Malankara Church of India is the Christian church believed to be started by St.Thomas (Malayalam: വി. Nasrani is an Arabic word meaning Christian. Nasrani is generally understood to originally mean Nazarene, but in some areas India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Thomas the Apostle, also called Judas Thomas, Doubting Thomas, or Didymus, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used തോമാ ശ്ലീഹാ ), the apostle of Jesus Christ. The Twelve Apostles (Greek apostolos, "someone sent out" e Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Maliankara, a place near Muziris, (now known as Pattanam,[1] near Cochin on the Malabar Coast), where Thomas the Apostle first landed in Kerala in 52 AD [2]. Muziris is also a genus of Jumping spiders. Traditional scholars identify Muziris with the town of Musiri, located in Pattanam is a village in the Paravur taluk in the southern Indian state of Kerala. The Malabar Coast also known as the Malabarian Coast, is a long and narrow south-western shore line of the mainland Indian subcontinent. Thomas the Apostle, also called Judas Thomas, Doubting Thomas, or Didymus, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; For the comic book see 52 (comic book. Year 52 was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the , was the headquarters of the Indian Christian church from the 1st century AD. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth (Malankara is cognate of this name Maliankara) and hence the name Malankara (Malayalam: മലങ്കര ) Church. Cognates in Linguistics are words that have a common origin They may occur within a language such as shirt and skirt as two English words descended from Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used It is also known as Church of Malabar or Malabar Church. Malabar (മലബാര് is a region of southern India, lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. Hence the Christians here are known as Malankara Nazarenes , Saint Thomas Christians, Malabar Christians and Malankara Christians. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth This article addresses the Saint Thomas Christians and the various churches and denominations that form the Nasrani people. The history of Indian Christianity hence started 15 centuries even before the arrival of European missionaries in India. Christianity is India's third-largest religion, with approximately 24 million followers constituting 2 A missionary is a member of a Religion who works to convert those who do not share the missionary's faith someone who proselytizes. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country [3]
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Saint Thomas Christian tradition
According to tradition, it was on a trading vessel plying between Alexandria and the Malabar coast that St. Thomas the Apostle arrived in Kodungallur or Cranganore (കൊടുങ്ങല്ലൂര്)in 52 AD. Alexandria ( Egyptian Arabic: اسكندريه Eskendereyya; Standard Arabic: ar الإسكندرية Al-Iskandariyya; Ἀλεξάνδρεια Malabar (മലബാര് is a region of southern India, lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. Thomas the Apostle, also called Judas Thomas, Doubting Thomas, or Didymus, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. Kodungallur (anglicised name Cranganore) is a city and a Municipality in the Thrissur district in the Indian state of Kerala Kodungallur (anglicised name Cranganore) is a city and a Municipality in the Thrissur district in the Indian state of Kerala For the comic book see 52 (comic book. Year 52 was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the [4] Modern developments in archaeology, anthropology, numismatics, toponymy, geography and trade route investigations have revealed evidence of the trading which forms the background to the St. Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek grc ἀρχαιολογία archaiologia – grc ἀρχαῖος archaīos Anthropology (/ˌænθɹəˈpɒlədʒi/ from Greek grc ἄνθρωπος anthrōpos, "human" -λογία -logia) is the study of Numismatics (numisma nomisma "coin" from the νομίζειν nomízein, "to use according to law" is the study or collection of Currency Toponymy refers to the scientific study of place-names ( toponyms) their origins meanings use and Typology. Geography (from Greek γεωγραφία - geografia) is the study of the Earth and its lands features inhabitants and phenomena A trade route is a logistical network identified as a series of pathways and stoppages used for the commercial transport of cargo Thomas tradition of Kerala. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}};
