Mar Thoma IV was the 4th Malankara Metropolitan of the Malankara Church in India, serving from 1688–1728. During his tenure, the church was subject to a number of persecutions.
On the southwestern 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 Malabar Nasrani people and their church as Malankara Church. They followed a unique Hebrew-Syriac Christian tradition which included several Jewish elements and Indian customs.
In Malankara (Kerala) St. Thomas did not appoint any bishops, but an elder (Mooppen in Malayalam) was selected to lead the people. The parish leader was called Edavaka Mooppen and the church as a whole had a Malankara Mooppen. This was the tradition till 1653.
The Malayalam versions of the Canons of the Synod of Diamper[1] use these titles throughout the report except in three places where they use the Latin word archidiaconus.[2][3] There is no chance for the Malankara Church to use this Latin word. Portuguese were not familiar with the Malayalam wording Malankara Mooppen and so they might have used archidiaconus. The Malayalam name Jathikku Karthavian, given by some historians was not used in the Malayalam version of the canons. After the Coonan Cross Oath of 1653 rejecting primacy of the Bishop of Rome that they had been forced to accept in 1599, the Christians of Malankara consecrated their Mooppen/Archdeacon Thomas as a Bishop titled Thoma I. His successors Mar Thoma II and Mar Thoma III were ordained in 1670 and 1686 respectively.
Consecration
There is nothing much known about his earlier days except that he was also from Pakalomattom family, just like his predecessors.
Mar Thoma III died suddenly on 21 April 1688 and was laid to rest at Kadampanad church. The leaders of the Malankara Church selected Mar Thoma IV as his successor. At that time Mar Ivanios Hidayuttulla from Antioch who arrived in Kerala in 1685 was the only bishop in Malankara. So Mar Ivanios consecrated[4] Mar Thoma IV in 1688.
Major events
The Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or VOC in old-spellingDutch, literally "United East Indian Company") was established in 1602. They attacked Cochin and the king of Cochin surrendered to the Dutch on 20 March 1663. They were in control of Cochin and the surrounding area during the time of Mar Thoma IV.
At this time Archbishop J.Robeiro demanded that the Malankara church should be under him. The Metropolitan complained to the Dutch company and Archbishop was banned from taking any action against the Malankara church. Metropolitan also complained about the atrocities committed by the Raja of Cochin. Because of the steps taken by the Company, that trouble also stopped. At Angamali a person named Antonio created trouble to the Malankara Church. He was given 24 hours notice to leave the country and the church that gave him refuge was closed down.[5]
A Nestorian bishop Mar Gabriel arrived in Malabar in 1708. Neither the Malankara church nor the Catholics accepted him. Finally he came to Kottayam cheria palli. He died and was buried there. His burial place was later demolished and the stones were used as stepping stones to the parish building.
Last days
By 1727, Mar Thoma IV fell sick. So the leaders of the Malankara Church selected a successor for him. He was consecrated as Mar Thoma V. On 24 March 1728 Mar Thoma IV died and was laid to rest at Kandanad Church (Kandanad Marth Mariam Orthodox Syrian Church).
Juhanon Marthoma Metropolitan, The Most Rev. Dr. (1952). Christianity in India and a Brief History of the Marthoma Syrian Church. Pub: K.M. Cherian.
Chacko, T. C. (1936) Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charithra Samgraham (Concise History of Marthoma Church), Pub: E.J. Institute, Kompady, Tiruvalla.
Eapen, Prof. Dr. K. V. (2001). Malankara Marthoma Suryani Sabha Charitram (History of Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church). Pub: Kallettu, Muttambalam, Kottayam.
Ittoop Writer (1906). Malayalathulla Suryani Chistianikauleday Charitram (History of Syrian Christians in the land of Malayalam).
Mathew, N. M. Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram (History of the Marthoma Church), Volume 1 (2006), Volume II (2007), Volume III (2008). Pub. E.J.Institute, Thiruvalla.
Danil, K. N. (1952). Udayamperoor Sunnahadosinte Canonukal (Canons of the Synod of Diamper), CLS. Tiruvalla.
