. However, none of those attempts materialised. Thus this short lived reunion failed. An excerpt from the letter of Patriarch Yohannan VII Hormizd addressed to the faithful in Malabar gives a detail of the attempts for restoration of the East Syriac hierarchy. After duly enquiring about your spiritual well-being and asking about your condition, we let it be known to your beloved kindness that from
1251-524: A second church for worship with the King of Kollam's approval, but it was also destroyed by sea erosion. The ruins of the second church are still visible in the sea during low tides. The name "Pallikallu" given to it by the local fishermen literally translates as "the stone of the great church". A group of local divers retrieved a rock from the submerged church ruins in February 2021, and it was then installed in
1390-567: A video message to the people of Ernakulam-Angamaly asking them to only do the Uniform Mass starting Christmas and saying there will be punishment for those who do not. When Christmas came, only 290 Churches of 328 Churches held the Uniform Mass. The Vatican is now currently discussing further action. On 9 January 2024, Raphael Thattil was elected as major archbishop by the Syro-Malabar Synod of Bishops. Pope Francis confirmed
1529-812: Is Raphael Thattil , serving since January 2024. It is the largest Syriac Christian church and the largest Eastern Catholic church. Syro-Malabar is a prefix reflecting the church's use of the East Syriac liturgy and origins in Malabar (modern Kerala). The name has been in usage in official Vatican documents since the nineteenth century. The Syro-Malabar Church is primarily based in India; with five metropolitan archeparchies and ten suffragan eparchies in Kerala, there are 17 eparchies in other parts of India, and four eparchies outside India. The Syro-Malabar Synod of Bishops canonically convoked and presided over by
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#17327725140981668-665: Is believed by the Christian communities in Kerala that the historic Thiruvithamcode Arappally, also called Amalagiri church as named by the Chera King Uthiyan Cheralathan, was built by St. Thomas, known as the Apostle of India, in AD 52. St. Thomas is believed to have returned to Malankara coast via Malayatur where he establishes ‘the half church’ (a small Christian community dependent on the Church of Maliamkara). Oral tradition says that while travelling through Malayattor, faced with hostile natives, he fled to
1807-638: Is called Holy Qurbana in East Syriac Aramaic and means "Eucharist", is celebrated in its solemn form on Sundays and special occasions. During the celebration of the Qurbana, priests and deacons put on elaborate vestments which are unique to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. The most solemn form of Holy Mass (Holy Qurbana) is Rāsa , literally which means "Mystery". East Syriac liturgy has three anaphorae : those of
1946-646: Is considered to be the oldest church built by St. Thomas on the Malabar Coast. Kodungallur is known in various names such as Muziris , Muchiri, Muyirikkode, Shengala, Shinjli, Makottai, Mahadevarpattanam and Cranganore. The Church at Kodungallur rose to prominence after the fall of the Christian community in the Coromandel Coast , especially Mylapore . Francisco Roz , the first latin Archbishop of Saint Thomas Christians , describes Cranganore as
2085-541: Is described as arriving in or around Maliankara and founding Seven Churches, or Ezharapallikal : Kodungallur , Kottakavu , Palayoor , Kokkamangalam , Nilackal , Niranam and Kollam . Some other churches, namely Thiruvithamcode Arappally (a "half church"), Malayattoor and Aruvithura are often called Arappallikal . The Thomma Parvam further narrates St Thomas's mission in the rest of South India and his martyrdom at Mylapore in present-day Chennai , Tamil Nadu. An organized Christian presence in India dates to
2224-526: Is known as 'The Mother Church of the East' as many ancient churches like Kadamattom , Nakapuzha, Arakuzha , Nediasala, Muthalakodam, Kothamangalam etc were formed from this church. It is believed that St. Thomas visited Irapeli and converted a prominent families into Christianity and laid a cross on the banks of the Meenachil River. Local traditions also support this belief. This is the first church in
2363-661: Is predominantly of the Malayali ethnic group who speak Malayalam , although there are a minority of Tamils , Telugus , and North Indians from the various eparchies outside Kerala. Following emigration of the Church's members, eparchies have been established in other parts of India and in other countries to serve especially the diaspora living in the Western world . There are four eparchies outside of India, located in English-speaking countries: Australia , Canada ,
2502-784: Is the oldest of the extant seminaries of the church. However, the Saint Thomas Seminary in Vadavathoor is the first seminary to be established under the Syro-Malabar hierarchy. 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 Ezharappallikal Ēḻarappaḷḷikaḷ or Ezharappallikal ( pronounced [eːɻɐɾəpːɐɭːikɐɭ] , Malayalam script : ഏഴരപ്പള്ളികൾ, English : seven and
2641-794: The Archdiocese of Goa and appointed the Jesuit Francisco Ros as Bishop of Angamaly. Menezes held the Synod of Diamper in 1599 to bring the Saint Thomas Christians under the complete authority of the Latin Church . The oppressive rule of the Portuguese padroado eventually led to a revolt in 1653, known as the Coonan Cross Oath . The Thomas Christians including their native priests assembled in
2780-537: The Changanassery . Gabriel then found residence in Kottayam Minor church . This church was then used by both factions of Saint Thomas Christians. Individuals and families belonging to both factions had close relationships and the allegiance to the faction to which one belonged often owed more to local reasons than to faith. Opposition and rivalries was more personal than theological. During this period,
2919-702: The Holy See . Another group within the Paḻayakūṟ returned to the traditions of the Church of the East and became the Chaldean Syrian Church , now part of the Assyrian Church of the East . Traditionally, Thomas the Apostle is credited for the establishment of Christianity in India. He is believed to have come to Muziris on the Malabar coast , which is in Kerala , in AD 52. The Jewish community in India are known to have existed in Kerala in
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#17327725140983058-673: The Jews flocked to see it. Kottakkavu Church was established by St. Thomas in North Paravur in the Ernakulam district. It is considered to be one of the oldest Church in Kerala. The church of Kottakkavu was rebuilt in the 9th century. It was renovated for the third time in 1308. Pope Gregory XIII raised the altar of this church to the status of privileged altar in 1575. The church was originally dedicated to Saints Sabor and Aproth . The Synod of Diamper removed their names and dedicated
3197-707: The Malabar Independent Syrian Church , the Marthoma Syrian Church , and the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church have originated. 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
