History of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church - street theologian
History of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church - street theologian
History of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church - street theologian
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<strong>History</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Malankara</strong> <strong>Orthodox</strong> <strong>Syrian</strong><br />
<strong>Church</strong>
Why do we need to know this?
What’s in a name?<br />
• <strong>Malankara</strong> <strong>Orthodox</strong> <strong>Syrian</strong> <strong>Church</strong><br />
• <strong>Orthodox</strong> <strong>Syrian</strong> <strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> East<br />
• Indian <strong>Orthodox</strong> <strong>Church</strong>
Jesus Christ: Birth <strong>of</strong> Christianity<br />
• Birth, Life, Trial, Death, Resurrection, Ascension<br />
• Commissioning <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> disciples to “teach all<br />
nations…”<br />
• Pentecost<br />
• Paul’s Conversion
• Peter-Antioch, Rome<br />
• Paul-Ephesus, Caesarea,<br />
Rome<br />
• John-Ephesus<br />
• James-Jerusalem<br />
• Andrew-Scythia, Greece<br />
• Philip-Samaria, A<strong>the</strong>ns<br />
• Bartholomew-Armenia<br />
The Apostles<br />
• Mat<strong>the</strong>w-Judea, Syria, Persia<br />
• Simon-Edessa, Egypt<br />
• Jude (Thaddeus)-Mesopotamia<br />
• James <strong>the</strong> son <strong>of</strong> Alpheus- Jerusalem<br />
• Matthias-Jerusalem, Armenia<br />
• Thomas-Persia, India
• Liturgy/Eucharist<br />
• Apostolic Succession<br />
• Roman Persecution<br />
• Early Herecies<br />
• Emperor Constantine<br />
• Rise <strong>of</strong> Monasticism<br />
The Early <strong>Church</strong>
St. Thomas<br />
• Acts <strong>of</strong> Thomas- a 3 rd Century Syriac work<br />
• Presence at <strong>the</strong> Dormition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Blessed Virgin Mary<br />
• Evangelizing Persia<br />
• Mar Addai and King Abgar<br />
• Succession from St. Thomas in Persia<br />
• Arrives in Mylapore, India (52 AD)
St. Thomas (cont.)<br />
• King Gondophares’ Palace<br />
• Established 7.5 <strong>Church</strong>es in Kerala<br />
• Established short-lived community in North India<br />
(possibly China as well)<br />
• Martyred in Madras in 72 AD<br />
• Remains Transferred to Edessa in 185<br />
• Martyrdom date vs. Transfer date (we celebrate St. Thomas’<br />
Perunal on <strong>the</strong> latter)
The Three Ecumenical Synods<br />
• Nicea (325 AD)<br />
• Nature <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Triune God (Fa<strong>the</strong>r, Son, Holy Spirit)<br />
• Against Arian Heresy<br />
• Cappadocian Fa<strong>the</strong>rs<br />
• Constantinople (381 AD)<br />
• Reiteration <strong>of</strong> Nicea<br />
• Nicene Creed<br />
• Ephesus (431 AD)<br />
• St. Cyril <strong>of</strong> Alexandria vs. Nestorius<br />
• “Theotokos”<br />
• “One Single Incarnate Nature <strong>of</strong> God <strong>the</strong> Word”
• 451 AD<br />
Council <strong>of</strong> Chalcedon<br />
• Eastern distaste for Tome <strong>of</strong> Leo<br />
• Eutychian Herecy<br />
• “Monophysites” versus “Dyophysites”<br />
• Mar Dioscorus, Mar Phelixenos, Mar Severus<br />
• First major schism in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Church</strong>
The <strong>Orthodox</strong> <strong>Church</strong> Schism<br />
“Oriental <strong>Orthodox</strong>”<br />
• Coptic (Alexandrian)<br />
• <strong>Syrian</strong> (Antioch)<br />
• Armenian<br />
• Ethiopian<br />
• Eritrean<br />