The southern coast of the Indian subcontinent (hypothesized by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus to be the place mentioned as Ophir in the Old Testament) inevitably became a gateway from the Mediterranean world to Kerala. This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia For geopolitical treatments see South Asia. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Josephus (AD 37 – c 100 also known as Yosef Ben Matityahu (Joseph son of Matthias and after he became a Roman citizen, as Titus Flavius Josephus Ophir ( is a port or region mentioned in the Bible, famous for its wealth In Western Christianity, the Old Testament refers to the books that form the first of the two-part Christian Biblical canon. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; The people there traded in teak, ivory, spices and peacocks, and the area was endowed with a magnificent coastline with numerous ports from Mangalapuram to Kodungallur, also known as Cranganore. Teak ( Tectona) is a genus of tropical Hardwood Trees in the family Verbenaceae, native to the south and southeast of Asia Ivory is formed from Dentine and constitutes the bulk of the Teeth and Tusks of animals such as the Elephant, Hippopotamus, A spice is a dried Seed, Fruit, Root, Bark or vegetative substance used in Nutritionally insignificant quantities as a Food additive The term peafowl refers to Gallinaceous Birds classified within the genera Rheinardia Argusianus Afropavoand Pavo Mangalore ( Kannada:, Mangalūru; Tulu: Kudla, ಕುಡ್ಲ Konkani: Kodial, ಕೊಡಿಯಾಲ್ Kodungallur (anglicised name Cranganore) is a city and a Municipality in the Thrissur district in the Indian state of Kerala Kodungallur (anglicised name Cranganore) is a city and a Municipality in the Thrissur district in the Indian state of Kerala [5] In the ancient times it was called as Muziris in Latin and Muchiri in Malayalam. [6] The lure of spices attracted traders from the Middle East and Europe to the many trading ports —Calicut, Cranganore, Cochin, Alleppey and Quilon — long before the time of Christ. A spice is a dried Seed, Fruit, Root, Bark or vegetative substance used in Nutritionally insignificant quantities as a Food additive The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> For the district with the same name see Kozhikode District. Kodungallur (anglicised name Cranganore) is a city and a Municipality in the Thrissur district in the Indian state of Kerala Alappuzha (ആലപ്പുഴ also known as Alleppey, is a town in Alappuzha District of Kerala state of southern India. Kollam ( Malayalam:കൊല്ലം) (known to the Portuguese as Quilon, pronounced koy-lon) is a city and a Municipal corporation According to the first century annals of Pliny the Elder and the author of Periplus of the Erythraean sea, Muziris in Kerala could be reached in 40 days' time from the Egyptian coast purely depending on the South West Monsoon winds. Gaius or Caius Plinius Secundus, ( AD 23 – August 25, AD 79 better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient Author Muziris is also a genus of Jumping spiders. Traditional scholars identify Muziris with the town of Musiri, located in Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. A monsoon is a seasonal prevailing wind which lasts for several months The Sangam works Puranaooru and Akananooru have many lines which speak of the Roman vessels and the Roman gold that used to come to the Kerala ports of the great Chera kings in search of pepper and other spices, which had enormous demand in the West. The Tamil Sangams are legendary assemblies of Tamil scholars and poets that according to traditional Tamil accounts existed in the remote past Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; Chera may refer to Chera Valencia, Spain Chera Dynasty, ancient Tamil dynasty in southern India Chera (clan
Saint Thomas the Apostle is said to have begun preaching the Gospel to the already existing Jewish settlers in the Malabar coast and other local people of Aryan worships and Jains. Thomas the Apostle, also called Judas Thomas, Doubting Thomas, or Didymus, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. This article is about the canonical books of the New Testament Indian Jews are a religious minority of India. Judaism was one of the first non- Dharmic religions to arrive in India in recorded history The Apostle St. Thomas who arrived in Kerala in the 1st century, established contact with some priestly-class Hindus in Palayur and converted them to the Christian faith. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; The four main priestly-class families that converted are Pakalomattam, Sankarapuri, Kalliyankal and Kalli.
