fbpx
Wikipedia

Malabar Independent Syrian Church

November 27, 2023

The Malabar Independent Syrian Church (MISC) also known as the Thozhiyur Church, is a Christian church centred in Kerala, India. It is one of the churches of the Saint Thomas Christian community, which traces its origins to the evangelical activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century.

Malabar Independent Syrian church
TypeOriental Orthodox
ClassificationIndependent Oriental Orthodox
TheologyMiaphysite
MetropolitanCyril Baselios I
RegionKerala
FounderAbraham Koorilos I
Origin1772
Separated fromMalankara Church
Congregations13 Parishes and 6 Chapels
Members5000
Ministers10-15
Hospitals1
Primary schools3
Secondary schools1
Other name(s)Thozhyur Sabha
Anjoor Church
Official websiteOfficial Website

This group split off from the main body of India's Malankara Church in 1772 and was confirmed as an independent church with its current name after a high court verdict in 1862.[1][2] Although the church is independent under the Malankara umbrella, the church faith and traditions are strictly Oriental Orthodox, adhering to the West Syriac Rite and consistently using western Syriac and Malayalam during the Holy Qurbono (Qurbono Qadisho). The Eucharistic Celebration is popularly known as Holy Qurbana due to the historical influence of the Church of the East.

The church has about 5,000 members.[citation needed]

A diagram showing the history of the divisions among the Saint Thomas Christians (click to enlarge).

History edit

Main article: Saint Thomas Christians

The Saint Thomas Christians trace their origins to Thomas the Apostle, who according to tradition proselytized in India in the 1st century. By the 7th century they were part of the Church of the East, centred in Persia.[3] The entire community remained united until the 17th century, when disputes with the Portuguese padroado in India led to the Coonan Cross Oath of 1653 and the division of the Saint Thomas Christians into Syro-Malabar Church and independent branches.[4][5] The independent branch, known as the Malankara Church, forged a relationship with the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch.[6]

However, relations between the Syriac Orthodox hierarchy and the native clergy were sometimes strained. In 1772 Bishop Gregorios, a representative of the Syriac Orthodox hierarchy from the Middle East, had grown dissatisfied with how the Metropolitan Dionysius I had treated him. Against Dionysius' wishes, Gregorios consecrated as bishop a leading dissenter, the monk Kattumangatt Kurien, in a secret but canonically legitimate ceremony. The new bishop took the name Cyril (Koorilos), and he was designated Gregorios' sole heir.[7]

Cyril claimed authority over the parishes of Cochin, and initially received the support of the Raja of Cochin. However, Dionysus saw him as a threat to his power, and in 1774 he appealed to the Raja and to the British authorities in India to suppress the rival bishop.[7][8] Cyril left for Thozhiyoor, Kerala outside their jurisdiction, and established what would become an independent church.[9] This was the first of several groups to split from the Malankara Church.[8]

Cyril's church was always small, but maintained stability by attracting devoted priests and emphasizing regularity in the ecclesiastical order. In 1794 Cyril consecrated his brother Geevarghese as bishop; Geevarghese succeeded Cyril as Cyril II in 1802, and the succession has proceeded unbroken since.[7]

As a result of an 1862 court case, the Madras High Court confirmed the Thozhiyur church was an independent Malankara church, and it has subsequently been known as the Malabar Independent Syrian Church.[9]

Ecumenical relations edit

 
Group photo taken during the ordinations of Juhanon Thimothious (later Juhanon Thoma) and Mathews Athanasius, by Titus II Mar Thoma, Abraham Mar Thoma and Metropolitan of Thozhiyoor Kuriakose Koorilos

The Malabar Independent Syrian Church maintains good relations with the other Malankara churches especially its relationship with Marthoma Syrian church. Despite its small size, it has had a significant impact on the history of the Saint Thomas Christian community. On several occasions Thoziyur bishops have stepped in to consecrate bishops for the other churches when the episcopal succession, and therefore the churches themselves, were in danger.[7] Philoxenos II Kidangan (1811–1829) of the Thozhiyur Church consecrated three successive bishops in the unified Malankara Church: Dionysius II on 22 March 1816, Dionysius III on 19 October 1817, and *Dionysius IV on 27 August 1825.[10] In 1894 Athanasius and Koorilose V consecrated Titus I Mar Thoma for the Reformed Syrians, later known as the Mar Thoma Church. On subsequent occasions when the Thozhiyur Metropolitan has died without consecrating a successor, the Metropolitan and bishops of the Mar Thoma Church had performed the consecration. Thozhiyur bishops have taken part in all Mar Thoma Church episcopal ordinations up to the present.