• <strong>Malankara</strong> (Indian)<br />
“Eastern <strong>Orthodox</strong>”<br />
• Ecumenical Patriarchate<br />
• Greek<br />
• Russian<br />
• Romanian<br />
• Serbian<br />
• OCA<br />
• Etc…
• Deacon<br />
• Priest<br />
• Bishop<br />
• Patriarch/Catholicos<br />
Terminology
<strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> Antioch<br />
• Apostolic Succession from Saints Peter and Ignatius<br />
• Prominent <strong>the</strong>ological center before Ephesus<br />
• Close ties to <strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> East<br />
• Close ties to <strong>Malankara</strong> <strong>Church</strong> (1653 AD)<br />
• Patriarch/Catholicos Relationship<br />
• Maphrianate <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> East<br />
• West <strong>Syrian</strong> Rite
Nestorian <strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> East<br />
• Eastern (Persian) Bishops reject Council <strong>of</strong> Ephesus<br />
• “Nestorian” exiles influx into Persia toward <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong>ological school <strong>of</strong> Nisibis<br />
• The Persian <strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficially adopts Nestorian<br />
Christology in 486 AD<br />
• Persian vs. Roman Empires<br />
• East <strong>Syrian</strong> (Chaldean) Rite<br />
• Assyrians
Mar Jacob Baradeus<br />
• <strong>Church</strong> in Antioch and Persia fall under heavy<br />
Nestorian influence<br />
• Consecrated by Theodosius <strong>of</strong> Alexandria with<br />
universal jurisdiction<br />
• Consecrates Non-Chalcedonian Patriarch <strong>of</strong> Antioch<br />
and Catholicos <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> East as well as many Bishops<br />
and Priests in <strong>the</strong> East<br />
• Jacobites?
<strong>Orthodox</strong> <strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> East<br />
• Jerusalem Synod 231AD<br />
• Catholicate- originally in Edessa, transferred to<br />
Seleucia-Ctesiphon, <strong>the</strong>n to Tigris and Musal, <strong>the</strong>n<br />
discontinued in 1895<br />
• After rise <strong>of</strong> Nestorians, becomes a “Maphrianate” <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> SOC<br />
• Revived in <strong>Malankara</strong> in 1912 in <strong>the</strong> spirit <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
original Pre-Nestorian Age Catholicate
Gregorios Bar Hebroyo<br />
• Catholicos <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> East (1266-1286)<br />
• Hudaya Canon<br />
• Catholicos/Patriarch Relationship<br />
• Consecration <strong>of</strong> one by <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
• <strong>Church</strong> Historian<br />
• Gabriel Mar Youhanon from India
The <strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Malankara</strong><br />
• <strong>Malankara</strong> Nazranis-<strong>Syrian</strong> Christians<br />
• Christians separate caste <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own<br />
• Well respected<br />
• Incorporate a few Hindu customs<br />
• Tali, Minnu, Initiation<br />
• Influx <strong>of</strong> <strong>Syrian</strong> Immigrants<br />
• Knai Thoma & Mar Josef- 345 AD<br />
– Knanites<br />
• Mar Sapor & Mar Aphroth-823 AD<br />
• Persians fleeing Zoroastrian persecutions
Before <strong>the</strong> Roman Catholics<br />
• Ambiguous jurisdiction <strong>of</strong> Baghdad & Musal<br />
• Metropolitan <strong>of</strong> Fars/Metropolitan and <strong>the</strong> Gate <strong>of</strong> All India<br />
• Inconsistent succession <strong>of</strong> Bishops<br />
• Appeal to Eastern Patriarchs (Persia, Antioch, Egypt, Baghdad)<br />