St. Thomas also established seven and half Christian communities or churches known as Ezharapallikal in Kerala. This article is about a tradition amongst Indian Christians. For other uses of see Seven Churches (disambiguation. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; They are in Cranganore (ml:കൊടുങ്ങല്ലൂര്), Paravur (Kottakavu)(ml:കോട്ടക്കാവ്), Palayoor (ml:പാലയൂര്), Kokkamangalam (ml;കോതമംഗലം), Niranam (ml:നിരണം ), Chayal (Nilackal) (ml:നിലായ്ക്കല്) and Kollam (Quilon) (ml:കൊല്ലം ). Kodungallur (anglicised name Cranganore) is a city and a Municipality in the Thrissur district in the Indian state of Kerala Palayoor or ( Palayur) is a part of Thrissur district and is located on the west coast of Kerala, in India. Kokkamangalam is a village in Alappuzha district of Kerala state South India. Niranam today is a small village in central Travancore region in Kerala, India. Kollam ( Malayalam:കൊല്ലം) (known to the Portuguese as Quilon, pronounced koy-lon) is a city and a Municipal corporation [7]
Maliankara was the headquarters of the Church of Malabar from the 1st century. Malabar (മലബാര് is a region of southern India, lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. (Malankara is cognate of Maliankara) and hence the church was known as the Malankara Church. Cognates in Linguistics are words that have a common origin They may occur within a language such as shirt and skirt as two English words descended from
Saint Thomas Christians
The Saint Thomas Christians are a group of Christians from the Malabar coast (now Kerala) in South India, that follows the tradition of conversion to Christianity by St. Thomas the Apostle. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Malabar (മലബാര് is a region of southern India, lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Thomas the Apostle, also called Judas Thomas, Doubting Thomas, or Didymus, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. [3] The Nasranis are an ethnic people and in that sense a single community. The Syrian Malabar Nasrani people are an Ethnoreligious group from Kerala, India. [3] As an ethnic community they refer to themselves as Nasranis referring to the common cultural heritage and cultural tradition. [3] However as a religious group they refer to themselves as the Mar Thoma Khristianis, or in English as Saint Thomas Christians referring to their religious tradition, due to a common ancestry of being the descendants of the early Mar Thoma church or Saint Thomas tradition of Christianity. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings [3]
See Also Saint Thomas Christians and Syrian Malabar Nasrani
First 15 Centuries
References to St. This article addresses the Saint Thomas Christians and the various churches and denominations that form the Nasrani people. The Syrian Malabar Nasrani people are an Ethnoreligious group from Kerala, India. Thomas christian tradition
- Ambrose of Milan (AD 333-397) writes: "Even to those kingdoms which were shout out by rugged mountains became accessible to them as India to Thomas, Persia to Mathew. Saint Ambrose (c 338 &ndash 4 April 397) was a bishop of Milan who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the fourth century Events By Place Roman Empire Flavius Dalmatius and Domitius Zenofilus are appointed Consuls Asia Events By Place Asia The Xiongnu occupy the Gansu area in China. . . . "
- St. Gregory of Naziaanzen (AD 329-389) refers to Thomas along with other Apostles work in Contra Aranos et de Seipso Oratio. Gregory of Nazianzus (329 – January 25 389) (also known as Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen) was a 4th-century Archbishop Events By Place Asia The Han Zhao state ends By Topic Religion Roman restrictions Events By Place Roman Empire All pagan buildings in Alexandria, including the library are destroyed on the order of Theodosius
- Jerome (AD 342-420) wrote as follows : "Jesus dwelt in all places; with Thomas in India, with Peter in Rome, with Paul in Illyricum, with Titus in Crete with Andrew in Achaia, with each apostolic man in each and all countries. Jerome (c 347 – September 30, 420) ( Latin: Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; Εὐσέβιος Σωφρόνιος Ἱερώνυμος Events By Place Europe A large earthquake strikes Cyprus. Asia Goguryeo is invaded Events By Place Europe Pharamond leads the Franks across the Rhine. " epistles of Jerome.
- Gregory, the Bishop of Tours (AD 538- 594) in his book In Gloria Martyrdom (Glory of the Martyrs) wrote: "Thomas, the Apostle, according to the history of passion, is declared to have suffered in India. Saint Gregory of Tours ( November 30, c 538 &ndash November 17, 594) was a Gallo-Roman historian and bishop of Tours Events By Place Europe March 12 — Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths, ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Events By Topic Politics and Wars Byzantine Emperor Maurice disposes of Priscos and installs his own brother Peter India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country After a long time his body was taken into a city which they called Edessa in Syria and there buried. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Therefore, in that Indian place where he first rested there is a monastery and a church of wonderful size, and carefully adorned and arrayed. " [8]
- Ephrem the Syrian wrote a hymn blessing the "might that dwells in the hallowed bones" of St. Ephrem the Syrian ( Syriac: ܐܦܪܝܡ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ Mor Afrêm Sûryāyâ; Greek:; Latin Thomas. In the hymn says . . .
- "Where now, is there a place for me to flee to from the righteous?
- I stirred up Death to slay the Apostles,
- that I might be safe from their blows.
- By their deaths now more exceedingly am I cruelly beaten.
- The Apostle whom I slew in India is before me in Edessa:
- he is here wholly and also there.