3336-574: The Metropolitanate of Persia . The metropolitan of Rev Ardashir , the head of the province, used to consecrated bishops for the Diocese of India. Patriarch Ishoyahb III (650-660) criticises Shemʿon , metropolitan of Rev Ardashir: "As far as your province is concerned, from the time you showed recalcitrance against ecclesiastical canons, the episcopal succession has been interrupted in India, and this country has since sat in darkness, far from
3475-656: The Propagation of the Faith to Malabar headed by Fr. Sebastiani and Fr. Hyacinth. Fr. Sebastiani arrived first in 1655 and began to speak directly with the Thoma I . Fr. Sebastiani, with the help of Portuguese, gained the support of many, especially with the support of Palliveettil Chandy , Kadavil Chandy Kathanar and Vengoor Geevarghese Kathanar. These were the three of the four counselors of Thoma I, who had defected with Francisco Garcia Mendes, Archbishop of Cranganore , before
3614-661: The Puthenkoor and the Pazhayakoor under a common Catholic hierarchy. However, this attempt was spoiled by the missionaries. Meanwhile, the missionaries assured Chandy that his successor will be a native. Hence, Chandy held his archdeacon as his rightful successor. But after Chandy's death, the missionaries appointed a half-Indian Portuguese, Raphael Figueredo ( c. d. 1695 ) as the Vicar Apostolic of Malabar for Saint Thomas Christians. This appointment shook
3753-524: The Putthenkūṟ fractions of the St.Thomas Christians. By 1770, the prelates forced Thoma VI to be reconsecrated as 'Dionysios I'. Thoma VI had to receive all orders of priesthood from the tonsure to the episcopal consecration. Thoma VI received support from Pazhayakūr leaders, who informed him of the ill-treatment and discrimination that they faced from the missionaries. In 1773, the leaders and representatives of
3892-843: The Saint Thomas Christians who use the East Syriac Rite and claim apostolic origin from the Indian mission of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century AD. The Saint Thomas Christians were originally in full communion with the Church of the East in Persia, from whom they inherited the East Syriac liturgical rite. Through the Schism of 1552 , a faction of the Church of the East entered the Catholic Church . Following
4031-706: The Second Vatican Council reform: the liturgy of the word would be celebrated coram populo , while the rest of the Qurbana would be celebrated facing the altar. After hearing this announcement, many priests of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam–Angamaly announced that they would continue their public facing Qurbana. Pope Francis appointed Cyril Vasiľ as the Pontifical Delegate and Andrews Thazhath as Apostolic Administrator for
4170-978: The Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch continued since then and this led to gradual replacement of the East Syriac Rite liturgy with the West Syriac Rite and the Puthenkūttukār affiliated to the Miaphysite Christology of the Oriental Orthodox Communion . The Pazhayakuttukar faction remained in communion with the Catholic and preserved the traditional East Syriac (Persian) liturgy and Dyophysite Christology . They were also known as Romo-Syrians or Syrian Catholics . They also used
4309-597: The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church , is an Eastern Catholic church based in Kerala , India. It is a sui iuris (autonomous) particular church in full communion with the Holy See and the worldwide Catholic Church , with self-governance under the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (CCEO). The major archbishop presides over the entire church. The incumbent Major Archbishop
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4448-465: The United Kingdom , and United States . Saint Alphonsa is the Church's first canonized saint, followed by Saint Kuriakose Chavara , Saint Euphrasia , and Saint Mariam Thresia . The Syro-Malabar Church is one of the two Eastern Catholic Churches in India, the other being the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church , which represents the faction of the Puthenkoor that returned to full communion with
4587-666: The oriental nature of the Latinized Syro-Malabar rite. In 2021, the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church adopted a uniformed manner of celebration liturgies, removing the practice of facing versus populum during the Liturgy of Eucharist . Following this, there has been sustained dissent by some clergy and laity in the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly. The Syro-Malabar Church has its own liturgical year , structured around eight liturgical seasons: The curia of
4726-411: The schism of 1552 , a portion of the Church of the East entered communion with the Holy See of Rome, forming what became the modern-day Chaldean Catholic Church . Throughout the later half of the 16th century, the Malabar Church was under Chaldean Catholic jurisdiction as the Archdiocese of Angamaly . Through the Synod of Diamper of 1599, the Chaldean jurisdiction was abolished and the Malabar Church
4865-475: The 1599 Synod of Diamper , they were placed under the Latin Church 's Padroado missionaries, who took over the jurisdiction of Angamaly . After the Coonan Cross Oath of 1653, which constituted a secession from the Padroado , the Paḻayakūṟ quickly returned to the Catholic Church as East Syriac Catholics under Archbishop Palliveettil Chandy . Chandy's followers eventually became the Syro-Malabar Church , an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with
5004-420: The 1st century AD, and it was possible for an Aramaic -speaking Jew , such as St. Thomas from Galilee , to make a trip to Kerala then. The earliest known source connecting the Apostle to India is the Acts of Thomas , likely written in the early 3rd century, perhaps in Edessa . The tradition of origin of the Christians in Kerala is found in a version of the Songs of Thomas or Thomma Parvam , in which, Thomas
5143-497: The 3rd century. In the 4th century the Church of St Thomas was in decline, so large group of Christians from Edessa emigrated to Malabar. They were led by Mar Joseph, Metropolitan of Edessa, and Knai Thoma, a merchant who had previously visited Malabar and found the Christian community there in need of support. The seven churches are located at Kodungallur, Kollam, Palayoor, Kottakkavu (Paravoor), Kokkamangalam (South Pallippuram), Niranam and Nilackal (Chayal). The Kodungallur church
5282-407: The Administrator of Kodungalloor Archdiocese after him. The new administrator ran the affairs of the church, establishing his headquarters at Angamaly . In 1790, the headquarters of the Archdiocese was shifted to Vadayar , dodging the invasion of Tippu Sultan . In the last four years of his life, Thomma Kathanar managed church administration from his own parish, Ramapuram . Angamaly Padiyola ,
5421-417: The Anaphora of Theodore which was withdrawn from use after the Synod of Diamper (a large number of churches used it up to 1896) is being used again in the Syro-Malabar Church after 415 years is indeed an important historical reality. In a way the Syro-Malabar church rejected the Synod of Diamper . Pope Pius XII during the process of restoration of the Syro-Malabar Qurbana in 1957 had requested the restoration of