• Mar Thoma & Mar Yuhanon arrive from Baghdad<br />
• 1503 AD- Nestorian influence over <strong>Malankara</strong><br />
• <strong>Church</strong> run by Arch-Deacons<br />
• Lack <strong>of</strong> Theological education in India<br />
• Difficult to describe Pre-Portuguese <strong>Church</strong> as “Nestorian”
Synod <strong>of</strong> Diamper<br />
• 1498 AD Vasco Da Gama arrives<br />
• Attempt to Latinize and “De-Nestorianize”<br />
• Burning <strong>of</strong> ancient Syriac texts<br />
• Arch-Bishop Menezes vs. Arch-Deacon<br />
Gheevarghese<br />
• 1599 AD Synod <strong>of</strong> Diamper<br />
• Latinize <strong>the</strong> <strong>Church</strong> and Liturgy<br />
• <strong>Malankara</strong> falls under jurisdiction <strong>of</strong> Goa<br />
• Breaking <strong>of</strong> all ties with Persia/Syria<br />
• 1599-1653 Period <strong>of</strong> Roman Catholic Domination
Koonen Cross Oath<br />
• Arch-Deacon Thomas<br />
• Appeal to Eastern Patriarchs once more<br />
• Arrival <strong>of</strong> an “Eastern Prelate”<br />
• Apparent execution by Portuguese authorities<br />
• “Patriarch Hidayatulla”-Syriac Antiochene or Nestorian?<br />
• Ga<strong>the</strong>ring around stone cross in Matanchery<br />
• 25,000 pledged to restore <strong>the</strong> ancient <strong>Church</strong><br />
• Rejected Roman domination/Bishops<br />
• Syro-Malabar Catholics- 1 st Schism in <strong>Malankara</strong> Sabha<br />
• 12 Priests consecrate <strong>the</strong> Arch-Deacon Thomas as<br />
Bishop Mar Thoma I
Mar Gregorios Abdul J’aleel<br />
• 1665 AD Mar Gregorios arrives<br />
– Patriarch <strong>of</strong> Jerusalem (1 st Thubden)<br />
• Confirms Episcopal Elevation <strong>of</strong> Mar Thoma I<br />
• Reintroduces <strong>Syrian</strong> Rite and Liturgy (West)<br />
• 1670 AD Mar Thoma I dies/Mar Thoma II<br />
consecrated<br />
• 1681 AD Mar Gregorios’s demise
Dutch Age/ <strong>Malankara</strong> Metropolitans<br />
• “<strong>Malankara</strong> Metropolitan”<br />
• New International Situation<br />
• Continued Presence <strong>of</strong> <strong>Syrian</strong> Bishops<br />
• Mar Baselius Yaldho (1685 AD)<br />
• Mar Baselius Shakralla (1751 AD)<br />
• Patriarchal interference in Thomasine line<br />
• Compromise with Mar Thoma V(1754 AD)<br />
• Re-consecration <strong>of</strong> Mar Thoma VI as Mar Dionysius I aka<br />
Mar Dionysius <strong>the</strong> Great (1770 AD)<br />
• Malabar Independent <strong>Syrian</strong> <strong>Church</strong><br />
• Rival Consecration <strong>of</strong> Mar Kurilose in Thozhiyur
British Rule and <strong>the</strong> CMS<br />
• English arrive in 1795 AD<br />
• Trust fund established 1808 AD<br />
• Malayalam Bible 1811 AD<br />
• Old Seminary 1815 AD<br />
• Staffed by CMS Missionaries- originally wished to preserve <strong>Church</strong><br />
traditions but by 1833 were teaching Protestantism<br />
• Mavelikara Synod in 1836 AD rejects CMS scheme to<br />
Anglicanize <strong>Church</strong><br />
• Discontinuing <strong>of</strong> cooperation with CMS (1837 AD)
<strong>Church</strong> vs. Protestantism<br />
• Abraham Malpan excommunicated for “Revised Liturgy”-<br />
1837 AD<br />
• Nephew (dismissed from CMS College) goes to Syria and<br />
is consecrated Metropolitan by <strong>Syrian</strong> Patriarch- Ma<strong>the</strong>ws<br />
Mar Athanasius (1842 AD)<br />
• Efforts at “Reformation”: 1852-1864<br />
• Pulikottil Mar Dionysius V- consecrated by Patriarch 1864<br />
AD<br />
• Rivalry for title <strong>of</strong> <strong>Malankara</strong> Metropolitan
<strong>Church</strong> vs. Protestantism contd.<br />