Malabar Independent Syrian Church is a member of the Christian Conference of Asia, the Council of Churches in India, and the Kerala Council of Churches. Other ecumenical links have developed with the Anglican and Lutheran Churches. This has been facilitated through a support group based in England, which is a registered charitable trust.[11] In 1998 and 2008, Thozhiyur Church Metropolitans were ecumenical observers at the Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops. In July 2006 Koorilose IX and Basilios I participated as co-consecrators in the episcopal ordination of Paul Hunt and John Fenwick as bishops of the Free Church of England.[12][13]

Thozhiyur Metropolitans edit

The Metropolitans of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church:

  1. Abraham Koorilos I (1772-1802)
  2. Coorilose Ghevarghese I (1802-1808)
  3. Ivanios Joseph -Suffragon Metropolitan (1807) (6 months only)
  4. Philexinos Zacharias (1807-1811)
  5. Philexinos Ghevarghese - Malankara Metropolitan (1811-1829)
  6. Coorilose Ghevarghese II (1829-1856)
  7. Coorilose Joseph I (1856-1888)
  8. Athanasius Joseph (1888-1898)
  9. Coorilose Ghevarghese III (1898-1935)
  10. Athanasius Paulose - Suffragon Metropolitan (1917-1927)
  11. Coorilose Kuriakose (1936-1947)
  12. Coorilose Ghevarghese IV (1948-1967)
  13. Philexinos Paulose (1967-1977) (joined the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and replaced)
  14. Coorilose Mathews (1978-1986)
  15. Coorilose Joseph II (1986-2001)
  16. Cyril Baselios I (2001–present)

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ The forgotten bishops : the Malabar Independent Syrian Church and its place in the story of the St. Thomas Christians of South India. Gorgias Press. 2009. ISBN 978-1-60724-619-0.
  2. ^ "Misc – Malabar Independent Syrian Church".
  3. ^ Baum, p. 53.
  4. ^ Neill, p. 214.
  5. ^ Neill, p. 319.
  6. ^ "Christians of Saint Thomas". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d Neill, p. 70.
  8. ^ a b Vadakkekara, p. 92.
  9. ^ a b Burgess, p. 175.
  10. ^ Rev. K. C. Varghese Kassessa. (1972). History of Malabar Independent Syrian Church. (Malayalam). Page 62.
  11. ^ "Malabar Independent Syrian Church Support Charity". beta.charitycommission.gov.uk.
  12. ^ . The Free Church of England. 28 October 2018. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  13. ^ Fenwick, John R. K. "Malabar Independent Syrian Church The Thozhiyur Church".

References edit

  • Baum, Wilhelm; Winkler, Dietmar W. (2003). The Church of the East: A Concise History. London-New York: Routledge-Curzon. ISBN 9781134430192.
  • Burgess, Michael (2005). The Eastern Orthodox Churches. McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-2145-2.
  • Frykenberg, Robert Eric (2008). Christianity in India: From Beginnings to the Present. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198263777.
  • Neill, Stephen (2004). A History of Christianity in India: The Beginnings to AD 1707. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-54885-3. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  • Neill, Stephen (2002). A History of Christianity in India: 1707-1858, Volume 2. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-89332-1. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  • Vadakkekara, Benedict (2007). Origin of Christianity in India: a Historiographical Critique. Media House Delhi.

Further reading edit

  • Fenwick, John R. K. (2009). The Forgotten Bishops: The Malabar Independent Syrian Church and Its Place in the Story of the St. Thomas Christians of South India. Gorgias Press. ISBN 9781607246190.

