Mar Thoma Syrian Church


The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, often shortened to Mar Thoma Church, and known also as the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar is an autonomous Reformed Oriental church based in Kerala, India. While continuing many of the Syriac high church practices, the church is reformed in its theology and doctrines. It employs a reformed variant of the West Syriac Rite Divine Liturgy of Saint James, translated to Malayalam.
The Mar Thoma Church sees itself as continuation of the Saint Thomas Christians, a community traditionally believed to have been founded in the first century by Thomas the Apostle, who is known as Mar Thoma in Syriac, and describes itself as "Apostolic in origin, Universal in nature, Biblical in faith, Evangelical in principle, Ecumenical in outlook, Oriental in worship, Democratic in function, and Episcopal in character".
Until the beginning of the 20th century, Mar Thoma Christians lived in a few districts of Central Travancore and Kunnamkulam in Kerala. Since that time they have spread with the 20th-century Indian diaspora to North America, Europe, the Middle East, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The church currently has over 1 million members. Their mother tongue is Malayalam, the language of Kerala, and historically the variety known as Suriyani Malayalam was associated with them.

History

The Malankara Church witnessed a reformation movement during the 19th century, inspired by contact with Anglican missionaries from Britain who taught at the Kottayam Pazhaya Seminary of the Malankara Church. Many in the church were fascinated by the reformation principles. The reformation was an attempt to eliminate certain practices prevalent in the Malankara Church which the reformers believed were brought about after the Synod of Diamper, as well as many aspects which did not suit the Orthodox nature of the Malankara Church. Beginning in 1836, a Malankara Church cleric and teacher at the Old Seminary, Abraham Malpan instituted changes independently in his parish at Maramon, including holding services in the local language, Malayalam, rather than the traditional Syriac language, and making other revisions to the Holy Qurbana such as removing intercession prayers to Mary and the Apostles and replaced it with prayers for communion with saints. He removed from the altar a clay statue of a saint reputed to have miraculous powers, and in whose reverence an annual festival was held in the parish. These three incidents were tantamount to a trumpet call of the reformation in Malankara Church. This led to a rift in the church hierarchy between Abraham Malpan's supporters and the Metropolitan bishop, Mar Dionysius IV. Abraham Malpan sent his nephew, Deacon Mathews, to the Patriarch of Antioch to be consecrated as a bishop. Patriarch Ignatious Elias the Second consecrated Deacon Mathews to ecclesiastical order of Bishophood as Mathews Mar Athanasius and installed him as Metropolitan for the Malankara Church. But he was not accepted unanimously in Malankara. The leadership dispute was settled in 1852 with Mathews Mar Athanasius being recognized as Malankara Metropolitan after a Royal decree was issued from the Maharaja of Travancore, serving until his death in 1877. However, the rift never healed, and ultimately the Malankara Church split into the reformed faction headed by the reigning Metropolitan Thomas Mar Athanasius and the Jacobite faction headed by the Patriarch of Antioch in 1889. The reformed faction was renamed to form the "Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church" in 1898.In 1940 a schism formed in the Mar Thoma Syrian Church, a group of people was greatly influenced by Evangelical protestant theology; the modern reformists founded the St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India in 1961.

Definitions

Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church is commonly called the Mar Thoma Church. In official and legal record the church is referred to as Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar or as Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church.
Malabar is a term used to denote the Kerala coast in earlier days. The original Church was referred to as the Church of Malabar by the Jesuits and as the Syrian Church of Malabar in Missionary Registers from 1801 onward. Malankara is an ancient name derived from the name 'Maliankara', Maliankara Island is on the Southwestern side of the Indian Peninsula. It is between Gokarnam and Kanyakumari the southern-most point of India. Kerala, the present southwestern state of India is only a part of Malankara. It is also thought to be a cognate of this name Maliankara, a place near Muziris, where Thomas the Apostle first landed in Kerala.
Mar Thoma is Aramaic, and means Saint Thomas. Members of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church are commonly called as Mar Thomiyar, Mar Thomites or Mar Thoma Syrians.
The original liturgical language used by Saint Thomas Christians was the East Syriac language which is a variant of Aramaic. The Reformation movement in the Malankara Syrian Church later resulted in the evolution of an independent indigenous Malankara church under the Mathoma Metropolitan, breaking all the ecclesistical and temporal control from outside Malankara. In 1898, during the reign of Titus I Mar Thoma the church accepted as its name Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church or Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar to comprise its order and heritage. The members of this church are known as Mar Thoma Nasrani or Mar Thoma Syrian Nasrani.

Administration

The Mar Thoma Syrian Church has a well-defined constitution and has a democratic pattern of administration. The central administrative setup consists of the Metropolitan, the Episcopal Synod, the Prathinithi Mandalam and the Sabha Council, and the Vaideeka Selection Committee.
The Central Administration of the Church is backed by the Dioceses. Each diocese has its own council and an assembly. The assembly members are elected by the individual parishes, and the diocesan council members are elected by the assembly.
All members of a parish are members of the Edavaka Sangham and they also have the right to elect their representatives to the Diocesan Assembly and Prathinidhi Mandalam.
The title of the head of the Church is "Mar Thoma Metropolitan". He is ordained from among the duly-consecrated bishops of the Church, the choice being ordinarily that of the senior most among them. The present "Mar Thoma Metropolitan" is Joseph Mar Thoma who resides at Poolatheen at Church Headquarters in Tiruvalla, Kerala. He is the 21st Mar Thoma in the line of continuation after the re-establishment of the Mar Thoma episcopacy after the Oath of the Koonan Cross.
If the Metropolitan is personally satisfied that he has difficulty continuing to perform the duties pertaining to his office, he may relinquish the powers and responsibilities of Metropolitan. Then he becomes the Mar Thoma Metropolitan Emeritus and is addressed as "Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan". The present "Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan is Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan.
To assist the metropolitan there are Episcopas, the senior most among them is called the Suffragan Metropolitan.