5560-421: The Anaphorae of Theodore and Nestorius. The draft of the Anaphora of Theodore was restored after meticulous study by the Central Liturgical Committee, Liturgical Research Centre, various sub-committees, and the eparchial liturgical commissions. Many changes befitting to the times have been made in the prayers, maintaining maximum fidelity to the original text of the Second Anaphora. It was this text so prepared that
5699-460: The Apostle in 52 CE along with six other churches in Kerala and these churches together are called Ēḻarappaḷḷikaḷ. The church follows Latin Rite and is in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Quilon. Tradition holds that in AD 52, Thomas the Apostle travelled to Kerala's coast.[5][6] For people who were baptized by Saint Thomas to worship, a church was built in Kollam between CE 52 and 78. However, Violent sea erosion destroyed this church. The believers built
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5838-474: The Archdeacon. On 22 May 1653, at a general meeting held in Alangad , twelve priests laid hands on Archdeacon Thoma, proclaiming him bishop. 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. At this point of time, Portuguese authorities requested direct intervention of Rome and hence Pope sent Carmelite Missionaries in two groups from
5977-463: The Archdiocese in matters of solving the crisis but was unsuccessful. On 7 December 2023, Pope Francis wrote in a letter to George Alencherry accepting his resignation as Major Archbishop of Ernakulam–Angamaly . He also accepted the resignation of Andrews Thazhath as the Apostolic Administrator and appointed Bosco Puthur , due to Thazhath being the Archbishop of Trichur and President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India. Pope Francis then made
6116-405: The Carmelites claimed 84 churches, leaving the native archdeacon Thoma I with 32 churches. The 84 churches and their congregations were the body from which the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church has descended. The other 32 churches and their congregations represented the nucleus from which the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church (Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church), the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church ,
6255-449: The Dutch and he remained in India until his death in 1731. Visscher gives the following account of Metropolitan Gabriel: Mar Gabriel, a white man, and sent hither from Bagdad, is aged and venerable in appearance, and dresses nearly in the same fashion as the Jewish priests of old, wearing a cap fashioned like a turban, and a long white beard. He is courteous and God-fearing, and not at all addicted to extravagant pomp. Round his neck he wears
6394-434: The East shared communion with the Roman Imperial Church , within Nicene Christianity , until the Council of Ephesus in the 5th century, separating primarily over differences in Christology and for political reasons. The Syro-Malabar Church uses a variant of the East Syriac Rite, which dates back to 3rd century Edessa , Upper Mesopotamia . As such it is a part of Syriac Christianity by liturgy and heritage. After
6533-401: The Holy Apostles (Saints Mar Addai and Mar Mari ), Mar Theodore Mpašqana , and Mar Nestorius . The first is the most popularly and extensively used. The second is used (except when the third is ordered) from Advent to Palm Sunday . The third was traditionally used on the Epiphany and the feasts of St. John the Baptist and of the Greek Doctors , both of which occur in Epiphany-tide on
6672-424: The Holy See established two Apostolic Vicariates , Thrissur and Kottayam (later Changanassery) under the guidance of indigenous Syro-Malabar bishops, and named the Church as "The Syro-Malabar Church" to distinguish them from the Latins. The Holy See re-organized the Apostolic Vicariates in 1896 into three Apostolic Vicariates ( Thrissur , Ernakulam , and Changanassery ). A fourth Apostolic Vicariate ( Kottayam )
6811-419: The Holy See in 1930. It is believed that the Saint Thomas Christians in Malabar came into contact with the Persian Church of the East in the middle of the 4th century. 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 the Church, the general administration of the Church of Kerala
6950-417: The Indian sea is, there is a Church of Christians, with clergy and a body of believers, but I know not whether there be any Christians in the parts beyond it. In the country. called Malé [Malabar],' where the pepper grows, there is also a church, and at another place called Calliana there is moreover a bishop, who is appointed from Persia. Until the seventh century, the Saint Thomas Christians were included in
7089-409: The Jesuits, who represented and ruled the Latin Church of India in 1599. In a way, the SyroMalabar church rejected the Synod of Diamber (Udayamperoor) by restoring the Anaphora of Theodore and Anaphora of Nestorius. Liturgical latinisation was furthered in 1896 by Ladislaus Zaleski , the Apostolic Delegate to India , who requested permission to translate the Roman Pontifical into Syriac . This
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#17327725140987228-409: The Latin Catholic Church under Bishop Parambil Chandy , the native Apostolic vicar of Malabar . During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Archdiocese of Cranganore remained under the Syro-Malabar, but it was later suppressed and integrated into the modern day Latin Archdiocese of Verapoly . After more than two centuries under the hegemony of the Latin Church, in 1887 Pope Leo XIII fully emancipated
7367-402: The Latin patriarch of Venice as arranged by the Pope Pius IV (1559–1565) in Rome. Subsequently, Abraham was appointed by Pope as Archbishop of Angamaly , with letters to the Archbishop of Goa and the Bishop of Cochin. In 1597, Abraham of Angamaly died. The Catholic Portuguese padroado Archbishop of Goa , Aleixo de Menezes , downgraded the Angamaly Archdiocese into a suffragan diocese of
7506-471: The Latinised East Syriac Rite and traditions of the Putthenkūṟ with a separate West Syriac identity. They insisted on removing from the churches of Putthenkur crucifixes and statues of saints and Mary, which were kept and venerated in these churches ever since the onset of Portuguese influence among them. This led to frequent conflicts between the adherents of new rite and those following the old. This led to eventual division of churches between Paḻayakūṟ and
7645-447: The Metran of the Catholic St. Thomas Christians. 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 Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch , arrived in India. The independent group under the leadership of Thoma I which resisted the authority of the Portuguese padroado welcomed him. Abdal Jaleel consecrated Thoma I canonically as
7784-496: The Metropolitan See, with Augustine Kandathil as the first head and archbishop. As such, the Syro-Malabar Church became an autonomous sui iuris Eastern Catholic Church. The Syro-Malabars are unique among Catholics in their inculturation with traditional Hindu customs through Saint Thomas Christian heritage. Scholar and theologian Placid Podipara describes the Saint Thomas Christian community as "Hindu in culture, Christian in religion, and Oriental in worship." The Church
