Indian Christianity

More documents

Recommendations

Info

HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA : M. M. NINAN Mathews Mar Athanasious died in 1877, and was succeeded by, Thomas Mar Athanasious (1879-1889). The Theological center of the Church, the Old Seminary was still controlled by the reforminsts group. To counter this Mar Dionysius V with the support of Patriarch, filed suit against the reformists on March 4, 1879 and the Church plunged into a prolonged litigation (1879- 1889) known as the 'Seminary Case'. During the course of a litigation answering a question Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan affirmed that “ The Episcopal throne of Patriarch is the throne of St. Peter, while the throne of Malankara Church is that of St. Thomas. Malankara Church is as old as the Church in Antioch, equal in status, and both are independent.” During a meeting convened by the Maharaja of Travancore, before the final verdit was given, Mar Athanasius testified that, "Malankara Church was never under any foreign rule and that he was unwilling to move away from the teachings or give the authority and Church possessions to a foreign Patriarch." However the final verdict of 1889 went against the Reformation Group. This resulted in the refomist group seperating themselves from the Orthodox Theology and starting a new Reformed Church as the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Christian Church as an independent church without any affiliation with any foreign patriarchate. There was litigation between reformed group and original group for many years for the possession of individual churches. The reformed group got only Maramon and Kozhenchery churches by court verdict and Kottrakara church without contest. Five churches both parties to use on alternate Sundays. Reformed group put up small sheds in other places for worship. Though the reformed group lost their property; they influenced the people to spiritual revival and experienced greater joy and fellowship Kozhencheri Marthoma Church today where I was baptised and got married. 168
HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA : M. M. NINAN Since the Bible was in the hands of the common man due to the technology of Printing in Malayalam and with large number of theologically trained clergy, it was no more necessary to have any Syrian affilliation as it used to be in the previous eras. The liturgy was translated into Malayalam with necessary changes to reflect the reformation theology. The changes made by Abraham Malpan in the liturgy of the Holy Communion were as follows: i. All invocations to the saints were removed. ii. iii. All prayers for the dead were removed. In the prayer of consecration of the bread in Holy communion the prayer, "Thee who holdest the extremities of the universe, I hold in my hand; Thee, who rulest the depths, I grasp with my hand", and the statement at the time of partaking of the bread, "Thee, who are God, I put into my mouth", were deleted. iv. Instead of the prayer: "We offer into Thee, O Lord, this bloodless sacrifice (referring to the Eucharist) on behalf of Thy Holy Church which is in all the world", the following prayer was inserted: "We offer into Thee, O Lord, this prayer on behalf of Thy Holy Church which is in all the world", leaving out the words "bloodless sacrifice" and inserting instead "this prayer". v. The declaration that “Living Sacrifice is offered” (the reference is again to the Eucharist), was changed into: "living sacrifice, which is the sacrifice of grace, peace, and praise". vi. The declaration: "this Eucharist is sacrifice and praise" was deleted. vii. The declaration that “the Holy Spirit is the sanctifier of the censor” was deleted. viii. The note that the censor should be sanctified was taken away. ix. The prayer: “Let Him (Holy Spirit) make this bread the life-giving and saving body of Jesus Christ”, was replaced by: “Let Him (Holy Spirit) come upon and make this bread to those who partake of it, the body of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and life everlasting”. (This clearly teaches the Receptionist Theory.) x. The prayer: "Thou are the hard rock which was set against the tomb of our Redeemer" (referring to the Eucharist bread), was replaced by: “Thou art that tested and precious hard rock rejected by the builders” (converted it into a reference to Christ). The following changes were made to the practices of the Church: • It was decided that the Eucharist should be administered in both kinds. • The practice of auricular confession and obtaining absolution from the priests was abolished. • The practice of celebrating the Eucharist when there was nobody to partake of it was abolished Thomas Mar Athanasius died suddenly in 1893 without consecrating a successor. Another son of Abraham Malpan by name Titus agreed to accept the responsibility. The Metropolitan of the Independent Church of Thozhiyoor consecrated him in 1893 as Titus I. 169
Page 2 and 3:
HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA M.
Page 4 and 5:
PREFACE This book is the result of
Page 6 and 7:
HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA :
Page 8 and 9:
Page 10 and 11:
Page 12 and 13:
Page 14 and 15:
Page 16 and 17:
Page 18 and 19:
Page 20 and 21:
Page 22 and 23:
Page 24 and 25:
Page 26 and 27:
Page 28 and 29:
Page 30 and 31:
Page 32 and 33:
Page 34 and 35:
Page 36 and 37:
Page 38 and 39:
Page 40 and 41:
Page 42 and 43:
Page 44 and 45:
Page 46 and 47:
Page 48 and 49:
Page 50 and 51:
Page 52 and 53:
Page 54 and 55:
Page 56 and 57:
Page 58 and 59:
Page 60 and 61:
Page 62 and 63:
Page 64 and 65:
Page 66 and 67:
Page 68 and 69:
Page 70 and 71:
Page 72 and 73:
Page 74 and 75:
Kolla Varsham (Malayalam Era) HISTO
Page 76 and 77:
Page 78 and 79:
1321 Friar Odoric of Pordenone HIST
Page 80 and 81:
Page 82 and 83:
Page 84 and 85:
Page 86 and 87:
Page 88 and 89:
Page 90 and 91:
Page 92 and 93:
Page 94 and 95:
Page 96 and 97:
Page 98 and 99:
"Third Wave of Migration". HISTORY
Page 100 and 101:
Page 102 and 103:
Page 104 and 105:
Page 106 and 107:
Page 108 and 109:
Page 110 and 111:
Page 112 and 113:
Page 114 and 115:
Page 116 and 117:
Page 118 and 119:
Page 120 and 121:
Page 122 and 123: HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA :
Page 222 and 223:
Page 224 and 225:
Page 226 and 227:
Page 228 and 229:
Page 230 and 231:
After deep reflection had proclaime
Page 232 and 233:
Page 234 and 235:
Page 236 and 237:
According to the Anal Naga Baptist
Page 238 and 239:
Page 240 and 241:
Page 242 and 243:
Page 244 and 245:
Page 246 and 247:
Page 248 and 249:
Page 250 and 251:
Page 252 and 253:
Page 254 and 255:
Page 256 and 257:
Page 258 and 259:
Page 260 and 261:
Page 262 and 263:
Page 264 and 265:
Page 266 and 267:
Page 268 and 269:
Bible Studies Six Enigmas in the Bi
show all

Indian Christianity

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?