Administrative divisions

For administrative purposes, the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church is divided into 13 dioceses or popularly called 'Bhadhrasanams' headed by a Metropolitan or by an Episcopa.
They are:
Diocese NameMar Thoma Bishop Houses and Diocesan centersLocation
Niranam-MaramonPoolatheen AramanaTiruvalla
Chengannur-MavelikaraOlivet AramanaChengannur
AdoorHermon AramanaAdoor
Kottarakkara-PunalurOorshalem AramanaKottarakara
Thiruvananthapuram-KollamMar Thoma KendramMannanthala, Trivandrum
Kottayam-KochiBethel AramanaManganam, Kottayam
Ranny-NilackelMar Thoma CentreRanny
Kunnamkulam-MalabarMar Thoma CentreKozhikode
Chennai-BangaloreMar Thoma BhavanChennai
MumbaiMar Thoma CentreMumbai
DelhiMar Thoma CentreNew Delhi
North America-EuropeSinai Mar Thoma CenterNew York
Malaysia-Singapore-Australia-New Zealand--

Metropolitans and bishops

Present Episcopal Synod

The present members of the Episcopal Synod of Mar Thoma Church are:
The Synod of 1876 and the Royal Court Verdict of 1889 was the turning point in the history of the Malankara Syrian Church of Malabar.
The Reformist faction continued to consecrate bishops to the Malankara See without the consent of Patriarch as they claimed Malankara church is independent from the Syrian Church. Before the death of Malankara Metropolitan Mathews Mar Athanasius, he consecrated Thomas Mar Athanasius as Suffragan bishop of Malankara Church. Following the death of Mathews Mar Athanasius, the suffragan succeeded as the Metropolitan of the Malankara See in 1877 which led to a schism in the Malankara church. Those who supported reformation loyally followed the Malankara Metropolitan who was legally evicted from the Malankara Syrian Church. He died in 1893 without consecrating a successor and suggesting a new name for the church. The Metropolitan of Malabar Independent Syrian Church stepped in and consecrated Titus Mar Thoma as the new bishop.
For the consecrations, from 1917 onward bishops from other churches were invited as guests. But the consecration was done only by the Metropolitan and was assisted as witness by the other Bishops of the Mar Thoma Church and of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church.

Clergy

Semmasan :
The Sabha Prathinidhi Mandalam elects a Vaidika Selection board to select candidates for the ordained ministry of the church through recommendations, exams and pre- and post- theological training interviews.
Following a Malankara Church tradition and from diasporic influence, the church follows a compulsory twelve month unpaid missionary service to those who are inclined to be a priest, before selection process as a "Tithe of Youth" program for "evaluation purposes". Additionally this program was challenged in youth meets of the church at the time of its conception on the basis of non-guarantee in entry, fast changing world, career stagnation, and other economic factors and have arrived at a discussion level resolution of implementing this process after the pursual of their theological training and integrating the "Deacon" status during the time period under mentorship which enables the church to fill up NGO's, projects and mission fields with trained and theologically equipped individuals for staff duties and pastoring, thus avoid stress and negligence that would be otherwise imparted on the youth. During the intensive field trainings, when the inclined candidate is counted to be worthy for controlled influx in church duties, the trained and experienced Deacons can be nominated for ordinations as Kassessas, by each diocese as the allotment.
Kassessa :
Persons receiving ordination as ministers shall be duly ordained deacons. They all have had their Bachelor of Divinity degree from the Mar Thoma Theological Seminary, Kottayam, Kerala, or from other recognized theological seminaries of India. The wife of a Kassissa is known as "Baskiamma" derived from" Baskiyomo in Syriac.
Vicars general:
From among the clergy who have completed 25 years of service in the ordained ministry and not less than sixty years of age are selected according to their contributions and ordained as vicars general. In the absence of the diocesan bishop, they may be appointed as deputy head of the bishopric.

History

Thomas Christians are popularly and traditionally called as Syrian Christians, in view of the Syriac liturgy used in church services since the early days of Christianity in India.
The Saint Thomas Christians remained as Church of Malabar with fraternity relationship with Church of East, Church of Antioch, Church of Alexandria etc. till the Advent of Portuguese and Jesuits of Roman Catholic church in the 15th century. Thereafter, the Christians of St Thomas had been influenced by many belief streams at different points of time. These influences have later resulted in serious rifts and in the breaking down of the monolithic apostolic church to different fragments under different faith stream. They were organised as a Church in the 8th century, served by foreign bishops and with a hereditary local chief called Arkadiyokon or Archdeacon. In the 16th century the overtures of the Portuguese padroado to bring the Saint Thomas Christians into the Latin Rite Catholicism led to the first of several rifts in the community and the establishment of Latin Catholic and Malankara Church factions. Since that time further splits have occurred, and the Saint Thomas Christians are now divided into several denominations, each with their own liturgies and traditions.
Liturgy of St James

First century BC

On the south western side of the Indian peninsula; between the mountains and the Erythraean Sea ; stretching from Kannur to Kanyakumari was the land called Cherarajyam, which was ruled by local chieftains. Later this land came to be known as the Malabar region and. Muziris was the important entry port. After the discovery of Hippalus, every year 100 ships arrived here from various parts of the then known world, including Red Sea ports.
During the time of Moses and Solomon, the Malabar Coast traded spices and luxury articles with Israel. Excavations carried out at Pattanam from 2005 provided evidence that the maritime trade between Kerala and the Mediterranean ports existed even before 500 BC or earlier. It is possible that some of those traders who arrived from the west, including Jews, remained in Kerala.
While Augustus was the Roman emperor and Herod the Great was King of Judea, ambassadors from Malabar visited the Emperor according to an account of Nicolaus of Damascus. Certain nasrani writings hypothesize that these ambassadors were the Biblical Magi of Matthew 2:1, as a tradition.

Arrival of Saint Thomas

Saint Thomas Christians believe that Thomas the Apostle arrived in the Malabar Coast around AD 52. He landed at Muziris, after his first mission in the Parthian empire, during the era of King Gondophares It is believed that St. Thomas itinerated for 30 years in Kerala and proceeded to the East coast of India from Malankara and died a martyrs’ death at a place called Mylapore-Chinnamalai in Tamil Nadu.
The Nazarenes in Malabar were either proselytized from mainstream Judaism by 'Mar Thomas' or 'Mar Bartholomeu'. Pantaneius's reference to the gift of 'Gospel of Matthew in Hebrew' by Bartholomeu to the Nazereans in Malabar is a clear pointer to the fact that Mar Thomas did evangelize Malabar, It could be further stated that either Mar Nathanael aided in Mar Thomas' mission in India for a brief time before heading to Armenia or bar-Tau'ma, Son of Thomas assisted in his father's missionary activities per norms in, this could also explain why most of the priests in the order of St. Thomas were later allowed to be married, which led to the prerogative of sacerdotalism to certain groups/families and to people supported by them.