- I went there, there was he:
- here and there I have found him and been grieved. " [9]
- Local traditions among the Christians include the Rambaan Paattu or Thomma Parvom((The Song of the Lord Thomas), - a song / ballad about the Acts of Thomas written around 1600 by Rambaan Thomas. The early 3rd century text called Acts of Thomas is arguably the most Gnostic of the New Testament apocrypha, portraying Christ as the "Heavenly The poem is the oral tradition handed down through generations. The songs give precise data about the details of the Apostle’s activity, dates his arrival in 50 AD, in the month of Dhanu (December), and his death in Mylapore (Mailapuram) to 72 AD, on the 3rd day of the month of Karkadakam (July)
- Margom Kali and Mappila Paattu are series of songs of the Acts of Thomas and the history of the Malabar Church. This is an article about the Hindu festival Dhanu For information about Dhanu the assassin of the Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi, see Thenmuli Rajaratnam Malabar (മലബാര് is a region of southern India, lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. They are sung in consonance with dance forms that are typical of the Syrian Christians. Some of them are dance dramas performed in the open as part of the festivals of the church.
- The very strong presence of over seven million Saint Thomas Christians in Kerala is a testimony to the enormous influence of St. This article addresses the Saint Thomas Christians and the various churches and denominations that form the Nasrani people. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; Thomas in India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country
Visitors
190 AD- Pantaenus the philosopher visited India and found that there were many Christians in India and with them he found a copy of the Gospel according to Matthew in Hebrew. Events By Place Roman Empire A part of Rome burns and Emperor Commodus orders the city to be rebuilt under the name Saint Pantaenus (d ca 200 was a Christian Theologian who founded the Catechetical School of Alexandria about AD 190 India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country This article is about the canonical books of the New Testament [10]
345 AD. Events St Thomas visits Malayalam and assists the church there – During the time of King Shapur II (310-379) of Persia, a group of 400 immigrants from Persia arrived in Malabar under the leadership of a merchant named Thomas of Cana, known as Knai Thomman (قناي تامن)(in English, Thomas the Zealot) . Shapur II was the ninth King of the Sassanid Empire from 309 to 379 Events By Place Roman Empire While Constantine is campaigning against the Bructeri, Maximian attempts to make himself Events By Place Roman Empire January 19 — Theodosius I is elevated as Roman Emperor at Sirmium. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia Malabar (മലബാര് is a region of southern India, lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. Knai Thomman or in English Thomas of Cana or Thomas the Zealot, is a very prominent Knanaya merchant from Edessa (Or Urfa Knai Thomman or in English Thomas of Cana or Thomas the Zealot, is a very prominent Knanaya merchant from Edessa (Or Urfa [11]. Another immigration from Persia in the year 825AD under the leadership of a Persian merchant named Marwan Sabriso with two bishops named Mar Sapro and Mar Prodh. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia Events By Place Europe Egbert of Wessex defeats Beornwulf of Mercia at Ellandun. They cooperated with the Malankara Church, attended worship services together but remained a separate identity.
- See also Knanaya . See also Syrian Malabar Nasrani Knanaya (Hebקנאים Malayalam ക്നാനായ Arقينان literally meaning "Knai people" are an
883 AD. Events By Place Asia The Zanj of East Africa are crushed Europe Oldest known mention of – Alfred the Great (849-899), King of Wessex, England sent gifts to Mar Thoma Christians of India through Sighelm, bishop of Sherbon. Alfred the Great (also Ælfred from the Old English Ælfrēd ˈælfreːd (c England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland [12]
1225 AD. – Chau-Ju-Kua a Chinese traveller visited Kerala. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; In his writings he described the dress of a St. Thomas Christian bishop. [13].
1282 AD. – Kublai Khan (1215-1294) Emperor of China sent an emissary to Kollam, It was followed by an emissory from Kollam under the leadership of a St. Early years Kublai Khan studied Chinese culture and became enamoured of it China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Kollam ( Malayalam:കൊല്ലം) (known to the Portuguese as Quilon, pronounced koy-lon) is a city and a Municipal corporation Kollam ( Malayalam:കൊല്ലം) (known to the Portuguese as Quilon, pronounced koy-lon) is a city and a Municipal corporation Thomas Christian. [14].
1292 AD. – Marco Polo (1254-1324) on his return journey from China visited Kerala, mentioned that there were Christians and Jews in Kerala. Marco Polo ( September 15 1254 – January 9 1324 at earliest but no later than June 1325 was a Venetian trader and explorer China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; [15]
Cheppeds: Collection of deeds on copper plates
The Rulers of Kerala, in appreciation their assistance, gave to the Malankara Nazranis, three deeds on copper plates. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; They gave the Nasranis various rights and privileges which were written on copper plates. Nestorius Nestorius (c 386 &ndashc 451) was a pupil of Theodore of Mopsuestia in Antioch in Syria (modern These are known as Cheppeds, Royal Grants, Sasanam etc. [16] Five sheets of them are now in the custody of St. Thomas Christians.
