CONTETNS
|
|
|
The Colonial Era Portuguese Admiral Vasco de Gama landed in Calicut in 1498 and made friends with the Zamorin, the ruler of Calicut. Gama was followed by Cabral who had with him Roman Catholic priests.The Malankara Christians greeted the Portuguese as fellow Christians and as representatives of the Church of Rome. But the Portuguese did not accept the legitimacy of the traditions of Malankara Chrisitians, and they began to impose Latin usages and Roman Catholisism upon the Thomas Christians. Up to the 16th century there was ecclesiastical connection between the Church in West Asia and the Church in Malabar. The Bishops who came from Antioch were Jacobite, and those who came from Babylonian Patriarchate were Nestorian. Some hold the view that the connection was neither with the Jacobites nor from Nestorians , but with the Catholicos of the East who was independent of the Patriarch of Antioch and who was Orthodox in faith. Though there were such ecclesiastical connections and communion existed between the Malankara Church and the different West Asian Patriarchates, the Malankara Church was independent in administration under the Archdeacons. With the increase of Portuguese political and ecclesiastical power in the East, they wanted to bring the Malankara Church of India under Rome. The Portuguese adopted several coercive measures, including the kidnapping of Syrian bishops, accusing the Syrian Church of heresy and imposing sea blockades to prevent the importing of prelates from the Eastern Patriarchs and even setting up of the Inquisition. Archbishop Dom Menezes of Goa, the Portuguese archbishop of Goa, and the ex-officio political ruler during the absence of the Portuguese Viceroy of Goa, entered Malankara. Using force, he opened churches and exercised jurisdiction, he held three ordination services and ordained at least a hundred. He thus gained to his side those who were ordained and their relatives. This effort to convert the Malankara Christians to Roman Catholicism culminated with the Synod of Diamper (Udayamperoor Sunnadhose). The synod was held in June (20-29), 1599, at which the Thomas Christians had to sign the Profession of Faith at the beginning, and the decrees at the close of the synod. They had to sign that they would not accept any bishop except the one nominated by Roman Pope. This Synod was publicized in the west as the conquest of heretics for the Catholic faith. As a consequence of the synod, on Nov. 5, 1599. The Metropolitan see of Angamaly was reduced to a suffragan see of Goa under the Padroado on Dec. 20, 1599, and the title of Angamaly was changed into that of Cranganore.
However it is worth mentioning that, representatives from many very influential churches in Malankara did not participate in this synod in spite of severe threats. Synod of Diamper had no binding force as it was not a lawful synod, because of lack of authority on the part of those who convoked it, absence of intention on the part of those who attended it, lack of form in the manner of conducting it and lack of integrity in the text promulgated |
|
|
Coonan Cross Oath Pushed beyond a limit, the main body of Thomas Christians rose in revolt and took a collective oath at the Coonen Cross in Mattancherry on 3rd January 1653, resolving to preserve the faith of their Church and to elect its head. The leaders of the Church met at Alangat on May 22, 1653, swore on the Gospel that they would not obey the Roman Catholic Prelates . Twelve priests imposed their hands on Archdeacon Thomas of Pakalomattom family installing him as Metropolitan Mar Thomas I.
|
Môr Gregorios Abdul Jaleel,
Metropolitan of Jerusalem |
|
Maphrian Yeldho Mor Baselius, arrived in Malankara in AD.
1685 and passed away shortly. His mortal remains are interred in the
sanctuary Kothamangalam Mar Thoman
Cheriappally The Episcopal line of Marthoma I continued till Mar Thoma V. Mar Thoma V was succeeded by Mar Thoma VI in 1765. The Patriarch of Jerusalem, Mor Gregorius Yuhanon arrived in India in 1751. In 1772 Mar Thoma VI accepted reordination by Mar Gregorios assisted by Mar Ivanios and accepted the name Mor Dionysious I. Mar Gregorios also consecrated Ramban Kattumangatt as bishop Abraham Mar Koorilose. This was not appreciated by Mor Dionysious, who hindered his ministry. Mar Koorilose eventually retired to Thozhiyur (Anjoor). This community came to be known as the Malabar Independent Syrian Church Mar Gregorious entered into eternal rest on July 10, 1773 and is buried in the Mulanthuruthy church |
|