First Christians

In early Christian times, 'Nazranis' were not a separate religion, but a sect in the Jewish community. The term was used to denote followers of Jesus of Nazareth.. 'Khristianos' was initially used largely to refer non-Jewish people who followed Christ. In Kerala, the sect was known as 'Nazraani Margam'. Margam in Malayalam means, 'The Way'.. Thus, the word Nazraani clearly shows that many who joined them were Jews. But in Kerala this name was replaced by the word 'Christians' in the 20th century.
The earliest families within the Jewish community to accept the path of Christianity through St. Thomas, later intermarried with the ethnic local community and Brahmins of the 6th century. This led to the upbringing of marginal class or 'sambandham' brahminic family clans like Pakalomattom, Sankarapuri and Kalli to a different socioeconomic status, they are now widely accepted as the first families who adopted an emigre way of life or 'Christianity' in Kerala. According to recent DNA research by Dr. Mini Kariappa, a significant number of Knanaya's share their ancestral roots with the West Eurasian gene pool of Jews.

First 15 centuries

Administration

Saint Thomas Christians were administratively under the single native dynastic leadership of Arkadyaqon commonly referred as "Jathikku Karthavyan". The Malankara Church believes that St. Thomas appointed elders at every place he preached to lead the believers. He prayed and laid his hands upon them, in the same way as the other disciples did. This was the system used till the arrival of Portuguese. By 1500, Malankara Church had Parish elders and a Church leader. Before the arrival of Portuguese, Latin was unknown to Malankara people. In the ‘’Decrees of The Synod of Udayamperoor’’ presented to the St. Thomas Christians in their mother tongue Malayalam, Malankara Mooppen was the name used to refer the Church leader, except on three occasions. During the period of Colonialism,, the Portuguese Jesuits began deliberate attempts to annex the community into the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, and in 1599 AD, they succeeded in their attempt through the infamous Synod of Diamper. Resentment against these forceful measures led the majority of the community under their Arkadyaqon Thomas to swear an oath never to submit to the Portuguese, known as the Coonan Cross Oath in 1653. For the first time in 1653 the Church leader was given the title Mar Thoma when Thomas Arkadyaqon was consecrated as Mar Thoma I. The present head of the Mar Thoma Church is the twenty-first Mar Thoma.

Pantaenus from Alexandria

In the 2nd century AD, Pantaenus, the Philosopher and Missionary sent by Bishop Demetrius of Alexandria to India, found that there were many Christians in India with a Persian Bishop and that they had a copy of the Gospel according to Matthew in Aramaic. These Christians were the early evangelists of Malankara Church.

Arrival of Knanaya Nazranis

During the time of King Shapur II of Persia, a group of 400 immigrants from Persia arrived in Malabar under the leadership of merchant Knai Thomman. They were engaged in trade and settled down in Kodungallur. Another immigration from Persia occurred around 825 under the leadership of Persian merchant Marwan Sabriso, with two Bishops, Mar Sapro and Mar Prodh. Together they were known as Knanaya/Kanai people. They continued to remain partially in an endogamous group within the Nasrani community. They cooperated with the Malankara Church, attended worship services together but remained a separate identity. By the 10th century, in Malabar there were two Nazrani groups, the Saint Thomas Christians and Knanaya community.

Bishops from Persia

Following the arrival of Christians from Persia, their bishops, priests or laymen began visiting them. Most of them were not able to return due to financial difficulties and travelling long distances. The Knanaya people were worshipping together with the St. Thomas Christians. So these visitors also attended these services. It was a matter of ongoing dispute between different churches in Kerala whether the Syrian bishops had any administrative responsibility or jurisdiction over the St. Thomas Nazrani Christians.

Persian crosses

were in churches once attended by Nasranis. Out of five Persian crosses two are in Kottayam Knanaya Valia Palli. According to the archaeologists, the earliest one was made in the 7th century. The cross became a symbol of Christianity in the west, during the time of Constantine. Saint Thomas Christians of Malabar had hardly any contact with other Christians before the arrival of Knanaya people from Persia. Moreover, two of the oldest church buildings that still exist in South India do not have any marking of a Cross on their original structure. So most probably it was during the 7th century that the cross became a symbol of St. Thomas Christians.

Visits corroborating the existence of the Malankara Church

The existence of this Church in early centuries is evident in the writings of ancient travelers.
The rulers of Kerala, in appreciation of their assistance, had given to the Malankara Nazranis, three deeds on copper plates. These are known as Cheppeds, Royal Grants, Sasanam etc. Five sheets of them are now in the custody of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church Headquarters at Thiruvalla.
  1. Iravi Corttan Deed: In the year 774 AD. Sri Vira Raghava Chakravarti, gave a deed to Iravi Corttan of Mahadevarpattanam.
  2. Tharissa palli Deed I: Perumal Sthanu Ravi Gupta gave a deed in 849 AD, to Isodatta Virai for Tharissa Palli at Curakkeni Kollam. According to historians, this is the first deed in Kerala that gives the exact date.
  3. Tharissa palli Deed II: A continuation of the above deed was given sometime after 849 AD.

    Portuguese period

The Portuguese started settling in India with the arrival of Vasco da Gama in 1498. For the next 200 years they took control over the sea routes and were powerful in the western parts of India. By 1500, Malankara Church was spread from Kannur in the North to Kollam in the South. It included the Saint Thomas Christians and the endogamous group, Knanaya Christians. The Saint Thomas Christians went through changes with the encounter of Portuguese in 1599. In the 16th century the overtures of the Portuguese padroado to initiate the Saint Thomas Christians into the Catholic Church led to the first of several rifts in the community and the establishment of Roman Catholic and Malankara Church factions. Since that time further splits have occurred.

Synod of Diamper

The Malankara Church had hardly any contact with the Western Church. The Portuguese used their power to bring the Malankara Church under Latin jurisdiction. A powerful Archbishop Aleixo de Menezes arrived in Goa in 1595. He then convened a Synod at Udayamperoor, south of Ernakulam, from 20–26 June 1599, known as the Synod of Diamper. Here the Archbishop demanded complete submission to the Latin jurisdiction. The representatives sent from various parishes in and around Cochin were forced to accept the decrees read out by the Archbishop.

