Malabar Independent Syrian Church
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| Malabar Independent Syrian church | |
| Classification | Eastern Church |
|---|---|
| Founder | Abraham Mar Koorilose (Kattumangattu) |
| Origin | 1772. |
| Branched from | Malankara Church |
| Geographical Area | Kerala |
| Humanitarianism | |
| Hospitals | 1 |
| Statistics | |
| Congregations | 16 |
| Members | 35,000 |
| School system | |
| Primary schools | 3 |
| Secondary schools | 1 |
Malabar Independent Syriac Church is also known as Thozhyur Sabah (church) and Anjoor church. It had grown from the tears, prayers and fasting of a God fearing man who spent years in exile, lived incognito and faced troubles and persecutions from those whom he loved. The church itself grew from a simple hut in a jungle to a completely independent Christian church. In a court case, in 1862, Madras High court declared that the church was an Independent Syrian church in Malabar. From then on this church was given the name Malabar Independent Syrian Church. It is a small church with a great heart.
It maintained a very good relation with the Malankara Church. Three Metropolitans of the Malankara Church were consecrated by this church. It continued this relation with Mar Thoma church even after Malankara Church was split into two, Jacobite church and Mar Thoma church
Contents |
[edit] History.
On the South Western coast of India lies a small state known as Kerala. It was here in the first century, Thomas the Apostle arrived to preach the gospel to the Jewish community. Some of the Jews and locals became followers of Jesus of Nazareth. They were known as Nazranis. In the eighteent century a few of them were forced to join together and formed an independent church in Malabar, north of Cochin. That church is now known as Malabar Independent Syrian Church. Still they use Syriac in their liturgy and so it is known as Syrian church. It does not mean that it is under any of the Syrian churches at any time.
[edit] Beginning.
Leaving his home, his positions and his hometown in Antioch, Mar Ivanios arrived in Kerala in 1748. He was living in Mulanthuruthy church teaching Syriac to the deacons. One day one of the deacons made a mistake in liurgy and immediately the boy Kattumangattu Abraham who was watching the lesson, corrected him. Mar Ivanios was much impressed and he took Abraham and his brother Geevarghese in his classes. Before going back to his home country in 1751, Mar Ivanios ordained them as deacons and later as kassessa (priests).[1] [2]
Later Mar Baselius and Mar Gregorius of Jerusalem arrived. They also started teaching Syriac to the deacons. Rev. Abraham was a great help for him. Kattumangattu Rev.Abraham took interest to build a church at Mattanchery, Cochin. Recognizing his knowledge, abilities and behavious Mar Baselius ordained him as a ramban (monk). Mar Baselius passed away in 1764. Mar Gregorius of Jerusalem in 1771 ordained Rev.Abraham and gave him the episcopal title, Abraham Mar Koorilose.
[edit] Metropolitans
Following is the list of Metropolitans of Malabar Independent Syrian church.[3][4]
1. Abraham Mar Koorilose (Kattumangattu) – (1771-1802). He was a consecrated Metropolitan by Mar Gregorios of Jerusalem at Mattancherry. He is known as the Elder Bava.
He was consecrated without the approval of Mar Thoma VI and so he had to go through a lot of difficulties and persecutions. He went to Thevenal, Vettikkal a place very near to his home and built a hut and spent his time in prayer and meditation. There he was afraid of his life. He was invited by Ittoop Kathanar to come to Malabar. So to escape from Mar Thoma VI he went to Malabar and settled at Anjoor in a small village in Kunnamkulam, Thrissur district, where he led a life of prayer. He was reported to have miraculously healing a Muslim boy and many others. A local chieftain of Anjoor, Hydrosekutty Moopan, was impressed by his devotion and donated a coconut grove to the metropolitan. There the headquarters of the Church was established. The corner stone for a church was laid in June 1772. Later this church was declared a cathedral. Thus began the Anjoor church also known as Thozhyur Sabah (church). Abraham Mar Koorilose (Koorilose Bava) passed away on July 10, 1802 and was laid to rest in the Thozhyur church.
2. Geevarghese Mar Koorilose (Kattumangattu) – (1802-1807). Known as the Younger Bava, Rev. Geevarghese was the younger brother of Abraham Mar Koorilose. He was always seen accompanying his brother. In 1794, Abraham Mar Koorilose consecrated him as his successor. He consecrated Skaria Mar Philexenos and Joseph Mar Ivanios as Suffragan. Geevarghese Mar Koorilose passeds away on May 29, 1809 and was laid to rest at Vettical Dayara, Mulanthuruthi.
