Malankara Metropolitan
Part of a series on |
Christianity in India |
---|
![]() |
Malankara Metropolitan is the title of the head of Malankara Church of Kerala, India , believed to be started by St.Thomas , the apostle of Jesus Christ.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 , was the headquarters of the Church from the 1st century. (Malankara is cognate of this name Maliankara).
From 1909, the Indian heads of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church is officially titled the Catholicos of the East and also Malankara Metropolitan. There are no records to show that this title was used before that time.[2]
First fifteen centuries
During the first fifteen centuries, each parish appointed its own elders (Edavaka Mooppen). These elders met together and elected their Elder (Malankara Mooppen). Laying of hands on the Malankara Mooppen was by twelve Edavaka Mooppens. Names of Malankara Mooppens (elders) from first century till 1597 are not known. Tombs of five of them can be seen at Kuttaram Palli at Kuravilangad.
Malankara Mooppen, Portuguese period.
Geevarughese Kathanar, of Pakalomattom family was the Malankara Mooppen during the Portuguese period. He was the head of the church from 1597 to 1637 and attended the Synod of Udayamperoor (Synod of Diamper). He was succeeded by Kuravilangad Pakalomattom Parampil Thomas Kathanar. It was during his time in 1653 The Great Swearing (Koonen Kurisu Sathyam) was held.
From 1653 to 1877.
After the Great swearing (Coonen Kurisu Sathyam), the parish elders (Edavaka Mooppens) of the Church met together and elected Kuravilangad Parampil Thomas Kathanar as Malankara Elder (Malankara Mooppen). He was the first Mar Thoma. (Malankara Metropolitan.)
- Mar Thoma I (1653-1670).
- Mar Thoma II (1670-1686)
- Mar Thoma III (1686-1688)
- Mar Thoma IV (1688-1728)
- Mar Thoma V (1728-1765)
- Mar Thoma VI (1765-1808) (Dionysius I)
- Mar Thoma VII (1808-1809)
- Mar Thoma VIII (1809-1816)
- Mar Thoma IX (1816)
- Mar Thoma X - Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious I (Dionysious II) (1816 for 9 months)
- Mar Philoxenos II, Kidangan (1816-1817) - Due to the sudden demise of Dionysious II, Mar Philoxenos II of Malabar Independent Syrian Church (Thozhiyoor Sabha) was elected by the clergy and laymen as Malankara Metropolitan. [3]
- Mar Thoma XI- Punnathra Mar Dionysious (Dionysious III) (1817-1825)
- Mar Thoma XII- Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius (Dionysius IV) (1825-1855)
- Mar Thoma XIII -Palakunnathu Mathews Mar Athanasius Consecrated in 1842. Malankara Metropolitan (1852-1877). There was a rumour that he was excommunicated, but as per canon a bishop cannot be excommunicated.[4]
Malankara Jacobite Church, Bava Kakshi.
- Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious II (Dionysious V) (1864-1909)
- St. Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril (Dionysius VI) (1909-1934). Excommunicated on June 12, 1911 by the Patriarch. But as per canon a bishop cannot be excommunicated.[5]
- initiated resumption of autonomy from Syriac church
Malankara(Indian) Orthodox Catholicoi And Malankara Metropolitans
See also:Catholicos of the East
- St. Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril (Dionysius VI) (Malankara Metropolitan, 1909-1934)
- H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Paulose I (1912-1914) (Catholicose of the East)
- H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Geevarghese I (1925-1928) (Catholicose of the East)
- H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Geevarghese II (Catholicose of the East, 1929-1964 & Malankara Metropolitan, 1934-1964)
(From this time onwards, the offices of Catholicos and Malankara Metropolitan have been united in one person.) - H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Augen I (1964-1975) (Catholicose of the East & Malankara Metropolitan)
- H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I (1975-1991) (Catholicose of the East & Malankara Metropolitan)
- H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II (1991-2005) (Catholicose of the East & Malankara Metropolitan)
- H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Didymos I (2005-present) (Catholicose of the East & Malankara Metropolitan)
Malankara Syriac Orthodox Catholicoi
See also:Catholicos of the East
- Aboon Mor Baselios Paulose II (1975-1996)
(There is a 7 year gap before the consecration of the next Catholicose, because of reconciliation attempts, which were unsuccessful.) - Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I (2002-present)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/59/Malankarathrone.jpg/150px-Malankarathrone.jpg)
Malankara Throne.
The throne was used for the consecrations of the Head of the Malankara Church. It was used at the time of consecrations of Mar Thoma I (in 1653) to Mar Thoma XXI (2007) except for that of Mar Thoma XIII, Palakunnathu Mathews Mar Athanasios. It is now in the possession of the Mar Thoma Church.
St Thomas Syrian Metropolitans of Malabar. Metran Kakshi
(Till the name Mar Thoma Church was accepted It was known as Metran Kakshi.[6])
- Mar Thoma XIV - Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan (1877- 1893)
Malankara Marthoma Metropolitans
- Mar Thoma XV - Titus I Mar Thoma Metropolitan (1893-1910)
- Mar Thoma XVI - Titus II Mar Thoma Metropolitan (1910-1944)
- Mar Thoma XVII - Abraham Mar Thoma Metropolitan (1944-1947)
- Mar Thoma XVIII - Juhanon Mar Thoma Metropolitan (1947-1976)
- Mar Thoma XIX - Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan (1976-1999)
- Mar Thoma XX - Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Metropolitan (1999–2007)
- Mar Thoma XXI - Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan (2007-Present)
See also
References
- ^ Kerala Council for Historical Research findings in 2006-07.
- ^ M.P.Varkey (1901). ‘’Mar Dionysious Metropolitan of Malankara Edavaka’’.
- ^ Rev.K.C.Varghese Kassessa. (1972). History of Malabar Independent Syrian church.(Mal). Page 62.
- ^ N.M.Mathew. (2007) Malankara mar Thoma Sabha Charitram (Mal) Volume 2 Page 80-82
- ^ N.M.Mathew. (2007) Malankara Mar Thoma Sabha Charitram (Mal) Volume 2 Page 80-82
- ^ Letters of correspondence.