Divisions among Saint Thomas Christians

A protest took place in 1653 with the Coonan Cross Oath. Under the leadership of Archdeacon Thomas, the Thomas Christians publicly took an oath that they wouldn't obey the Jesuit bishops.
Rome sent Carmelites in two groups from the Propagation of the Faith to Malabar headed by Fr. Sebastiani and Fr. Hyacinth. Fr. Sebastiani arrived first in 1655. He began to deal directly with the Archdeacon Thomas. Fr. Sebastiani gained the support of many, especially with the support of Palliveettil Mar Chandy, Alexandar Kadavil and the Vicar of Muttam. These were the three councilors of Mar Thoma I, who were reconciled with Gracia before the arrival of Sebastaini, according to Jesuit reports.
The Roman Catholic faction persistently challenged the validity of the ordination of Mar Thoma I by laying hands of 12 priests. It led many people to believe what they said and chose to rejoin with the catholic faction.
Between 1661 and 1662, out of the 116 churches, the Carmelites reclaimed eighty-four churches, leaving Archdeacon Mar Thomas I with thirty-two churches. The eighty-four churches and their congregations were the body from which the Syro Malabar Church has descended. The other thirty-two churches and their congregations represented the nucleus from which the Syriac Orthodox, Thozhiyur, Mar Thoma, Syro Malankara Catholics have originated.
In 1665 with the request of the Archdeacon, Gregorios Abdul Jaleel a Bishop sent by the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, arrived in India. A faithful group under the leadership of the Archdeacon welcomed him. The arrival of the Bishop Mar Gregory of the Syriac Orthodox Church in 1665 marked the beginning of a formal schism among the St. Thomas Christians. Those who accepted the West Syrian theological and liturgical tradition of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch of Mar Gregory became known as the Jacobite, while the Syrian Catholics remained in communion with Rome and later came to be known as the Syro Malabar Church.

Oath of the Bent Cross

Under the leadership of their elder Thomas, Nazranis around Cochin gathered at Mattancherry church on Friday, 24 January 1653 and made an oath that is known as the Great Oath of Bent Cross. The following oath was read aloud and the people touching a stone-cross repeated it loudly.
Those who were not able to touch the cross tied ropes on the cross, held the rope in their hands and made the oath. Because of the weight it is believed by the followers that the cross bent a little and so it is known as "Oath of the bent cross ’’.
Four months after this event, according to the beliefs, 12 elders of the church ordained the elder Thomas as their prelate with the ecclesiastical title Mar Thoma I.
Their beliefs and practices before the arrival of the Portuguese as evident in the canons of the Synod of Diamper.
Malankara Church,
The Dutch East India Company defeated Portuguese for the supremacy of spice trade in Malabar in the year CE 1663. Malankara Nazranis used this opportunity to escape from Latin persecution with the help of Dutch East India Company. The Dutch brought Bishop Gregorios Abdul Jaleel of Jerusalem of Syrian Orthodox Church in their trading vessel in CE 1665. Thomas Arkadyaqon who was consecrated as Mar Thoma I entered into a relationship with the West Syriac Orthodox Church and gradually adopted West Syriac liturgy and practices. The Dutch was on the Malabar Coast from 11 November 1604 - 1795. Mar Thoma I to Mar Thoma VI were the prelates during this period.

British period

The English defeated the Dutch in 1795 and took over Cochin during the time of Mar Thoma VI. In 1806, Rev. Dr. Claudius Buchanan, an Anglican missionary visited Malankara and met Mar Thoma VI. But, soon after this meeting, Mar Thoma VI convened a meeting of representatives of the parishes and declared that the Malankara Church should not follow the teachings of the churches of Rome or Antioch or any other foreign churches. The Bible that was translated from the original Aramaic into Malayalam by two Malpans was printed with the help of Buchanan.
In 1808, a bond for the sum of 3000 Star Pagoda was handed over by Col. Macaulay, the British Resident in Travancore to the Govt. for Mar Thoma VII with the condition that the interest be paid to the Metropolitan of the Syrian Church of Malabar. Col Munro the British Resident in Travancore gave the interest of the deposit to Joseph Ramban due to misunderstandings and lack of regularized administration. In order to avoid the quandary in 1815, Joseph Ramban was consecrated by Mar Philexenos of the Thozhyoor Church and was given the ecclesiastical title Mar Dionysious. To make the Malankara Church accept him as their head, Col. Munroe had to get the rulers of Travancore and Cochin issue Royal proclamations ordering Christians to render obedience to Mar Dionysious.
Ignoring this interference by the British, Mar Thoma VIII consecrated his successor Mar Thoma IX. But soon after, Pulikkottil Mar Dionysious dethroned him. The next two prelates were also selected by Col. Munroe and Royal proclamations were issued to them also.
Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius did not like the interference of the Anglican Missionaries. So he convened a Synod at Mavelikkara in 1836, in which the Synod declared that, “We, the Jacobite Syrians are under the rule of the Patriarch of Antioch.” But it is historically untenable to assert that the Malankara Church had always been under the Patriarch of Antioch. Abraham Malpan leader of the Reformation did not attend this meeting.
After this the missionaries continued their work on their own. By 1878, CMS Church was established in Kerala with those who joined them and with those whom they converted.

Reformation in Malankara Church

From 1498 India was under the Colonial rule of three European powers. They all brought in their beliefs, practices and traditions into the Malankara Church. The Cleansing of the Church was an attempt to eliminate certain such practices and bring back those prevalent in the Church of their fore-fathers.
The reformation was carried out in dissidence by the members of a review committee of 12 scholarly clergy, appointed for a thorough study on the "necessary amendments that the church should adopt" at a meeting of representatives of the Malankara Church by Punnathara Mar Dionysious at Mavelikkara on 3 December 1818. No foreigner was involved in this plenary committee or in its deliberations.

Abraham Malpan

Though Maramon Palakunnathu Abraham Malpan was bounteous in his temperament, he never hesitated to introduce reforms in both teaching and practice. He also insisted on a high moral standard of conduct for laity and clergy alike. All this created a ferment in the Malankara Church and its effects are still discernible in the Church as a whole.