The following are works 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).

External links edit

  • Official website
  • The Church of Thozhiyoor / Anjoor

November 27, 2023
malabar, independent, syrian, church, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, schol. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Malabar Independent Syrian Church news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Malabar Independent Syrian Church MISC also known as the Thozhiyur Church is a Christian church centred in Kerala India It is one of the churches of the Saint Thomas Christian community which traces its origins to the evangelical activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century Malabar Independent Syrian churchTypeOriental OrthodoxClassificationIndependent Oriental OrthodoxTheologyMiaphysiteMetropolitanCyril Baselios IRegionKeralaFounderAbraham Koorilos IOrigin1772Separated fromMalankara ChurchCongregations13 Parishes and 6 ChapelsMembers5000Ministers10 15Hospitals1Primary schools3Secondary schools1Other name s Thozhyur Sabha Anjoor ChurchOfficial websiteOfficial WebsiteThis group split off from the main body of India s Malankara Church in 1772 and was confirmed as an independent church with its current name after a high court verdict in 1862 1 2 Although the church is independent under the Malankara umbrella the church faith and traditions are strictly Oriental Orthodox adhering to the West Syriac Rite and consistently using western Syriac and Malayalam during the Holy Qurbono Qurbono Qadisho The Eucharistic Celebration is popularly known as Holy Qurbana due to the historical influence of the Church of the East The church has about 5 000 members citation needed A diagram showing the history of the divisions among the Saint Thomas Christians click to enlarge Contents 1 History 2 Ecumenical relations 3 Thozhiyur Metropolitans 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksHistory editMain article Saint Thomas Christians The Saint Thomas Christians trace their origins to Thomas the Apostle who according to tradition proselytized in India in the 1st century By the 7th century they were part of the Church of the East centred in Persia 3 The entire community remained united until the 17th century when disputes with the Portuguese padroado in India led to the Coonan Cross Oath of 1653 and the division of the Saint Thomas Christians into Syro Malabar Church and independent branches 4 5 The independent branch known as the Malankara Church forged a relationship with the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch 6 However relations between the Syriac Orthodox hierarchy and the native clergy were sometimes strained In 1772 Bishop Gregorios a representative of the Syriac Orthodox hierarchy from the Middle East had grown dissatisfied with how the Metropolitan Dionysius I had treated him Against Dionysius wishes Gregorios consecrated as bishop a leading dissenter the monk Kattumangatt Kurien in a secret but canonically legitimate ceremony The new bishop took the name Cyril Koorilos and he was designated Gregorios sole heir 7 Cyril claimed authority over the parishes of Cochin and initially received the support of the Raja of Cochin However Dionysus saw him as a threat to his power and in 1774 he appealed to the Raja and to the British authorities in India to suppress the rival bishop 7 8 Cyril left for Thozhiyoor Kerala outside their jurisdiction and established what would become an independent church 9 This was the first of several groups to split from the Malankara Church 8 Cyril s church was always small but maintained stability by attracting devoted priests and emphasizing regularity in the ecclesiastical order In 1794 Cyril consecrated his brother Geevarghese as bishop Geevarghese succeeded Cyril as Cyril II in 1802 and the succession has proceeded unbroken since 7 As a result of an 1862 court case the Madras High Court confirmed the Thozhiyur church was an independent Malankara church and it has subsequently been known as the Malabar Independent Syrian Church 9 Ecumenical relations edit nbsp Group photo taken during the ordinations of Juhanon Thimothious later Juhanon Thoma and Mathews Athanasius by Titus II Mar Thoma Abraham Mar Thoma and Metropolitan of Thozhiyoor Kuriakose KoorilosThe Malabar Independent Syrian Church maintains good relations with the other Malankara churches especially its relationship with Marthoma Syrian church Despite its small size it has had a significant impact on the history of the Saint Thomas