7923-472: The Oriental Churches – CCEO) as Monasteries, Hermitages, Orders, Congregations, Societies of Common Life in the Manner of Religious, Secular Institutes, and Societies of Apostolic Life. Active are: Seminaries of the Syro-Malabar Church are under the general supervision of the Roman Congregation for the Eastern Churches and share the Major archbishop as their common Chancellor. Saint Joseph's Seminary in Mangalapuzha, established by Syrian Catholics in 1865,
8062-412: The Orthodox church paved the way to dedicate the church for all denominations. It was a mountain route of trade between Kerala and Tamil Nadu . Saint Thomas accompanied by Habban came over here and baptised 1100 people. Niranam Pally is one of the oldest churches in Kerala. It is believed that the church was founded by St. Thomas, in AD 54 at Niranam near Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district. The church
8201-417: The Palai diocese and was built in the 1st century. St. Thomas founded seven and a half churches there. The 'half' church refers to a cross laid at Irapoli by St. Thomas, making the church of Irapeli the half church. It is reported that the church was rebuilt once or twice before the 16th century. The ancient churches were constructed and maintained by the prominent families in the area until the 16th century. In
8340-420: The Paremmakkal Thoma and urged for the reinstatement of their native East Syriac hierarchy. Varthamanappusthakam , written by Thoma Kathanar in 1785, provides the detail of this journey until the death of the archbishop. Thomas Paremmakkal, supported by Thachil Matthoo Tharakan, continued the negotiations with Dionysius I. In 1796, they sent a delegation to the Chaldean Catholic Patriarchate . The delegation
8479-404: The Paḻayakūṟ community assembled at the Great church in Angamāly to discuss the church union. This general meeting at Angamaly was dominated by strong emotions against the colonial religious missionaries and the Padroado and Propaganda bishops working then in Kerala. The representatives from the Edappally church narrated the way how the European missionaries put their parish priest to death. On
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#17327725140988618-426: The Pope. In 1712, the Propaganda sent him another letter, ordering him to retreat from Malabar to his flock in Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, Gabriel ignored the letters of the Propaganda and instead of making a new confession of faith to be sent to Rome, he made the aforementioned confession of faith in a letter addressed to Angelo Francisco in order to make peace with him and with the Carmelites residing in Malabar. Gabriel
8757-401: The Portuguese missionaries. Following is an excerpt from the letter, entitled "The antiquity of the Syrian Christians, and Historical events relating to them", addressed to Visscher: And in the days of this persecution, the upright, God-fearing, justice-loving, and peaceable Dutch were sent to Malabar by the inspiration of Almighty God and by order of the East India Company, under the command of
8896-423: The Saint Thomas Christians, was preserved and his memory was cherished by them. Shemʿon's dead body was found in a well near where he was detained in Pondicherry and thus the Saint Thomas Christians believed that he was murdered by the missionaries. His tragedy inspired them and he was hailed as a martyr for the efforts to maintain the Church of the East's jurisdiction and East Syriac Rite among them. An excerpt from
9035-456: The Syrians”. The second letter is written in 1712 and is entitled "Letter of Gabriel Metropolitan of all India". In it, Gabriel answers an inquiry from the Paḻayakūṟ faithful concerning his faith: “If you ask me about my faith, my faith is like the faith of the holy Lord Pope”. Meanwhile, Giuseppe Sagribanti, Prefect of the Propaganda and writing in the name of Pope Innocent XIII , rejects his claims by saying that Gabriel has no authority from
9174-399: The Syro Malabar Catholics from 1932 onwards to differentiate them from the Syro-Malankara Catholics in Kerala. The Indian East Syriac Catholic hierarchy was restored on 21 December 1923 with Augustine Kandathil as the first Metropolitan and Head of the Church with the name Syro-Malabar. In 2021, the Syro Malabar Synod of Bishops announced that the celebration of the Qurbana according to
9313-409: The Syro-Malabar Church began to function in March 1993 at the archbishop's house of Ernakulam-Angamaly. In May 1995, it was shifted to new premises at Mount St. Thomas near Kakkanad , Kochi . The newly constructed curial building was opened in July 1998. The administration of the Syro-Malabar Church has executive and judicial roles. The major archbishop, officials, various commissions, committees, and
9452-414: The Syro-Malabars, though the Archdiocese of Verapoly remained as the jurisdiction for Latin Catholics. He established two Apostolic Vicariates for Syro-Malabar, Thrissur and Changanassery (originally named Kottayam), and in 1896, the Vicariate of Ernakulam was erected as well, governed by indigenous Syro-Malabar bishops. In 1923, the Syro-Malabar hierarchy was organized and unified under Ernakulam as
9591-413: The Thomas Christians. It was during this period that Christians disappeared from the Coromandel Coast . Following the Synod of Diamper held in 1599 and organised by Aleixo de Menezes , the Primate of East Indies and Archbishop of Goa , many traditions and numerous Syriac books of the native Saint Thomas Christians were condemned. Although the Synod proposed a highly Latinised form of liturgy, it
9730-409: The United States, St. Thomas the Apostle Eparchy of Melbourne in Australia, Eparchy of Great Britain, and Eparchy of Mississauga, Canada enjoy personal jurisdiction. Most believers of this church are organized under five metropolitan archeparchies (archdioceses), all in Kerala, and their suffragan eparchies. The Religious Congregations are divided in the Eastern Catholic Church Law (Code of Canons of
9869-401: The Wednesday of the Rogation of the Ninevites, and on Maundy Thursday. The same pro-anaphoral part (Liturgy of the Word) serves for all three. In the second half of the 20th century, there was a movement for better understanding of the liturgical rites. A restored Eucharistic liturgy, drawing on the original East Syriac sources, was approved by Pope Pius XII in 1957, and for the first time on
10008-640: The West Syriac prelates, he initiated efforts to submit to the Pope and profess the Catholic creed. However, the Carmelite missionaries working among the Pazhayakūr were reluctant to reciprocate to his efforts fearing that the indigenous bishop would take away their authority and influence over the faction after the proposed reunification of the Saint Thomas Christians was fulfilled. Baselios Shakrallah Qasabgi ,
10147-593: The abundant ocean of His mercy that He may bless you with all heavenly blessing and take away and make depart from you the sufferings and the affliction and that He may liberate you from the temptations and the rebellion and the evil scandals, by the prayer of the Apostles and the Fathers, so that during your lifetime you may remain healthy and be preserved in the sign of the living Cross of the Lord. Yes and Amen. One of