Principal reforms

  1. Icons, pictures, statues, and drawings of saints were removed from churches, and places of worship.
  2. Considered the practice of praying for the dead and of doing obeisance at their graves with lighted candles as abhorrent.
  3. Intercession of saints and prayers for the dead were discarded. All prayers, worship and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints were omitted.All prayer requests to dead and prayers to uplift the dead from sin and suffering were omitted.
  4. Insisted that Sunday services are to be held in a reverent and spiritual way. During that time reading and expounding scriptures is to be done.
  5. Conducted worship services, including Holy Communion in the mother tongue, Malayalam along with Syriac.
  6. Holy Communion was not celebrated when there were none to receive.
  7. Mandated that communion under both kinds should be distributed separately.
  8. Auricular confession was discontinued.
  9. Believed that those who come for confession should ask for forgiveness with fasting and prayer, instead of offering oil, incense and candles.
  10. Insisted that bishops should ordain only candidates who have been examined by them and the malpans.
  11. Repudiated the custom of smearing charcoal on the forehead on Ash Wednesday.
  12. The Church unequivocally hold the doctrine of the Trinity as interpreted by the creeds of Nicea, Constantinople and Ephesus.
  13. The Church is neither Nestorian nor Monophysite.
  14. The Church is neither Protestant nor Anglican but have communion relationship with many churches because of it ecumenical outlook in coming together for Christ.
  15. The Clergy, is dedicated in avoiding benefices other than the regulated salary, as a part of the principle of simple life for self and the adult laity.
  16. Child Baptism is upheld and given to children born in Christian families.Adult Baptism is given to new believers who come from other religions.
  17. The Church accepts the Perpetual virginity, Divine motherhood and Assumption of Mary,but regards that it has nothing to do with saintly intercession or a mediatrix role.
  18. With regard to the title of St.Mary as the Mother of God, the church affirms that the title was used by early Church fathers.The Church also recognises her as the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ, who is God, not that the nature of the Word or his divinity received the beginning of its existence from the holy Virgin, but that, since the holy body, which the Word of God became, was born from her, the Word is said to be born according to the flesh.
  19. As to her titles 'Mother of the Church' and 'Mother of all true Christians', biblical interpretation is used
  20. The Church calls St. Mary as Blessed and Holy as expressed in the liturgy.
  21. The Church endorses in the remembrance and respect of Saints,Martyrs etc. and acknowledgement of their feast days, but prohibits veneration and intercession through them.
  22. The lives of Saints and Martyrs are seen as exemplar and inspiring to the Christian Model of living.
  23. The Church does not declare anyone saint or sinner but people who have led exceptionally devout lives are acknowledged; and saints declared by all Christian denominations are called Saints thereupon with respect.
  24. Identifies Iconograohy as Christian or religious art. They are seen as spirituality in art but they are not supposed to be used for worship.
  25. Remembrance of dead loved ones is seen as natural and human but prayers for the departed were cancelled out to signify that salvation does not occur after death. There is no belief in purgatory.
  26. The Mission of spreading of the Gospel is observed as the duty of the Church. The Church must work with an evangelical zeal.
  27. Expounding of the Holy Scriptures and their interpretations are seen as vital to religious services.
  28. Syriac is acknowledged as the liturgical language of the Church and is used alongside the vernacular for all occasions.
  29. The Holy Communion,being a Dominical Sacrament and thus divinely instituted by Christ must be observed utmost spiritually and reverently and not just as a mere ritual.
  30. The Church gives freedom to the believers on the experience of the Holy Communion. It is understood as the grace of God to the individual. Nevertheless, the experience is viewed as a "Sacred Mystery".
  31. Confession is General and is said through a prayer before the Holy Communion. The Faithful are supposed to confess their sins privately to God and to their brethren if they have sinned against them..

    Course of events

The first printed Malayalam Bible, translated from Syriac was published in 1811. Known as Ramban Bible it contained only the four Gospels. By 1841, the whole Bible was translated, printed and released. Realizing the need for timely changes, in 1818 Mar Thoma XI convened a meeting of representatives of the Malankara Church at Mavelikkara. In that meeting a review committee was appointed to recommend reforms. Abraham Malpan, Kaithayil Geevarghese Malpan, Eruthikkal Markose Kathanar, Adangapurathu Joseph Kathanar were members of this committee. This was the first step in carrying out Reformation in Malankara Church.
On 5 September 1836, the reformation was planned. Strategy was determined by a group of 12 clergymen under the leadership of Abraham Malpan. They issued an encyclical describing what they believed were the wrong teachings, a statement listing twenty-four practices of the Church which they believed were "evil" and had crept in by its association with other Churches and religions and the same as a petition to a British Resident.
On 27 August 1837, then suspended Abraham Malpan conducted the Holy Communion service in mother tongue Malayalam at his home parish at Maramon. Clergymen, who supported him also did the same thing in various other parishes on the same day.
Connected with a saint, every year in the first week of October, there was a church festival at Maramon. During that time a wooden statue of that saint, they called "Muthappen" was taken around in procession and people used to venerate the saint by offering prayers and ask for intercession. In 1837, Abraham Malpan from deeper biblical understandings and of the spiritual scruples surrounding it, took the statue and threw it into a well saying, “Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?”. So when the festival came there was no statue to be taken out for procession.
The use of the revised liturgy and the changes he brought about in practices disgruntled Mar Thoma XII. So deacons trained under Abraham Malpan were refused priesthood. But Abraham Malpan was not disheartened. He continued with his spirited reforms. He returned to Maramon. Many of his students joined him to continue their studies. All those who believed that "The Church" needed a revitalization also joined him. Members of parishes in Kozhencherry, Kumbanad, Eraviperoor, Thumpamon, Elanthoor, Kundara, Kottarakara, Mavelikkara, Mallapally, and many other places made trips to Maramon to attend the service in Malayalam and listen to his sermons. Doors were also opened for reformation in other places by ministers who supported him.
At this stage he had three choices in front of him. Repent and go to the beliefs under Antioch; join the Anglican Church with western theology and aid; or go forward with the Cleansing and restoring "The Church" to what he thought would bring it to a pristine position, A church uncontaminated by avarice, venality, licentiousness and rapacity. He selected the third one. Abraham Malpan died in 1845.
Mathen, a motivated nephew of Abraham Malpan by his uncle's guidance and spiritual nurturing, went to Antioch and returned after two years. While there, he was consecrated by the Patriarch of Antioch, Ignatius Elias II with the title Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan. After Cheppattu Philipose Mar Dionysius abdicated due to ill health - To collect the interest of the Vattipanam, through a legal ordeal Mathews Mar Athanasius was approved as Malankara Metropolitan by the governments of Kerala and Cochin on 30 August 1852. Mathews Mar Athanasius published the liturgy without the prayer to St. Mary. He consecrated Ouseph Mar Koorilos, as Metropolitan/Bishop for Malabar Independent Church. The entirety of strong-arm actions incited many clergymen and Pulikkottil Ouseph Kathanar went to Antioch in 1864. He returned as Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious II in 1865.

Independence of the Church

and his supporters filed a case on 4 March 1879. demanding the possession of the seminary and the control of assets of the Church. Thomas Mar Athanasius was then the Metropolitan.
During the course of this litigation, answering a question Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan said,
A meeting was convened by the Maharaja of Travancore, before the final verdict was given, Mar Athanasius testified that,
The final verdict came on 12 July 1889, after ten years, was against the Metran Kakshi.
The Metran Kakshi decided to remain as an independent Malankara Church, and to give primary authority to the Holy Bible and continue as the successors of St. Thomas throne. In 1898 this group chose the name Malankara Mar Thoma Suryani Sabha.