March 13, 2023
thoma, malankara, metropolitan, malankara, church, india, serving, from, 1688, 1728, during, tenure, church, subject, number, persecutions, malankara, metropolitanmalankara, churchinstalled1688term, ended24, march, 1728predecessormar, thoma, iiisuccessormar, t. Mar Thoma IV was the 4th Malankara Metropolitan of the Malankara Church in India serving from 1688 1728 During his tenure the church was subject to a number of persecutions Mar Thoma IVMalankara MetropolitanMalankara ChurchInstalled1688Term ended24 March 1728PredecessorMar Thoma IIISuccessorMar Thoma VPersonal detailsDied24 March 1728KandanadBuriedMarth Mariam Orthodox Syrian Cathedral Kandanad Contents 1 Introduction 2 Consecration 3 Major events 4 Last days 5 See also 6 References 7 Further readingIntroduction EditOn the southwestern 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 Malabar Nasrani people and their church as Malankara Church They followed a unique Hebrew Syriac Christian tradition which included several Jewish elements and Indian customs In Malankara Kerala St Thomas did not appoint any bishops but an elder Mooppen in Malayalam was selected to lead the people The parish leader was called Edavaka Mooppen and the church as a whole had a Malankara Mooppen This was the tradition till 1653 The Malayalam versions of the Canons of the Synod of Diamper 1 use these titles throughout the report except in three places where they use the Latin word archidiaconus 2 3 There is no chance for the Malankara Church to use this Latin word Portuguese were not familiar with the Malayalam wording Malankara Mooppen and so they might have used archidiaconus The Malayalam name Jathikku Karthavian given by some historians was not used in the Malayalam version of the canons After the Coonan Cross Oath of 1653 rejecting primacy of the Bishop of Rome that they had been forced to accept in 1599 the Christians of Malankara consecrated their Mooppen Archdeacon Thomas as a Bishop titled Thoma I His successors Mar Thoma II and Mar Thoma III were ordained in 1670 and 1686 respectively Consecration EditThere is nothing much known about his earlier days except that he was also from Pakalomattom family just like his predecessors Mar Thoma III died suddenly on 21 April 1688 and was laid to rest at Kadampanad church The leaders of the Malankara Church selected Mar Thoma IV as his successor At that time Mar Ivanios Hidayuttulla from Antioch who arrived in Kerala in 1685 was the only bishop in Malankara So Mar Ivanios consecrated 4 Mar Thoma IV in 1688 Major events EditThe Dutch East India Company Vereenigde Oost Indische Compagnie or VOC in old spelling Dutch literally United East Indian Company was established in 1602 They attacked Cochin and the king of Cochin surrendered to the Dutch on 20 March 1663 They were in control of Cochin and the surrounding area during the time of Mar Thoma IV At this time Archbishop J Robeiro demanded that the Malankara church should be under him The Metropolitan complained to the Dutch company and Archbishop was banned from taking any action against the Malankara church Metropolitan also complained about the atrocities committed by the Raja of Cochin Because of the steps taken by the Company that trouble also stopped At Angamali a person named Antonio created trouble to the Malankara Church He was given 24 hours notice to leave the country and the church that gave him refuge was closed down 5 A Nestorian bishop Mar Gabriel arrived in Malabar in 1708 Neither the Malankara church nor the Catholics accepted him Finally he came to Kottayam cheria palli He died and was buried there His burial place was later demolished and the stones were used as stepping stones to the parish building Last days EditBy 1727 Mar Thoma IV fell sick So the leaders of the Malankara Church selected a successor for him He was consecrated as Mar Thoma V On 24 March 1728 Mar Thoma IV died and was laid to rest at Kandanad Church Kandanad Marth Mariam Orthodox Syrian Church Preceded byMar Thoma III Metropolitan of the Malankara Church1688 1728 Succeeded byMar Thoma VSee also EditMalankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Mar Thoma ChurchReferences Edit Five of the Malayalam versions were available in 1952 Daniel K N Canons of the Synod of Diamper prepared using five of the available Malayalam versions Antonio de Gouvea 1606 Jornada do Arcebispo Aleixo de Menezes quando foy as Serra do Malaubar Thomas Dr M Kurian ed August 2000 1770 ന രണ ഗ രന ഥവര Niranam Chronicles in Malayalam India Sophia Books Kottayam p 188 Press list of Ancient Dutch records 1657 1778 Further reading EditJuhanon Marthoma Metropolitan The Most Rev Dr 1952 Christianity in India and a Brief History of the Marthoma Syrian Church Pub K M Cherian Chacko T C 1936 Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charithra Samgraham Concise History of Marthoma Church Pub E J Institute Kompady Tiruvalla Eapen Prof Dr K V 2001 Malankara Marthoma Suryani Sabha Charitram History of Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church Pub Kallettu Muttambalam Kottayam Ittoop Writer 1906 Malayalathulla Suryani Chistianikauleday Charitram History of Syrian Christians in the land of Malayalam Mathew N M Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram History of the Marthoma Church Volume 1 2006 Volume II 2007 Volume III 2008 Pub E J Institute Thiruvalla Danil K N 1952 Udayamperoor Sunnahadosinte Canonukal Canons of the Synod of Diamper CLS Tiruvalla Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thoma IV amp oldid 1073835873, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