10286-708: The administrator of the Archdiocese of Cranganore. The Padroado authorities in Goa and the Propaganda missionaries in Malabar recognised his authority in the fear of protest from the Paḻayakūṟ Christians. Following this in 1787, representatives from the eighty-four Pazhayakūr churches assembled at Angamaly and drew up the Angamāly Padiyōla against the colonial Latin hegemony, declaring their allegiance to
10425-429: The arrival of East Syriac settlers and missionaries from Persia , members of what would become the Church of the East , in around the 3rd century. Saint Thomas Christians trace the further growth of their community to the arrival of Jewish-Christians from the region of Mesopotamia led by Knāi Thoma , which is said to have occurred in 345. However, most experts believe that the arrival of Knai Thoma must have occurred in
10564-399: The arrival of Sebastaini, according to Jesuit reports. The Carmelite missionaries succeeded in convincing a group of St.Thomas Christians that the consecration of Archdeacon as bishop was not legitimate and Thoma I started losing his followers. In the meantime, Sebastiani returned to Rome and was ordained as bishop by Pope on 15 December 1659. Between 1661 and 1662, out of the 116 churches,
10703-597: The beginning of the 16th century a new church was built under the leadership of Kallarackal Kathanar by the prominent families. The church was first dedicated to the Assumption of Saint Mary. In the 14th century when either the Nilackal Church or the Chayal Church founded by St. Thomas was destroyed, several families migrated to Irapeli bringing with them a statue of St. George. Gradually the church itself
10842-474: The church as a symbol of the community's unwavering faith. The churches at Thiruvithamkode, Malayattoor, Mylacombu, and Aruvithura are referred to as Arappallikal, which may be translated either as Half churches or Royal churches. Thiruvithamcode St Marys Orthodox Church (Arapalli) or Thomayar Kovil, is located in Thiruvithamcode, Tamil Nadu, India, 30 km to the south of the Kerala state border. It
10981-525: The church of Our Lady at Mattancherry near Cochin , formally stood before a crucifix and lighted candles and solemnly swore an oath upon the Gospel that they never again accept another European prelate. The exact wording used in Coonan Cross Oath is disputed. There are various versions about the wording of oath, one version being that the oath was directed against the Portuguese, another that it
11120-506: The church to Gervasius and Protasis . MS Vatican Syriac N. iv., dated A.D. 1556, has the following colophon in folio 278: "By the help of our Lord we have finished this book of the Prophets; it was written on a Monday, the 18th of February, in the year 1556 of the birth of our Lord. I, priest Jacob, the disciple of Mar Jacob, and from the village of Puraur, have written this book in the holy Church of Mar Shapur and Mar Iapot [Piruz]. May
11259-544: The commissions are ordinarily bishops, but include priests. For judicial activities there is the major archiepiscopal ordinary tribunal formed in accordance with CCEO which has a statutes and sufficient personnel, with a president as its head. At present, Rev. Dr. Jose Chiramel is the president. The Major archiepiscopal curia functions in the curial building in Kerala, India. They have prepared the particular law for their Church and promulgated it part by part in Synodal News,
11398-469: The communion of the Catholic Church after the Latin Church . The Syro-Malabar Church traces its origins to Thomas the Apostle 's evangelization efforts in 1st-century AD India. The earliest recorded organised Christian presence in India dates to the 4th century, when Persian missionaries of the East Syriac Rite tradition, members of what later became the Church of the East , established themselves in modern-day Kerala and Sri Lanka . The Church of
11537-651: The confidence they had in the propaganda Carmelites and quarrels started to escalate. Many churches protested against the move and some even joined Thoma II. Soon, Bishop Raphael Figueredo also lost the favour of the Carmelites and he was replaced with Custodius de Pinho ( c. d. 1697 ) as the Vicar Apostolic of Malabar. Chandy died in 1687 and with him the initial attempts for reunification of both factions also died out. During this time, Metropolitan Shemʿon of ʿAda (d. c. 1720) arrived in India. He
11676-402: The day when we sent Priest Joseph and Priest Hormizd, there came to us no reply from you, until now. Now we have sent Reader Abdisho, who will go to your place of residence to find out about your condition and will come and let us know about your condition. He will let you know about our condition; he will let you know everything about our activity now that we are asking our Lord and are soliciting
11815-660: The ecclesiastical provinces of the church at present, all in Kerala: Ernakulam-Angamaly, Changanacherry, Trichur, Tellicherry, and Kottayam. Archeparchy of Kottayam enjoys personal jurisdiction over the Southist (Knanaya) Syro-Malabar catholics whereas the remaining four are with mutually exclusive territories. These have another 13 suffragan eparchies: Bhadravathi, Belthangady, Irinjalakuda, Kanjirapally, Kothamangalam, Idukki, Mananthavady, Mandya, Palai, Palghat, Ramanathapuram, Thamarassery, and Thuckalay within
11954-482: The election, with Thattil now heading the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. As per the East Syriac tradition, liturgical day of the Syro-Malabar Church starts at sunset (6 pm). Also the worshiper has to face the East while worshiping. This is not followed after Latinization. According to the East Syriac (Edessan or Persian) tradition, the following are the seven times of prayer: The Holy Mass, which
12093-545: The episcopal successor of Abraham , the last East Syriac Metropolitan of the undivided Church of the East in India. In 1799, Dionysius I paid obedience at the Thathampally Church in Alappuzha . However, Metropolitan Abraham Pandari soon became sick. According to the diary of Kuriakose Elias Chavara , he grew mad and thus proved to be unable to administer the Church. There were other attempts in 1799 to bring
12232-573: The existing provinces of the church. There are 13 further eparchies within the canonical territory of the Major Archiepiscopal Church of which Adilabad, Bijnor, Chanda, Gorakhpur, Jagdalpur, Rajkot, Sagar, Satna, and Ujjain in India are with exclusive jurisdiction within Latin provinces and Kalyan, Faridabad, Hosur and Shamshabad are with personal jurisdiction over Syro-Malabar catholics in India. The St. Thomas Eparchy of Chicago in
12371-590: The faithful in India. He travelled to India once again and reached Surat . There, he was detained in a Capuchin monastery. He informed that he was a Catholic bishop sent from the Chaldean Patriarch. Moreover, during the same time the Rome wanted to curtail the Padroado authority in India, through the propaganda administration. Rome had appointed Angelo Francisco Vigliotti, a Carmelite missionary, to be
12510-721: The feast of St. Thomas on 3 July 1962 the vernacular, Malayalam , was introduced for the celebration of the Syro-Malabar Qurbana. Currently they celebrate the Divine Liturgy of Addai and Mari and the Anaphora of Theodre in mostly Malayalam, with Syriac and English influences. Besides the Anaphora of Mar Addai and Mar Mari being used currently in Syro-Malabar liturgy, there are two more anaphorae known as Anaphora of Theodore and Anaphora of Nestorius . That
