Indian Christianity
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA : M. M. NINAN<br />
CHAPTER TWELVE<br />
MALANKARA ORTHODOX CHURCH<br />
MALANKARA JACOBITE CHURCH<br />
SYRO-MALANKARA CATHOLIC CHURCH<br />
AD 1912 - 1972<br />
Though the acceptance of the Antiochian supremacy was expedient for those opposing the reformation,<br />
not all members of the church were happy with it. This group sent a request to the Patriarch of Syria to<br />
ordain a Maphrianate for Malankara. Maphrianate was an ecclesiastical position in Persian Churches<br />
under the Patriarch. Konattu Mathen Malpan and Vattasseril Geevarghese Malpan wrote to the<br />
Patriarch, raising this issue. But the Patriarch flatly refused the request and replied: "No one should ask<br />
for this, he who defies will be cursed in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit". The Patriarch<br />
said, if necessary, a native syrian may be elevated as Maphrian and sent to Malankara.<br />
In 1895 when Abdul Messiah was elected and elevated as Patriarch. At that time Mar Abdulla was also<br />
a candidate for the position but he was defeated in the election. As a result, Mar Abdulla left the<br />
Orthodox church and joined the Roman church in 1896 and stayed with it until 1906 . Meanwhile, Mar<br />
Ivanios, the bishop of Jerusalem was removed from office by Patriarch Abdul-Messiah for some<br />
irregularities in the administration of his diocese. .This resulted in a collaboration between Mar Ivanios<br />
and Mar Abdulla to take revenge on Mar Abdul-Messiah. After a series of political subterfuge with the<br />
help of the Sultan of Turkey, Abdul-Messiah was declared Patriarch to. became the rival Patriarch of<br />
Antioch. (Later, Abdulla himself excommunicated mar Ivanios). Thus for a period the Syrian Church<br />
had two rival Partriarchs. (A repetition of this took place again in 20th century, during Abdul-Messiah's<br />
tenure. ) Thus Abdulla II had usurped the Patriarchal seat in 1906. The Patriarch Abdullah issued a<br />
letter on 31st May 1911 excommunicating Geevarghese Mar Dionysius (Mar Dionysius VI).<br />
Abdulla II came to Kerala and wanted Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysios to sign a document<br />
declaring that the Patriarch had temporal powers over the Malankara Church. Mar Dionysios refused to<br />
sign this document and he was therefore excommunicated by the Patriarch. Mar Abdulla, after stay of 2<br />
years in Malankara returned to Antioch only to die on the way in 1915.<br />
The church consequently split into two groups, one group supporting the Patriarch and called themselves<br />
the "Bava party" and the group of supporting Mar Dionysios called themselves the "Metran party".<br />
Following a request by Mar Dionysios in 1912 to Patriarch Mar Abdul Messiah to come to Kerala and<br />
enthrone a Catholicos in 1964 a Catholicos was ordained as Catholicos Augen I. In 1972 the "Bava<br />
party" with their own Catholicos and bishops separated themselves and formed the Malankara Orthodox<br />
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