Mar Thoma church during Indian Independence Movement

Many in the Church was fascinated by Gandhian philosophy and particularly its Primates Abraham Mar Thoma, Yuhanon Mar Thoma and Alexander Mar Thoma were strong Advocates of Gandhian methods. They wore Ecclesiastical robes stitched from Khadi. The church actively worked in areas of education, empowerment of women, eradication of social evils and in self-reliance. Mar Thoma Sabha councils and Maramon Convention became a platform for disseminating Nationalist ideas. Many nationalist leaders like K. Keshavan, C. V. Kunjiraman, T. M. Varghese, Pattam Thanupillai had used Maramon Convention to mobilize people against Divan Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer's move to form an Independent Travancore separate from India. In 1936 Kunjiraman through his speech at Maramon gave an ultimatum to Travancore Royalty to give freedom of worship in temples for all Hindus immediately or see mass conversions to Christianity. The practice of political leaders attending with the Christian gathering at Maramon has its origin from that period.
Ramaswami Iyer liquidated the Quilon bank and sealed off Malayala Manorama, the leading newspaper, for criticizing the divan. Abraham Mar Thoma spoke about these notorious acts and visited those who were jailed by him. He further visited the Maharaja of Travancore and complaint about Divans tyrannical rule. Mar Thoma church at this point passed a church resolution against Divan and independent Travancore which infuriated the divan and ordered for the Metropolitans arrest and imprisonment. However the arrest order was not executed. It was all done at a point of time when other churches and communities of Travancore praised divan or feared to utter a word against the divan. Later the Mar Thoma church had to pay the price for that social action. The land allotted in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram to construct a church by Maharaja Sree Moolam Thirunal was taken back. Mar Thoma church was selectively targeted by Divan, by not giving permissions for construction of cemeteries and new church buildings.
Thevarthundiyil Titus popularly known as Titusji was the only Christian in the band of 78 inmates selected by Gandhiji from Sabarmati Ashram for breaking the salt law at Dandi in 1930. In 1937 when Mahatma Gandhiji was touring Kottayam, Mar Thoma Seminary School opened its doors to Gandhiji. He stayed a night there with K. K. Kuruvila popularly known as Kerala Deenabandhu, then principal of the school, he was an MA graduate from Trinity College. Kuruvila was the founder of newspaper Kerala Bhooshanam which was active during the movement for responsible government in Travancore during the 1940s. K. C. Thomas another noted freedom fighter of the era and once President of "Nivarthana Prasthanam" was in the thick of the agitations against Sir C.P.'s rule in Travancore. He was the secretary of the Jilla Committee of the State Congress was arrested along with Kannara Gopala Panikkar and jailed on September 21, 1938. Their Arrests led to wide spread protests in Chengannur and finally led to the infamous ‘Mills Maidhan Event’ on 28 September 1938 where Divans police used brutal force to dismiss the protesting crowd which resulted in blood shed. Cherian Thomas son of K.C. Thomas was actively involved with the Bhoodan Movement of Acharya Vinoba Bhave. N.G. Chacko, the freedom fighter plunged into freedom struggle during 1920. He was arrested and jailed for anti British protests and waving black flag in protest against visit of the Prince of Wales Lord Wellington, then Governor General in 1921. P.T. Punnoose is another leader of the era, he started his political activities through Congress party in 1938 however later he became a Communist leader. He was the Secretory of Travancore Communist Party and one of the organisers of the Punnapra Vayalar Revolt. He laid strong foundations for Communist party in Ambalappuzha, Cherthala and Alappuzha. He was later elected from Ambalapuzha Constituency to Indian Parliament.
T. M. Varghese, a Christian among the trio who formed Joint Political Party was the voice against the despotic rule of Divan and spearheaded for the formation of a responsible Government. Another Mar Thoma Syrian and Gandhian of that era K.A. Mathew started his activities by writing articles in the magazine "The Christian Patriot" which articulated the dissemination of nationalist feelings among Indian Christians. In 1939 at Amsterdam when the union jack was raised in "International Christian Youth Assembly" for Indian delegates, K.A. Mathew raised the Indian flag in solidarity and carried along with him. Back in Travancore he was active in the movement against Divan Sir C.P. and his independent Travancore. He opposed a move among the Syrian Christians of Tiruvalla to erect a statue of Divan at center of the town. He was implicated in many false allegations and cases by the divan and jailed him many times. He was elected to legislative assembly in 1948. Barrister George Joseph a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and a Home Rule proponent mobilized the people in the Vaikom Satyagraha in early stages but later handed over the leadership to K. Kelappan as per the wishes of Gandhiji. During his stay in Madurai he was closely associated with labour union movement and worked in changing Criminal Tribes Act, which targeted specifically Kallar and Mukkulathor community. They affectionately called him Rosappu Durai. He was a close friend of K. Kamaraj and Tamil Poet Subramanya Bharathi. Subramanya Bharathi Penned the patriotic song "Viduthalai Viduthalai" when he was staying at George's home. Seven years prior to his death George Joseph joined the Catholic church. Many young Syrian Christians who were staying in Malaya during the 1940s was attracted to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and joined the INA. O.C. Chacko a Marthomite from Kuriannoor, joined the Indian National Army in 1943 when he was in Singapore. A Mar Thoma priest, Rev. C.V. George from Ranny in his youth as an advocate was an active member in freedom struggle and was jailed for his involvement in activities against British Raj. He is the only Mar Thoma Priest who is recognized and awarded as a freedom fighter by the Government.
After India attained its freedom in 1947, Government of India lowered to the level of a despotic rule during the time of Emergency of 1975. The Emergency was followed after election malpractices allegation and following the verdict against Indira Gandhi. All leaders who spoke against the Emergency rule were jailed or kept in house arrest. It was at this time Yuhanon Mar Thoma wrote a letter to Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India criticizing emergency and requesting to follow ideals of constitution. There were strong rumors about anticipatory arrest of Yuhanon Mar Thoma. M.M.Thomas another Mar Thoma Syrian and theologian advocating Ecumenism of Churches had written many articles on the emergency situation. In spite of criticism from many Christian group, M.M. Thomas made his point in depicting the basic fact of violation of human rights and stressed the need of the democratic organization of the people for the realization of social justice in India. Mar Thoma Church also passed a resolution against Emergency and for restoration of democracy privately. Mar Thoma church was also closely associated with the land for the landless and home for the homeless movement much before Acharya Vinoba Bhave initiated Bhoodan movement.