12649-405: The feast-day of Theresa of Avila there was a 40 hours adoration at Verapoly. Puthenpurackal Jacob Kathanar, the parish priest of Edappilly church also went for the adoration and returned to his parish church along with other people. The European Carmelite missionaries forgot to lock the church after dinner and on the next day the gold monstrance was found to be missing. Suspecting Jacob Kathanar to be
12788-773: The first Major Archbishop . The Syro-Malabar Church shares the same liturgy with the Chaldean Catholic Church based in Iraq and the independent Assyrian Church of the East based in Iraq , including its archdiocese the Chaldean Syrian Church of India . The Syro-Malabar Church is the third-largest particular church ( sui juris ) in the Catholic Church, after the Latin Church and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church . The Catholic Saint Thomas Christians ( Pazhayakūttukār ) came to be known as
12927-458: The future bishop of Verapoly . This plan would enable Rome to surpass the Padroado administration in India. Fearing about these plans and reluctant to share authority, the Padroado declined the request to consecrate the newly appointed bishop-elect. Therefore, the missionaries accepted Shemʿon's Catholic faith just in order to make him consecrate the Carmelite bishop. On 22 May 1701, Shemʿon
13066-478: The head of the Syriac Orthodox delegation, consecrated Kurian Kattumangat as Bishop Abraham Koorilose in 1764. These West Syriac bishops were skeptical about the validity of Sacraments administered by Thoma VI. They often re-ordained priests who were already ordained by him. Very often they appointed their own candidates as priests without even consulting the native bishop. They were in a process of replacing
13205-691: The hilltop where he said to have remained in prayer and that he left his footprint on one of the rocks. According to beliefs, during prayer, he touched a rock, upon which blood poured from it. Mylacombu is also considered as one among the arapallikal established by St. Thomas. Mylacombu Church, situated in the Kumaramangalam Grama Panchayath of the Idukki district in Kerala, India, is believed to have been founded by St. Thomas, during his second visit to Kerala after preaching gospel at Mylapore. He then returned back to Mylapore where he
13344-472: The holy name of God be praised for ever. Amen!" Kokkamangalam church (or Gokkamangalam church) is situated at Gokkamangalam near Cherthala in the Alappuzha district. St. Thomas sailed to Gokkamangalam where he preached the gospel for about a year. 1600 people converted to Christianity through him according to the narration in "Rampan Pattu", an ancient form of Christian folksong prevalent in Kerala. He formed
13483-681: The king of the independent Venad or the State of Quilon, a feudatory under Sthanu Ravi Varma Perumal of the Chera kingdom. Sapir Iso was the East Syriac Christian merchant who led the East Syriac bishops Mar Sabor and Mar Proth to the Christians of Malabar. The two bishops were instrumental in founding many Christian churches with Syrian liturgy along the Malabar coast and were venerated as Qandishangal (saints) since then by
13622-595: The land of Kochi.”..... By 1705, another East Syrian bishop was working in Southern Malabar, sent by the Catholicos of the East, Patriarch Eliah X Augen . His mission was roughly coterminous with that of Shemʿon of ʿAda, however much more fruitful. He was Gabriel of Ardishai, the Metropolitan of Azerbaijan. Unlike Metropolitan Shem˓on, Gabriel neither explicitly claim to be Chaldean Catholic bishop nor
13761-490: The land of Portugal; from there I came to the land of India, to the city of Anjuna and asked about you and he [whom I asked] told me: “Those people are not here, the people whom you seek, but go to the city of Surat, there you will find them.” I went to Surat and did not see anybody from among you, but I saw a Jew and a book [letter] of yours was with him. I took it from him, kissed it and read, rejoiced very much and asked him: “Where would be these Christians?” - and he told me: “In
13900-470: The leader of the Puthenkur was Thoma IV ( c. d. 1728 ). Gabriel opposed him and was successful in winning back a number of churches and faithful from his faction. Many churches from the Paḻayakūṟ also joined him. He claimed to have secured about 44 churches in his leadership. Thoma IV was by this time a supporter of Miaphysitism, brought by the Syriac Orthodox prelates, and he regarded Gabriel as
14039-475: The letter of Metropolitan Shemʿon addressed to the Saint Thomas Christians in MS Mannanam Mal 14, 46r-45v folios: After praying that you be in spiritual peace and enquiring about your condition I let it know to your graceful love that I came from Mar Eliah, Patriarch of the East; let his glorious see be fortified! Amen. First I went to Jerusalem and from there I went to the great Rome and to Spain and to
14178-472: The light of divine teaching by means of rightful bishops: not only India that extends from the borders of the Persian empire, to the country which is called Kaleh, which is a distance of one thousand and two hundred parasangs , but even your own Persia." The port at Kollam , then known as Quilon, was founded in 825 by Maruvān Sapir Iso, a Persian Christian merchant, with sanction from Ayyanadikal Thiruvadikal,
14317-642: The local church, and for the appointment of bishops from local priests. To represent their position, Kerala's Syrian Catholics Joseph Kariattil and Paremmakkal Thomma Kathanar went to Rome in 1778. While they were in Europe, Kariatty Joseph Kathanar was installed in Portugal as the Archbishop of Kodungalloor Archdiocese. While journeying home, they stayed in Goa where Kariattil died before he could formally take charge. Before he died, Kariattil appointed Kathanar as
14456-481: The major archbishop constitutes the supreme authority of the church. The Major Archiepiscopal Curia of the church is based in Kakkanad , Kochi . It is the largest among Saint Thomas Christians communities, with a population of 2.35 million in Kerala as per the 2011 Kerala state census and 4.53 million worldwide as estimated in the 2023 Annuario Pontificio . It is the second largest sui juris church within
14595-532: The majority among the Pazhayakoor also resisted the latinisation and a long struggle began for maintaining the Chaldaean rite and the contact with both the patriarchates of the Church of the East while identifying themselves Catholic in communion with the Holy See of Rome. Bishop Palliveettil Chandy tried to consecrate Thoma II , the leader of the Puthenkoor , as his successor, in an attempt to reunify both
14734-594: The message of Thoma VI and to negotiate the union of the dissident Putthenkūṟ faction. They also decided to meet the Portuguese monarch , who was in charge of the Padroado Real . This movement was led by the instigation and the financial backing of a rich Christian merchant and the first Christian minister of the King of Travancore , Thachil Matthoo Tharakan . Other members of the community contributed by selling or pawning their jewellery and property. Kariattil