- Iravi Corttan Deed: In the year 1225 AD. Sri Vira Raghava Chakravarti, gave a deed to Iravi Corttan ( Eravi Karthan) of Mahadevarpattanam in 774 . Events By Place Europe Charlemagne conquers the kingdom of the Lombards, and takes title King of the Lombards Two Brahmin families are witness to this deed showing that Brahmins were in Kerala by the eighth century. Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism.
- Tharissa palli Deed I: Perumal Sthanu Ravi Gupta (844-885) gave a deed in 849 AD, to Isodatta Virai for Tharissa Palli (church) at Curakkeni Kollam. According to historians, this is the first deed in Kerala that gives the exact date. [17]
- Tharissa palli Deed II: Continuation of the above, given after 849 AD. Events Asia In the Tang Dynasty Chinese capital city of Chang'an, an imperial prince was impeached from his position by officials at
The languages used are old Tamil letters with some Grantha letters intermingled,Pahlavi, Kufic and Hebrew. Kufic is the oldest calligraphic form of the various Arabic scripts and consists of a modified form of the old Nabataean script.
These plates detail privileges awarded to the community by the then rulers. These influenced the development of the social structure in Kerala and privileges, rules for the communities . These are considered as one of the most important legal documents in the history of Kerala. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; [18]
Administration
During the first fifteen centuries, each parish appointed its own elders (Idavaka Mooppen). A parish is a Local church; it is an administrative unit typically found in episcopal or presbyterian churches These elders met together and elected their Elder (Malankara Mooppen). Laying of hands on the Malankara Mooppen was by twelve Idavaka Mooppens. By 1500, Malankara Church was spread from Kannur in the North to Kollam in the South. For the district with the name Kannur see Kannur District. For town with same name in Karnataka, see Kannur Dakshina Kannada Kollam ( Malayalam:കൊല്ലം) (known to the Portuguese as Quilon, pronounced koy-lon) is a city and a Municipal corporation
Archdecons (Arkkidiyaon)
According to the Indian Christian tradition, the Indian church or Malankara Church was governed by the Malabar Yogam (an assembly of Malabar people). Malabar (മലബാര് is a region of southern India, lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. There was also an indigenous head of the Church of Malabar, called Jatikku Karthavian ( in Malayalam), which means The head of the caste ,i. Malabar (മലബാര് is a region of southern India, lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used e. , the head of the St Thomas Christians, and also the “Archdeacon of All India. ” According to the canons of the Church of East, the Archdeacon is the highest priestly rank. A position of archdeacon is a senior position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, and in some other Christian denominations above that of most The indigenous Archdeacon of India served the needs of the ecclesiastical organisation of the Church. Ecclesiology (from Greek grc ἐκκλησίᾱ ekklēsiā, "congregation church" and grc -λογία -logia) is the study of the While originally the Archdeacon in the Church of the East was elected by the bishop according to merit, the office of the Archdeacon of India seems to have been hereditary in practice. It was the privilege of the Pakalomattam family of Kerala
Quoting the words of an olden Marthomacharitram Kallyanapattu ( a folk song )
- ". Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; . . Thankamayolla Vedam Seekaricha Naralill
- Shankarapuri yanum Pakalomattom ennum
- Keerthi parukiya randu veettukarannu
- Sleehakarthavin namathil
- Thirupattavum Koduthu. . . "
- "(. . . Of the people who received the blessed Scripture
- Shankaripuri and Pakalomattam
- The two famous families
- Were given Priesthood
- In the name of Christ)"
Some of the duties included selection of seminarians, appointing and transferring of priests, exercising temporal powers over the church properties, collecting the levies from the faithful etc. The kings and princes of Kerala considered him as the chief of Christians. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}};
The kings of Cochin used to give royal insignias to the newly elected archdeacons. On behalf of the Christians he used to parley with the rulers and negotiated with local chieftains. Armed bodyguards used to escort the Archdeacons on their journeys. The archdeacon of the Kerala Church was not an equal to the arch-deacons of Europe. He was a much larger entity with wider powers and exalted position. He was also called prince of believers, Lord of the Christians, and Archdeacon of the whole of India. The Archdeacons were the right arm of the Metropolitan Bishop, and in their absence or vacancy held spiritual control of the Church also. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight
Thimothy (780-826) , the Patriach of Persia , called him the head of the faithful in India. Events By Place Byzantine Empire Constantine VI becomes Byzantine Emperor with Irene as guardian Events By Place Asia Tang Wen Zong succeeds Tang Jing Zong as Emperor of China. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The mortal remains of a few archdeacons are still preserved at the Pakalomattam Chapel in Martha Mariam Church in Kuravilangadu.