3. Skaria Mar Philexenos, (Cheeran) - (1807-1811) was consecrated by Geevarghese Mar Koorilose.
4. Geevarghese Mar Philexenos (Kidangan) (1811-1829), was consecrated by Skaria Mar Philexenos.
During his period Mar Thoma IX was the Metropolitan of the Malankara church. But because he was not accepted by the people and clergy, Rev. Ittoop Kathanar from Kunnamkulam was selected to succeed him. But there was no bishop to consecrate him. So members of Malankara church invited Mar Philexenos from Thozhyoor for the consecration. Even though his ancestors were driven out of Malankara church, without a grudge he accepted the invitation. Rev. Ittoop Kathanar was consecrated on March 22, 1816 and was given the episcopal title, Pulikottil Joseph Mar Dionysius. But in November same year Joseph Mar Dionysius passed away. Because there were no other Metropolitans in Malankara at that time Mar Philoxenos was accepted as Malankara Metropolitan and the concerned governments issued Royal Proclamations. This proclamation was life long. On October 19, 1817, he consecrated Punnathara Mar Dionysious and returned to Thozhyoor. But Punnathara Mar Dionysious passed away on May 17, 1825, Mar Philoxenos was again invited and he consecrated Cheppad Mar Dionysios for the Malankara Church. Mar Philoxenos passed away on February 7, 1829.
5. Geevarghese Mar Koorilose (Kuthoorey) (1829-1856). Mar Philexenos did not appoint any successors. So Thozhyoor church invited Cheppad Mar Dionysios of the Malankara church and it was he who consecrated Geevarghese Mar Koorilose.
6. Joseph Mar Koorilose (Alathoorey) (1856-1888). Geevarghese Mar Koorilose died without appointing a successor. So Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan of the Malankara church consecrated Rev. Joseph Kathanar and gave him the episcopal title Joseph Mar Koorilose.
At that time Euyakim Mar Koorilos, a bishop sent by Patriarch of Antioch was also in Kerala. In 1857, he filed a civil case stating that he was the Malankara Metropolitan and he had the right for the Thozhyoor church and its properties. In 1862, Madras High court issued the final verdict that the church was an Independent Syrian chuirch in Malabar and Euyakim Mar Koorilos had no claim for the church or its properties. Because of this case Thozhyoor church was given the name Malabar Independent Syrian Church.
7. Joseph Mar Athanasius. (Maliyakal) (1888-1898), Joseph Mar Koorilose, consecrated his successor, Joseph Mar Athanasius.
At this time, Malankara church was split into two, Jacobites and Metran faction (which later took the name Mar Thoma church). Thomas Mar Athanasius, appointed by Mathews Mar Athanasius was leading the Metran faction. He passed away in August 1893 without appointing a successor. So Joseph Mar Athanasius consecrated Titus I, as metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church.
8. Geevarghese Mar Koorilose (Karumamkuzhi Pulikkottil) (1898-1935), was consecrated by Joseph Mar Athanasios. He consecrated Poulose Mar Athanasius assisted by Thomas Mar Athanasius of Mar Thoma Church, as Suffragan. Two schools were opened during his time. He also sent deacons to study at C.N.I. (Cambridge National Institute) and at Serampore College.
He was there for the consecrations of three Metropolitnas of Mar Thoma Church, as a priest attended the consecration of Titus I Mar Thoma, and as Metropolitan for the consecrations of Titus II and Abraham Mar Thoma.
9. Kuriakose Mar Koorilose (Kuthoorey) (1935-1947), was consecrated by Titus II Mar Thoma, assisted by Abraham Mar Thoma of the Mar Thoma Church.
10. Geevarghese Mar Koorilose (Cheeran) (1948-1967), was consecrated by Dr.Juhanon Mar Thoma assisted by Mathews Mar Athanasius of the Mar Thoma Church.
11. Paulose Mar Philexenos (Ayankulangara) (1967- 1977), was consecrated by Dr.Juhanon Mar Thoma of the Mar Thoma Church.
12. Mathews Mar Koorilose (Kuthoorey) (1978-1986), was consecrated by Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma, of the Mar Thoma Church.
13. Joseph Mar Koorilose (Alathoorey) (Aug.27, 1986), was consecrated by Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma, of the Mar Thoma Church. The Most Rev. Metropolitan Joseph Mar Koorilose retired on 28 May 2001.