14873-477: The monk Shimun VIII Yohannan Sulaqa as a rival patriarch. Sulaqa's subsequent consecration by Pope Julius III (1550–1555) saw a permanent split in the Church of the East; and the reunion with Catholic Church resulted in the formation of the modern-day Chaldean Catholic Church of Iraq . Thus, parallel to the "traditionalist" (often referred as Nestorian) Patriarchate of the East, the "Chaldean" Patriarchate in communion with Rome came into existence. Following
15012-533: The most ancient episcopal see in India. The current Marthoma Pontifical shrine (Kodungaloor Mar Thoma Church) church is situated on the banks of the River Periyar about 6 km from Kodungallur, in the village of Azhikode in Kerala. St. Thomas Church, Palayoor is located at Palayur (also spelled Palayoor), in Thrissur district in Kerala on the west coast of India. According to tradition, it
15151-674: The ninth century. The subgroup of the Saint Thomas Christians known as the Knanaya or Southists trace their lineage to Thomas of Cana, while the group known as the Northists claim descent from the early Christians evangelized by Thomas the Apostle. Byzantine traveller Cosmas Indicopleustes wrote of Syrian Christians he met in India and Sri Lanka in the 6th century. Even in Taprobané [Sri Lanka], an island in Further India, where
15290-543: The noble Lord Admiral Ryklop van Goens, and like as the heathen were driven out of the land of Isso Biranon Kinan [Canaan] so have they driven the worse than heathen Portuguese out of Cochin and other cities and fortresses of Malabar; and through Divine Providence the Syrian christians have been from that time forward protected and defended from them, and their pastors have again visited this country without let or hindrance. Gabriel received certain amount of support and favour from
15429-432: The official Bulletin of this Church. There are statutes for the permanent synod and for the superior and ordinary tribunals. CCEO c. 122 § 2 is specific in the particular law, that the term of the office shall be five years and the same person shall not be appointed for more than two terms consecutively. There are 35 eparchies (dioceses). Five of them are archeparchies (each administered by a Metropolitan Archbishop) leading
15568-524: The oldest churches in Kerala and thus in India as well as among the oldest ones in the world. The architecture shows striking similarities to ancient temple architecture. Our Lady of Purification Church also known as the Port Kollam Church is a historic Roman Catholic church near Kollam Port in Kollam district of Kerala. According to ecclesiastical tradition the church was established by Thomas
15707-613: The permanent synod form the executive part. The permanent synod and other offices are formed in accordance with the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (CCEO). The officials include the chancellor, vice-chancellor, and other officers. Various commissions are appointed by the major archbishop: Liturgy, Pastoral Care of the Migrant and Evangelisation, Particular Law, Catechism, Ecumenism, Catholic Doctrine, Clergy and Institutes of Consecrated Life, and Societies of Apostolic Life. The members of
15846-523: The primitive building] had risen to the height of the windows. At this stage no one would dare to pull down the old wooden building, fearing to be struck down by sudden death: it stood surrounded by the walls of the new erection, but after I had prayed and removed their timidity, the old structure was pulled down, and the new building stood out in such fine proportions that the Hindus , the Mahomedans , and
15985-544: The reasons for weakening of their vigour was Thachil Matthu Tharakan's misfortune. Thachil Matthoo Tharakan was troubled by Veluthampy Dalava's rising influence in the royal court of Travancore. His properties were confiscated and he was imprisoned. Although the King later repented for the indiscriminate actions of the Dalava, the church union movement had already lost its powerful economic backing. Syro-Malabar Catholic Church The Syro-Malabar Church , also known as
16124-583: The schism, both traditionalist and Chaldean factions began sending their bishops to Malabar. Abraham of Angamaly was one among them. He first came to India in 1556 from the traditionalist patriarchate. Deposed from his position in 1558, he was taken to Lisbon by the Portuguese, escaped at Mozambique and left for his mother church in Mesopotamia, entered into communion with the Chaldean patriarchate and Rome in 1565, received his episcopal ordination again from
16263-406: The thief he was taken by force to Verapoly by the missionaries and was denied food for several days. He fell ill and died. His last request before death for receiving Holy Communion too was denied. He was also denied a church burial, as his body was wrapped up in a mat and buried near a pond. Consequently, they selected two priests: Kariattil Iousep and Paremmakkal Thoma to meet the Pope to convey
16402-534: The title Malankara Church initially. Following the death of Palliveettil Chandy in 1687, the Syrian Catholics of the Malabar coast came under the parallel double jurisdiction of Vicariate Apostolic of Malabar under Roman Catholic Carmelites and Archdiocese of Cranganore under the Padroado. Thus many priests and laymen attempted to persuade the Pope to restore their Chaldean Catholic rite and hierarchy of
16541-496: The title of Archbishop of Cranganore upon him using her Padroado rights. He was thus consecrated as the Archbishop of Cranganore in 1782, effectively making him the Metropolitan of the united Malankara Church. However, Kariattil died in unclear circumstances in Goa . Thus the efforts drastically failed and planned Church reunion could not be realised. Following this, the Paḻayakūṟ was led by Thomas Paremmakkal who took charge as
16680-649: Was asked to make necessary corrections, which he did not and without getting Rome's approval, he made his journey to Malabar. However, in one of his two letters preserved in the Saint Joseph's Monastery at Mannanam, dated 1708, he makes a perfect Catholic confession of "the Lady Mary the Mother of God and Ever virgin Mary" and sent it to Angelo Francisco. Gabriel then declares that he is the “Metropolitan of all India of
16819-675: Was built on the land given by arachan (king) and hence it is often referred in the name Arappally (half church). Similarly, the Churches at Malayattoor and Aruvithura are also referred to as Arappallikal. The Church of Malabar was discovered by the Portuguese in 1501, and they record that upon arrival in the region in AD52, St Thomas converted King Chozha Perumal of Meliapor by dragging a large log ashore that elephants had been unable to move. The relics of St Thomas were returned to Edessa in Syria in
16958-510: Was directed against Jesuits, yet another version that it was directed against the authority of Latin Catholics. After the Coonan Cross Oath, the leaders of Saint Thomas Christians assembled at Edappally , where four senior priests Anjilimoottil Itty Thommen Kathanar of Kallisseri, Palliveettil Chandy Kathanar of Kuravilangad, Kadavil Chandy Kathanar of Kaduthuruthy and Vengoor Geevarghese Kathanar of Angamaly were appointed as advisors of