From Knai Thoma's time to the 16th century the Persian Patriach appointed Bishops used to exercise spiritual control of Kerala church on the request of Kerala Christians. Knai Thomman or in English Thomas of Cana or Thomas the Zealot, is a very prominent Knanaya merchant from Edessa (Or Urfa Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; These bishops used to ordain priests, bless churches, gave sacraments, bless "syth" and performed other functions. They were held as honoured guests. The metropolitans used to be known as sitting in the throne of St. Thomas and exercising suzerainty over Indian Church. The Metropolitans used to exercise their control over the Church through the Archdeacons. In practical and day-to-day functioning of the Church Arch-deacons exercised superintendence.
Geevarghese Archdeacon
Geevarghese Archdeacon of Pakalomattam family was appointed as the Archdeacon in 1502. A position of archdeacon is a senior position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, and in some other Christian denominations above that of most
Archdeacon George of Christ
Archdeacon George of Christ was also from Pakalomattom family. Pope Gregory XIII in his letter to the clergy and the St. Thomas christians calls him as Bishop. Pope Gregory XIII (January 7 1502 &ndash April 10 1585 born Ugo Boncompagni, was Pope from 1572 to 1585 This article addresses the Saint Thomas Christians and the various churches and denominations that form the Nasrani people. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight Pope Gregory XIII directs another letter dated 5th March 1580, to the clergy and laity of the St. Thomas christians exhorting to be obedient to their Prelates Mar Abraham the Archbishop of Angamale and George of Christ the Bishop of Palayor. Pope Gregory XIII (January 7 1502 &ndash April 10 1585 born Ugo Boncompagni, was Pope from 1572 to 1585 Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a This article addresses the Saint Thomas Christians and the various churches and denominations that form the Nasrani people. Mar Abraham is a Saint of the Syriac Orthodox Church. His Feast day is November 15.
In 1566 Patriarch Abdisho authorised Mar Abraham to ordain him (George of Christ) as bishop and suffragan (successor} to Mar Abraham. Both Mar Abraham and the Jesuit fathers had written to Rome about it. Pope Gregory XIII confirmed this nomination by his brief “Accepimus quod”, issued on 4 March 1580. Pope Gregory XIII (January 7 1502 &ndash April 10 1585 born Ugo Boncompagni, was Pope from 1572 to 1585 (G. Beltrami, La Chiesa Caldeo, pp. 196-7). But the archdeacon who, out of humility, had previously declined this honour was not consecrated even after the papal confirmation. He died in 1585 AD.
His brother Yohannan was Archdeacon (1585-93). Another brother Jacob became Archdeacon in 1596.
Archdeacon Geevarghese of the Cross
He was the son of the elder brother of Archdeacon of the Christ. By the last year of Bishop Abraham, he became the Archdeacon. After the death of Persian Bishop Abraham in 1597, he led the Indian Church. He led the church amidst Portuguese intervention. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. The Synod of Diamper of 1599 was held during his time. The Synod of Diamper, held at Udayamperoor /Diamper ( Kerala, India) formally united the ancient Christian Church of the Malabar Coast Saint Thomas In 1601 Francis Roz became Bishop. In beginning there was cordiality. But the deliberate downgradation of Ankamali and the inertia of Bishop Roz frustrated him. When the Arch deacon protested, Rox ex-communicated him. In 1615 Bishop and Archdeacon reconciled each other, but again fell out later. The next Bishop Britto also did not recognize the Arch deacon's status of the Archdeacons. He led the church in a period of severe stress of the Archdeacons.
Arrival of the Portuguese
The Portuguese started settling in India with the arrival of Vasco Da Gama on Sunday, May 20, 1498. The Portuguese people (os Portugueses literally the Portuguese) are the Ethnic group or Nation native to the country of Portugal, in the west Dom Vasco da Gama, 1st Count of Vidigueira ('vaʃku dɐ 'gɐmɐ ( Sines or Vidigueira, Alentejo, Portugal, ca Events 325 - The First Council of Nicaea &ndash the first Ecumenical Council of the Christian Church is held From that time the Portuguese were powerful in the western parts of India and had control over the sea routes.