Faith and practices of the church

Liturgy

The word "liturgy" is derived from the Greek word leitourgia which means a service rendered to God and people. When the Bible was not available, the liturgy took the role of the Bible, much of the scripture is formed in the liturgical context. The original liturgical language used by the Malankara Church was Aramaic and Hebrew. The Bible that was in use also was in Hebrew. Later when Syriac replaced Aramaic in eastern countries, and the arrival of Knanaya people from Persia in AD 345, the Malankara Church began using Syriac. The Bible used in the Malankara Church is called the "Peshitta" and was in Estrangelo Syriac. This was the Bible that was in use till Malayalam translation was available. The first printed Malayalam Bible, translated from Syriac was published in 1811 by Philipose Ramban with the provision of Claudius Buchanan, known as Ramban Bible it contained the four Gospels. By 1841, the whole Bible was translated, printed and released by missionary-scholar Benjamin Bailey with the help of Chandu Menon, a tahsildar in the Madras State service. Even though bishops from Syrian churches visited Kerala, they did not attempt to change the Bible into the newer forms of Syriac or to the native language. In June 1876, Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Pathrose IV, visited Kerala and a majority of the Malankara Church accepted him as the head of their church. But those who did not join them continued to follow their own leaders and kept their peculiar identity garnered from reformation. After Mar Thoma Church had begun to use the liturgy in mother tongue Malayalam, other churches continued to follow the same for a deeper engagement with the laity. A revised version of the ancient and apostolic liturgy known as People's liturgy, the Liturgy of St James, was adopted in the church, later the liturgy has been translated into various languages including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. The Mar Thoma church follows the West Syrian liturgical tradition, and is Eastern in the nature of its worship and ethos.
There are six liturgies other than Saint James liturgy used in the church and a priest can exercise freedom in using them, but should satisfy the requirement of "joint congregation act/involvement" and permission from the respective diocese head. The six other liturgies are:

Sacraments of the church

The seven sacraments of Mar Thoma Church are:

Places of worship

Those who were converted by St. Thomas in the 1st century continued worshiping in synagogues. Then they moved to their homes and by the 2nd century, they began to build their own churches in various places. It is believed that there were such small gatherings at Maliankara, Piravom, Niranam and Nilakkal. St. Thomas Christians in Kerala, still construct their churches combining the design of Solomon's temple at Jerusalem, and Indian Vastu Shastra. So from outside it looks like a Hindu temple but inside it is like a Jewish temple. It is divided into Sanctuary and Nave. Mar Thoma Churches are built east west with the Sanctuary to the east. East is the place of the rising suns that is the symbol of the Risen Christ and His Second coming. East also symbolizes the Garden of Eden that was situated at the east. The Sanctuary is separated from the rest of the place by a veil with the sign of a cross. The worship of the Eastern churches symbolizes the heavenly worship. Madbaha symbolically represents Heaven and Haickala, the earth and veil the sky. The Madbaha is demarcated from the bema with an open arch and a veil. At the beginning of Holy Qurbana Service the veil is drawn from right side to left. Mar Thoma Syrians have abandoned the West syriac tradition of erecting more than one Altar and Madhbaha in Church and also forbade dedication of Altar/Thronos in name of a Saint or a Holy church father and conducting Holy Qurbana at Altar simultaneously or separate. The pulpit and lectern are also usually found at the extension of the bema. Bema is demarcated from the nave and transept with altar rails. The Choir is seated at one end of the transepts in the same level of the nave. Now there is a tendency to follow western architectural designs and introducing ciboriums, semi-domes, etc.
Cross used in Mar Thoma Church Chancel particularly at the center of the Altar is the Easter Cross. In Mar Thoma worship practice the visual Sign of the Cross is used many times. When the Priest gives the blessing he performs the sign of the cross; the worshipers, as a sign of accepting the blessing also reciprocates blessing oneself. The same is done at the time of the declaration of the Trinity and also at the time of indication of the Cross. Generally iconostases, pictures or statues of saints are not kept in Mar Thoma churches. Until the middle of the 20th century, all worshipers were seated on a mat spread on the floor. Children occupy the first rows and behind them on right side females and towards left males are seated. A narrow space between left and right is demarcated with a red carpet starting from the main door signifying that the church is sharing the worship space of heaven and joining the communion. Now many churches provide chairs or benches. During the Passion week services, chairs are removed, to facilitate worshiping according to their ancient custom, which includes prostrating a number of times. Everyone including clergy and the laity, who take part in the worship, faces east for the service.

Fasts and Festivals of Mar Thoma Church

Mar Thoma Church's evolution from a reformation base only strengthened it to follow best practices of its Syriac traditions. Lents and other church festivals are church's structural and liturgical base. Feasts and fasts are the integral part of the traditions of a Christian community. However the way believers follow these fasts and feasts differs from church to church. Mar Thoma church being a part of Antiochian tradition churches, follows all the canonical feasts and fasts which are related to important events in life of Jesus Christ. The constitution of the church states that the feasts, fasts or lents are not to be removed or altered from church at any time. It Includes Observance of the Sunday as the day of the lord and other fast and feast days in church calendar. Each Sunday is dedicated to meditate on subjects prescribed in church lectionary.

Fasts of the Church

The church mainly observes the fifty days before the period of Easter and twenty-five days before Christmas as fast days. Mar Thoma church doesn't have a canonical instruction on how a believer should follow the Lents. However, as a matter of practice believers follow certain dietary restrictions with right spiritual diet as followed over generations. A person committed to lent, is in a spiritual training with introspection and renewal of their commitment to be an imitation of set principles by Jesus Christ. With the will for fellowship, each person anchors bio-psycho-spiritually with Jesus Christ through prayer. Lent is often considered as a refreshful practice for thoughts and soul for cultivating seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. An amount of money that is saved by giving up certain types of luxuries during the lent period, is typically deposited in the offertory on Good Friday for Church's social services for the afflicted and hungry. Post-modernistic view about lent is as an empowering practice that transforms a person for making social and interpersonal impact. Every weekday in Great Lent there are specific liturgical services which includes prostration or profound bows a number of times. The lents of the church are:
The main feast or festival days of the church are Feast of Nativity, Baptism of Jesus, Feast of Annunciation, Palm Sunday, Easter, Feast of the Ascension, Day of Pentecost, and Feast of the Transfiguration. The most important festivals of the church are that of in Holy Week and Christmas. The festivals of Mar Thoma Church can be divided into 4 categories, they are:
The Ethanaya Feasts Kudos Etho and Hudos Etho is in the second and third Sundays of November, it is also considered as the beginning of a liturgical year. The Holy week or passion week is the week before Easter and the last week of Great Lent, this includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Joyous Saturday, and Easter.
Christmas is celebrated by all members of the Church, to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. During this time, parishes will be involved in Christmas carols and the celebration of Christmas Day church services with Christmas cakes. Before the 1850s, Mar Thoma church celebrated Christmas on 6 January, the day of Epiphany. By the end of last century, Christmas trees, Christmas Stars-an illuminative paper decoration made in the form of star or sunburst, Christmas lights, Sky lanterns, Nativity crib, Santa Claus' and other related festive traditions have appeared in the church.