17097-471: Was escorted to Alangad , where he was made to consecrate Angelo Francisco at midnight. The Carmelites took every precaution so that he could not meet anyone from the Saint Thomas Christians. He was then secretly deported to Pondicherry . There he lived in home custody until his death on 16 August 1720. Although all these happened in utmost secrecy, a letter that he sent from the Capuchin monastery of Surat to
17236-485: Was established in 1911 for Knanaya Catholics. In 1923, Pope Pius XI (1922–1939) set up a full-fledged Syro-Malabar hierarchy with Ernakulam-Angamaly as the Metropolitan See and Augustine Kandathil as the first Head and Archbishop of the Church. In 1992, Pope John Paul II (1978–2005) raised the Syro-Malabar Church to Major Archepiscopal rank and appointed Cardinal Antony Padiyara of Ernakulam as
17375-563: Was established in 52 AD by St Thomas, The Apostle. Pierre du Jarric gives part of a letter by James Fenicio , a Jesuit missionary in the Zamorin 's territory. As the church of Palur dedicated to Saint Cyriac [Quriaqus], which was the oldest (primus) among all the churches in Malabar , and renowned for favours and graces obtained, and for this reason much frequented, I devoted myself more especially to it. The stone church which I began two years ago [enclosing, apparently, within it
17514-505: 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 community. The Church of the East Patriarch Shemon VII Ishoyahb 's unpopularity led to the schism of 1552 , due to the patriarchal succession being hereditary, normally from uncle to nephew. Opponents appointed
17653-520: Was he interested in a friendship with the Latin missionaries. However, he implicitly presented himself as a Catholic bishop sent from the Chaldean Patriarchate. Previously he was in Rome and he had interactions with the Propaganda in an aim to get approval as the bishop for Saint Thomas Christians. In 1704, he wrote profession faith to be examined. However it was rejected by the Propaganda as they found it unsound to Catholic doctrine. He
17792-489: Was introduced by Roz himself. The text of the new liturgy largely consisted of translations from the Latin and intended to re-place the original East Syriac (Chaldean) rite of the local Christians. After the Coonan Cross Oath , the Puthenkoor faction, led by Thoma I , allied with the Syriac Orthodox Church while resisting the Latin missionaries and thereby gradually shifted to West Syriac Rite and Miaphysitism. However,
17931-459: Was led by Paulose Pandari, a Paḻayakūṟ priest. They met Patriarch Yohannan VII Hormizd at the Monastery of Rabban Hormizd and requested him to send East Syriac bishops to India. The Patriarch consecrated Paulose Pandari as Metropolitan of Malabar under the episcopal name Mar Abraham and sent him to India. It was symbolic gesture from the Chaldean Patriarchate presenting the Metropolitan as
18070-457: Was martyred. According to the tradition, during his journey, St. Thomas requested the local king for a place to pray and preach the gospel in the eastern regions. However, the king refused this demand. During that time, Nedumakil Panikalyar, one of the king's generals, was residing at Mylacombu. Upon learning from the locals that Panikalyar could help him, St. Thomas visited Mylacombu and met Panikalyar. During St. Thomas's visit, Panikalyar's daughter
18209-448: Was originally sent by Patriarch Eliah IX Yohannan Augen of the 'Eliah' Patriarchate of the Church of the East and was previously his representative in Rome to discuss Church union. He travelled to India in a Portuguese ship and reached Goa. However he was arrested and deported. Later he approached the 'Josephite' Patriarchate and made a Catholic profession of faith. He was consequently appointed as Metropolitan by Patriarch Joseph II for
18348-535: Was previously a student at the school of the Propaganda in Rome and had earned a doctoral degree there. Kariyattil Iousep, accompanied by Paremmakkal Thoma and two other deacons, made the trip from Kerala in 1778. Meanwhile, the Propaganda missionaries, who had already achieved the trust of the pope, managed to spoil the efforts at Rome. But, the Portuguese Queen, who was impressed with Kariyattil Iousep for his sincere effort and knowledge, decided to bestow
18487-421: Was reconstructed several times since then. The stones in the church show the reconstruction in 1259. On his way from Kollam, he arrived at Niranam ( Thrikpapaleswaram ) by sea. He converted two Hindu Brahmin families named Pattamukkil and Thayyil and two Nair families named Manki and Madathilan to Christianity. He also gave priestly powers to the members of Pattamukkil family. It is believed to be one of
18626-524: Was reorganized as the Archdiocese of Cranganore and made subject to the Padroado Latin Catholic Primatal Archbishopric of Goa . In 1653, after a half-century of administration of the Padroado missionaries, the local Christians revolted and took the Coonan Cross Oath . In response, Pope Alexander VII , with the help of Carmelite missionaries, was by 1662 able to reconcile the majority of dissidents with
18765-582: Was resisted by most of them. Francisco Ros , the Latin Jesuit bishop who was appointed to the now downgraded bishopric of Angamaly , openly renounced the Synod of Diamper and called for a new synod at Angamaly to substitute it. This second Synod of Angamaly implemented a Latinised form of the Chaldean Rite among the Saint Thomas Christians. Being, a highly skilled Syriacist, this new Syriac liturgy
18904-467: Was sent to Rome for the recognition of the Apostolic See in accordance with the decision of the Syro-Malabar Synod. The Congregation for the Eastern Churches gave its approval for using this anaphora on an experimental basis for three years on 15 December 2012. After almost 420 years, the Anaphora of Nestorius was used by Syro-Malabar Catholics. The aftermath of the so-called Synod of Diamper was that any texts related to Nestorius were systematically burnt by
19043-459: Was seriously ill, and despite various treatments, her condition did not improve. St. Thomas prayed for the child by laying his hands on her head, and miraculously, she recovered. In gratitude for his daughter's healing, Panikalyar accepted St. Thomas's request and gifted him a place for prayer. Later, disciples of the Apostle constructed a church at the site to serve the growing community of believers who were converted by St. Thomas. Mylacombu church
19182-414: Was the choice of some Malabar prelates, who chose it over the East Syriac Rite and West Syriac Rite pontificals . A large number of Syro-Malabarians had schismed and joined with Assyrians at that time and various delayed the approval of this translation, until in 1934 Pope Pius XI stated that latinization was to no longer be encouraged. He initiated a process of liturgical reform that sought to restore
19321-442: Was then residing near the church in Changanassery . In the letter, it is also declared among other things that Gabriel was celebrating the Eucharist with unleavened bread. However, it is clear that he used both leavened and unleavened bread opportunistically. Meanwhile, Angelo Francisco received the letter of Giuseppe Sagribanti that alerted the Carmelites. They were successful in persuading the natives and thereby ousting Gabriel from
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