14. Cyril Mar Baselius Metropolitan. The Sabha Mandalam (church Synod) of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church held on 10 December 2000 unanimously elected Rev. Fr. K. C. Sunny as the metropolitan-elect. On 3 March 2001 he was consecrated as Ramban. The Very Rev. Sunny Ramban was consecrated bishop on 10 March 2001 and named Cyril Mar Baselius. On 28 May 2001 he was installed as Metropolitan Mar Baselius. .[5] On the same day (28 May) the then Metropolitan Joseph Mar Koorilose handed over all his wordly and spiritual powers to the new Metropolitan
[edit] The church today..
The church today is expanding out of its centre in Thozhiyur. A new church was recently consecrated in Cochin. New congregations are also developing in the heartland.
[edit] Ecumenical relations.
MISC is the member of the National Christian Conference of Asia, the Council of Churches in India, and the Kerala Council of Churches. Other ecumenical links have been developed, not least with the Anglican and Lutheran churches. This has been facilitated through a support group based in England, where the church is a registered charitable trust.
[edit] Institutions.
[edit] Parishes
- St. George's Cathedral, Thozhiyur, Thrissur Dt., Kerala.
- St. Thomas ' Church, Kunnamkulam, Guravayur Rd. , Thrissur Dt.
- St. Augin's Church, Chalissery, Palakkad Dt., Kerala
- St. Adai's Church, Porkulam, Pazhanji, Thrissur Dt., Kerala.
- St. Mary's Church , Pazhanji, Thrissur Dt., Kerala.
- St. George Church, Kallumpuiram, Kadavallur, Thrissur Dt., Kerala
- St. Mary's church, Perummannoor, Palakkad Dt., Kerala
- St. George's Church , Karikkad, Thrissur Dt., Kerala.
- Mar Koorilose Church, Korattikara, Thrissur Dt., Kerala.
- St. George's Church , Perambur ,Cooks Rd., Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- St. George's Church , Coimbatore Tamil Nadu.
- Mar Koorilose Bava Church, Ernakulam, Kerala.
- St. George's Church, Peringod, Palakkad Dt., Kerala
[edit] Chapels.
- St. George's Chapel, Akathiyur, Kerala.
- Mar Bahanan Chapel, Anjoor Bazar , Kerala.
- Sleeba (Cross Memorial) Chapel, Thozhiyur , Thrissur Dt., Kerala.
[edit] Schools
- Syrian Christian U.P.S., Chalissery , Palakkad Dt., Kerala.
- St. George's H.S., Thozhiyur , Thrissur Dt., Kerala.
- Mar Koorilose Memorial U.P.S., Porkulam , Pazhanji, Thrissur Dt., Kerala.
- C.M.UP School, Thozhyoor, Thrissur Dt., Kerala.
[edit] Hospital
[edit] Press
- St. Thomas Press, Kunnamkulam, Guruvayur Rd., Kunnamkulam , Thrissur Dt., Kerala-680 503.
[edit] Publication
- Kunjhadukalude Velicham, MISCYL Office, St. Thomas Church, Guruvayur Rd., Kunnamkulam, Thrissur Dt., Kerala-680 503.
[edit] References
- ^ Varughese, Rev.K.C., History of the Malankar Independednt Suryani Church. Page 26.
- ^ Mathew, N.M. History of the Marthoma Church, Volume 1. Page 196
- ^ Kochumon, M.P., Parisuddha Kattumangatte Bavamar. Page 58,59.
- ^ Varghese Kassessa, K.C. A short history of Malabar Independent Syrian church.(page 118)
- ^ Kerala Govt: Gazette Part 5th, private advertisement, dated 19th February 2002
[edit] Bibliography
In Malayalam:
-
- Mathew, N.M. (2007). Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram, (History of the Marthoma Church), Volume 1.(2006) and Volume II (2007). Pub. E.J.Institute, Thiruvalla
- Kochumon, M.P., (1995) Parisuddha Kattumangatte Bavamar. (The saintly bishops of Kattumangattu) Pub. By Most Rev.Joseph Mar Koorilose Metropolitan.
- Porkulam, A.K.C.. (2003) Parisudha Kattumangatte Bavamar Thiruvachanathiludey.(St. Kattumangattu bishops through the Bible), Trissur.
- Varughese, Rev.K.C., (1972). Malabar Swathantra Suryani Sabhyude Charitram (History of the Malankar Independednt Suryani Church)