• Patriarch Ignatius Peter III in <strong>Malankara</strong>: 1875-1877AD<br />
• Presides over Mulunthuruthy Synod<br />
• Reorganization<br />
• New Bishops<br />
• Powers <strong>of</strong> Patriarch<br />
• Mar Dionysius V vs. Thomas Mar Athanasius<br />
• Seminary Case 1879-1889 AD<br />
• Title <strong>of</strong> <strong>Malankara</strong> Metropolitan<br />
• <strong>Church</strong> Possessions<br />
• Formation <strong>of</strong> Mar Thoma <strong>Syrian</strong> <strong>Church</strong> (Protestant/Anglican)<br />
• Lost case, lands, titles
Mar Dionysius VI<br />
• After Court case- Increasing power <strong>of</strong> Patriarch in<br />
<strong>Malankara</strong><br />
• 1909 AD- 6 th <strong>Malankara</strong> Association elects Gheevarghese<br />
Mar Dionysius VI as <strong>Malankara</strong> Metropolitan<br />
• 1910 AD- Patriarch Abdullah claims temporal powers over<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Church</strong><br />
• Lay trustees support Patriarch<br />
• 1911 AD Excommunication <strong>of</strong> Mar Dionysius
Revival <strong>of</strong> Catholicate<br />
• Patriarch Abdul Messiah II “Senior Patriarch” in Mardin<br />
• Desire to re-establish ancient autonomous Catholicate<br />
• September 17, 1912- Reestablishment <strong>of</strong> Catholicate in<br />
<strong>Malankara</strong><br />
• Trust Fund Suit: 1913-1928 AD, 1938- 1958AD<br />
• 1930 AD Mar Ivanios betrayal- Reeth Sabha<br />
• 1931 AD- Visit <strong>of</strong> Patriarch Elias III
Sabha Constitution<br />
• September 4, 1930 AD MA ratifies Constitution<br />
• Patriarch is “Supreme head <strong>of</strong> <strong>Orthodox</strong> <strong>Syrian</strong><br />
<strong>Church</strong>”<br />
• Catholicos is supreme head <strong>of</strong> <strong>Orthodox</strong> <strong>Syrian</strong><br />
<strong>Church</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> East<br />
• One <strong>Church</strong> in two parts<br />
• Autocephalous<br />
• 1958 Concordat in <strong>Church</strong><br />
• Patriarch party loses appeal
Brief Period <strong>of</strong> Peace<br />
• Reconciliation- Consecration <strong>of</strong> Augen Bhava I<br />
1964 AD<br />
• Patriarch Yakoub III<br />
• Relics <strong>of</strong> St. Thomas, St. Mary<br />
• 1965 AD- Addis Abbaba Conference<br />
• 1970 AD- Patriarch Yakoub III denies priesthood<br />
<strong>of</strong> St. Thomas<br />
– Series <strong>of</strong> calculated moves against <strong>Malankara</strong> <strong>Church</strong><br />
• 1974 AD- De-recognition <strong>of</strong> Patriarch Yakoub III<br />
• Two Catholicoses 1975 AD
Renewed Schism<br />
• Patriarchal Delegate appointed 1972 AD<br />
• Patriarch consecrates Baselios Paulose II as Maphrian<br />
1975 AD<br />
– Recognition <strong>of</strong> Baselios Paulose I?<br />
• “Herecy” against <strong>Syrian</strong> <strong>Orthodox</strong> Faith?<br />
• Petrine Supremacy<br />
• Universal <strong>Syrian</strong> <strong>Church</strong><br />
• “Jacobite <strong>Syrian</strong> <strong>Church</strong>”-1975<br />
• Patriarch Ignatius Zaka I Iwas- 1980 AD<br />
• Recent Court Cases<br />
• 1995 AD<br />
• 2002 AD- Opportunity <strong>of</strong> Peace
Present Day Sabha<br />
• 2.5 Million Faithful Worldwide<br />
• American, European Diaspora<br />
• “Catholicose <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> East and <strong>Malankara</strong> Metropolitan”<br />
• <strong>Syrian</strong> <strong>Orthodox</strong> “Catholicos <strong>of</strong> India”<br />
• Coptic/Ethiopian Model<br />
• Bulgarian/Constantinopolitan Model<br />
• 1 <strong>Church</strong> in Schism remains
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