Christian community On several occasions Thoziyur bishops have stepped in to consecrate bishops for the other churches when the episcopal succession and therefore the churches themselves were in danger 7 Philoxenos II Kidangan 1811 1829 of the Thozhiyur Church consecrated three successive bishops in the unified Malankara Church Dionysius II on 22 March 1816 Dionysius III on 19 October 1817 and Dionysius IV on 27 August 1825 10 In 1894 Athanasius and Koorilose V consecrated Titus I Mar Thoma for the Reformed Syrians later known as the Mar Thoma Church On subsequent occasions when the Thozhiyur Metropolitan has died without consecrating a successor the Metropolitan and bishops of the Mar Thoma Church had performed the consecration Thozhiyur bishops have taken part in all Mar Thoma Church episcopal ordinations up to the present Malabar Independent Syrian Church is a member of the Christian Conference of Asia the Council of Churches in India and the Kerala Council of Churches Other ecumenical links have developed with the Anglican and Lutheran Churches This has been facilitated through a support group based in England which is a registered charitable trust 11 In 1998 and 2008 Thozhiyur Church Metropolitans were ecumenical observers at the Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops In July 2006 Koorilose IX and Basilios I participated as co consecrators in the episcopal ordination of Paul Hunt and John Fenwick as bishops of the Free Church of England 12 13 Thozhiyur Metropolitans editThe Metropolitans of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church Abraham Koorilos I 1772 1802 Coorilose Ghevarghese I 1802 1808 Ivanios Joseph Suffragon Metropolitan 1807 6 months only Philexinos Zacharias 1807 1811 Philexinos Ghevarghese Malankara Metropolitan 1811 1829 Coorilose Ghevarghese II 1829 1856 Coorilose Joseph I 1856 1888 Athanasius Joseph 1888 1898 Coorilose Ghevarghese III 1898 1935 Athanasius Paulose Suffragon Metropolitan 1917 1927 Coorilose Kuriakose 1936 1947 Coorilose Ghevarghese IV 1948 1967 Philexinos Paulose 1967 1977 joined the Syro Malankara Catholic Church and replaced Coorilose Mathews 1978 1986 Coorilose Joseph II 1986 2001 Cyril Baselios I 2001 present See also editMalankara Orthodox Syrian Church Jacobite Syrian Christian Church Syriac Orthodox Church Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church Mar Thoma Church Notes edit The forgotten bishops the Malabar Independent Syrian Church and its place in the story of the St Thomas Christians of South India Gorgias Press 2009 ISBN 978 1 60724 619 0 Misc Malabar Independent Syrian Church Baum p 53 Neill p 214 Neill p 319 Christians of Saint Thomas Encyclopaedia Britannica Retrieved February 9 2010 a b c d Neill p 70 a b Vadakkekara p 92 a b Burgess p 175 Rev K C Varghese Kassessa 1972 History of Malabar Independent Syrian Church Malayalam Page 62 Malabar Independent Syrian Church Support Charity beta charitycommission gov uk Bishops Visit to India The Free Church of England 28 October 2018 Archived from the original on 12 January 2021 Retrieved 2 June 2020 Fenwick John R K Malabar Independent Syrian Church The Thozhiyur Church References editBaum Wilhelm Winkler Dietmar W 2003 The Church of the East A Concise History London New York Routledge Curzon ISBN 9781134430192 Burgess Michael 2005 The Eastern Orthodox Churches McFarland ISBN 0 7864 2145 2 Frykenberg Robert Eric 2008 Christianity in India From Beginnings to the Present Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 9780198263777 Neill Stephen 2004 A History of Christianity in India The Beginnings to AD 1707 Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 54885 3 Retrieved 31 January 2011 Neill Stephen 2002 A History of Christianity in India 1707 1858 Volume 2 Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 89332 1 Retrieved 31 October 2011 Vadakkekara Benedict 2007 Origin of Christianity in India a Historiographical Critique Media House Delhi Further reading editFenwick John R K 2009 The Forgotten Bishops The Malabar Independent Syrian Church and Its Place in the Story of the St Thomas Christians of South India Gorgias Press ISBN 9781607246190 The following are works 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 External links editOfficial website Malabar Independent Syrian Church Thozhiyur at indianchristianity org The Church of Thozhiyoor Anjoor Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Malabar Independent Syrian Church amp oldid 1184080310, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.