Synod of Diamper
The Portuguese authorities used force to bring the Malankara Church under their Latin hierarchy, despite Papal letters urging restraint. The Synod of Diamper, held at Udayamperoor /Diamper ( Kerala, India) formally united the ancient Christian Church of the Malabar Coast Saint Thomas A powerful Archbishop Aleixo de Menezes[19] arrived in Goa in 1595. Aleixo de Menezes ( January 25, 1559 &mdash May 3, 1617) was Archbishop of Goa, Archbishop of Braga, Goa ( Konkani: गोंय /ɡɔ̃j/ is India 's smallest state in terms of area and the fourth smallest in terms of population. He then convened an unlawful Synod at Udayamperoor [20], south of Ernakulam, from 20–26 June, 1599. Udayamperoor is a small town situated in Kerala state in India. This is known as the Synod of Diamper. The Synod of Diamper, held at Udayamperoor /Diamper ( Kerala, India) formally united the ancient Christian Church of the Malabar Coast Saint Thomas Here the Archbishop demanded obedience to the supreme Bishop of Rome through him. The representatives sent from various parishes in and around Cochin were forced to accept the decrees read out by the Archbishop. Thus those parishes of the Malankara Church were made subordinate to the Latin Church. [21]
The Great Swearing - Coonen Kurisu Sathyam
Under the leadership of Malanakra Mooppen Thomas, Nazranies around Cochin gathered at Mattancherry church on Friday, January 24, 1653 (M. The Coonan Cross Oath was taken in 1653, by a group of Saint Thomas Christians, reacting to the persecution of their Church by the Portuguese colonials Mattancherry is the western part of Kochi corporation in Ernakulam district of Kerala, south India. E. 828 Makaram 3) and made an oath that is known as Oath at the crooked Cross.
Syrian Christian
After the Swearing, out of about 200,000 persons, initially about 400 joined the Catholics. [22] Their language of worship was Syriac (but decrees of the Synod heavily latinized their Rites and Liturgy) while that of Malankara Church was Syriac. See Syriac (disambiguation for other uses Syriac (syr ܠܫܢܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ leššānā Suryāyā) is an Eastern Aramaic language So the Portuguese started using the name Syro-Roman Christians for Malabar Catholics and Syrian Christians for non-Catholic Malankara Church. The majority of Malankara Christians returned to union with the Pope of Rome when the Pope repudiated the harsh Portuguese Jesuit leadership and replaced them with Italian Carmelites and Indian leadership. The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites (sometimes simply Carmel by Synecdoche; Latin: Ordo fratrum Beatæ [23]
During the Synod of Diamper, Archbishop used old converts (Pazhay Margam) to refer Malankara Nazraies and new converts (Puthen Margam) for Catholics. But in 1758, the Roman Catholic bishop of Verapoly used the name Old community (Pazya koottu/Pazhyakur) for Catholics and New community (Puthen koottu /Puthenkur) for Nazranis. [24] After the The Great Swearing in Ceremony, the parish elders (Idavaka Mooppens) of the Church met together and elected Kuravilangad Parampil Thomas Kathanar as Malankara Elder (Malankara Mooppen). Kuravilangad (in Malayalam: കുറവിലങ്ങാട് refers to a town located in the Kottayam district of Kerala, South India Following the ancient custom, twelve Idavaka Mooppens laid their hands on him and appointed him as Malankara Mooppen, while awaiting the arrival of a bishop to properly ordain. The Portuguese made fun of this, because this was not the practice in the other Churches or in Rome. So the Marthoma Nazranis send letters to various other eastern Churches for a bishop. In 1665, Mar Gregorios Abdul-Jaleel, Patriarch of Jerusalem arrived. Thus began the relation between the Malankara Church and the Anthiochian Jacobites. Antioch on the Orontes (Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Δάφνῃ Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Ὀρόντου or Ἀντιόχεια ἡ Μεγάλη Antiochia ad Orontem also
Malankara Church Today
After 16 centuries of unity in the Malankara Church, the Malankara church was divided into two after the Diamper Synod, and was further divided during the later centuries. Now the Malankara Church is divided into many autocephalous and autonomous churches. The churches that share the Malankara Church Tradition are:
- Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
- Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church
- Indian Orthodox Church
- Marthoma Church
- Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
See also
- Holy Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas
- Malankara Metropolitans
- Syrian Malabar Nasrani
- Saint Thomas Christians
- Christianity in India
- Syro-Malabar Church
- Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church
- Mar Thoma Church
- Indian Orthodox Church
- Syro-Malankara Church
Notes and References
- ^ Kerala Council for Historical Research findings. The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is a Chaldean Rite Major Archiepiscopal Church in Full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. The Syriac Orthodox Church is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church based in the Middle East with members spread throughout the world The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (also known as the Malankara Orthodox Church, Orthodox Church of the East, Orthodox Syrian Church of the East, The Mar Thoma Church is a Christian denomination from Kerala, the South Western State of India. The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church (also known as Malankara Syrian Catholic Church Malankara Syriac Catholic Church) Malankara Metropolitan is the title of the head of Malankara Church of Kerala, India, believed to be started by St The Syrian Malabar Nasrani people are an Ethnoreligious group from Kerala, India. This article addresses the Saint Thomas Christians and the various churches and denominations that form the Nasrani people. Christianity is India's third-largest religion, with approximately 24 million followers constituting 2 The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is a Chaldean Rite Major Archiepiscopal Church in Full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church is the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in Kerala, India. The Mar Thoma Church is a Christian denomination from Kerala, the South Western State of India. The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (also known as the Malankara Orthodox Church, Orthodox Church of the East, Orthodox Syrian Church of the East, The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church (also known as Malankara Syrian Catholic Church Malankara Syriac Catholic Church)
- ^ T. K. Joseph (1955). Six St. Thomases Of South India. University of California, 27.
- ^ a b c d e Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Mundalan, A. M; 1984; Podipara, Placid J. 1970; Leslie Brown, 1956
- ^ T. K. Joseph (1955). Six St. Thomases Of South India. University of California, 27.
- ^ James Hough 1893; T. K Velu Pillai, 1940
- ^ Menachery, George 2000, Menachery & Chakkalakal W 1987
- ^ Menachery G; 1973, 1982, 1998; Leslie Brown, 1956
- ^ Glory of the Martyrs - Gregory, the Bishop of Tours
- ^ McVey, Kathleen E (trans) (1989). Ephrem the Syrian: hymns. Paulist Press. ISBN 0-8091-3093-9.
- ^ Church History of Eusebius. The Church History (Latin Historia Ecclesiastica or Historia Ecclesiae) of Eusebius of Caesarea was a fourth-century pioneer work giving a chronological Book V, Chapter X.
- ^ Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Weil,S. 1982; James Hough 1893; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; Vellian Jacob 2001; Koder S. 1973
- ^ ’’The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle’’ Part II.
- ^ Mathew, N. M. (2003) St. Thomas Christians of Malabar Through Ages. Page 76.
- ^ Mathew, N. M. (2003) St. Thomas Christians of Malabar Through Ages. Page 76-77.
- ^ Marco Polo. The Book of Travels. Page 287.
- ^ Syrian Christians of Kerala- SG Pothen- page 32-33 ( 1970)
- ^ Sreedhara Menon, A. A Survey of Kerala History. (Mal). Page 54.
- ^ NSC Network (2007),The Plates and the Privileges of Syrian Christians Brown L (1956)- The Indian Christians of St. Thomas-Pages 74. 75, 85 to 90 ,Mundanadan (1970),SG Pothen (1970)
- ^ Also known as Alejo-de-Menezes, and in Kerala people called him as Allosos Metran
- ^ Fr. Berchmans Kodackal, Western Influence on Thomas Christians, [1]
- ^ Herberts. (1636). Some years Travels Into Asia And Afrique. London. Pub. In 1938 by Tamil Nadu Archives. Page. 304-305.
- ^ Travancore Manuel. Volume II, Page 185
- ^ Kodackal, Berchmans Fr. , The Orthodox Churches in India [2]
- ^ Press List of Ancient Dutch Records – 1657-1825. Diary 1758. Page 64.
Bibliography
- Menachery G (1973) The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, Ed. George Menachery, B. N. K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 81-87132-06-X, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568 ; B. N. K. Press
- Thomas Puthiakunnel, (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, ed. George Menachery, Vol. II. , Trichur.
- The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India,Ed. G. Menachery.
- James Hough (1893) "The History of Christianity in India".
- Menachery G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol. I, The Nazranies, Ollur, 1998. [ISBN 81-87133-05-8].
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