Organizations

Auxiliary organizations

Development Department; Christian Agency for Rural Development ; Mar Thoma Medical Mission; Mar Thoma Sabha Mandiram Fellowship; Social Welfare Institutions; Theological Institutions; Educational Institutions; Technical Institutions; Study Centres; Church Animation Centre; and Camp Centres are other empowerment organizations of the church.
Organizations of Mar Thoma ChurchPurpose
Mar Thoma Evangelistic AssociationMissionary wing of the Church
Mar Thoma Sunday School SamajamChristian Education of Children
Mar Thoma Yuvajana SakhyamYouth Wing of the Church
Mar Thoma Suvishesha Sevika SangamWomen's Wing
Mar Thoma Voluntary Evangelist's AssociationFellowship and Parish Mission
Department of Sacred Music and CommunicationsMusic department of the Church

Educational institutions

Nine colleges, six higher secondary schools, one vocational higher secondary school, eight high schools, one training school, five technical institutions plus other educational institutions owned and managed by individuals and by parishes.

Other institutions

There are 38 social welfare institutions, 14 destitute homes and ten hospitals. The Mar Thoma Theological Seminary, Kottayam & Karukachal, Dharmajyoti Vidyapeedom, Haryana, E.J. Institute of Evangelism, and 4 other institutes cater to the theological education of both the clergy and the laity. Three study centres at Managanam, Kottayam and Trivandrum for arranging regular study programs and to provide opportunities for creative dialogue between Church and society on various ethical, moral, social and religious issues. The religious education of children is looked after by the Sunday School Samajam and the work among youth is carried on by the Youth Department,. The Church has a Women's Department.
Abbeys of Mar Thoma ChurchLocation
Christu Mitra AshramAnkola
Christa Panthi AshramSihora
Suvartha Premi SamithiPithoragarh
Christu Dasa AshramPalakkad
Mar Thoma Dayaraya SamoohamPunalur
Santhigiri AshramAluva
Mar Thoma Sanyasini SamoohamElanthoor

Maramon Convention

The Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, the missionary wing of the Mar Thoma Church, is in charge of organising the Maramon Convention, One of the largest annual Christian gathering in Asia. It takes place in Maramon, near Kozhencherry, during February on the vast sand-bed of the Pampa River next to the Kozhencherry Bridge. The first convention was held in March 1895 for 10 days.
The Maramon Convention is principally an assembly of Christians who go there once a year to listen to the gospel as read and expounded by Christian leaders from all over India as well as abroad. This provides a revived ideological and experiential faith in accordance to the need of the laity and period of time. It is in tune with Mathew 6:5. Attendees sit on the sand bed, Old and invalid people are given chairs with separate sponsored or paid seating arrangements. Generally, one session is for ecumenical messages by invited leaders of other churches.

Ecumenical relations

The church actively participates in the programs of the World Council of Churches, the Christian Conference of Asia, the National Council of Churches and the Kerala Christian Council. Mar Thoma Church was attending meetings of World Council of Churches from its first meeting in 1948 at Amsterdam. At the WCC meetings held in Evanston, Juhanon Mar Thoma Metropolitan was elected as one of its presidents. Since then the Church representatives attended all the General meetings.

Relationship with the Anglican Communion

Due to the historic links of the Malankara reformation to the Anglican missionary enterprise in colonial India and the resultant formative influence, the Mar Thoma Church maintain close relations with the Anglican Church. The Church's theology and doctrines are closest to that of Anglicans; hence Mar Thoma as well as some Anglican Churches commemorate each others bishops, in their respective Eucharists. The Mar Thoma church is in full communion with all the churches of the Anglican Communion. The two denominations fully accept each others ministry and Mar Thoma bishops have participated in the consecration of Anglican bishops. Mar Thoma bishops also take part in the Lambeth Conferences. Pastoral care and episcopal oversight for Mar Thoma congregations and dioceses in the Western world, comes from territorial Anglican provinces, on an as-needed basis. In the UK, such a partnership exists with the Church of England, in the US with the Episcopal Church, in Canada with the Anglican Church of Canada and in Australia with the Anglican Church of Australia. In India, their communion partners are the Church of South India and the Church of North India. These three churches work together on various issues as the Communion of Churches in India.

Relationship with Malabar Independent Syrian church

There is a historic relationship between Mar Thoma Syrian Church and Malabar Independent Syrian church, although the doctrinal positions are not mutually accepted in full. Church Of Thozhiyoor and its primates have come in rescue of Malankara church many times. After the demise of Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious and Punnathra Geevarghese Mar Dionysious, Kidangan Geevarghese Mar Philoxinos of Thozhiyoor Church reigned as Malankara Metropolitan as per the Royal Proclamation and returned the title back to Malankara Church without any claim after consecrating Punnathra Geevarghese Mar Dionysious and Cheppad Geevarghese mar Dionysious for Malankara church . Similarly in 1863 Malankara Metropolitan Mathews Mar Athanasious defended Thozhiyoor Church as an Independent Syrian Church in Madras High Court against Euyakim Mar Koorilos Design to subordinate the Thozhiyoor Church under Antioch. From that verdict onwards Church of Thozhiyoor came to be known as Malabar Independent Syrian Church. When the Metropolitan Thomas Mar Athanasius died without consecrating a successor in 1893, it was the Metropolitan of the Thozhiyoor Church who consecrated Metropolitan Titus I Mar Thoma, and helped the Mar Thoma Church in a serious crisis. Mar Thoma Metropolitans have since then helped in consecrating the Metropolitans of Thozhiyoor Church and vice versa. According to the constitution of the Thozhiyoor Church, when difficulties arise the Thozhiyoor Church should seek the advice and guidance of the Mar Thoma Metropolitan despite the fact that either Church has no authority over the other. Thus the relation between the Thozhiyoor Church and Mar Thoma Church is unique. The centenary of the fraternal relationship between the two Churches was celebrated in the Sabha Mandalam on September 14, 1994.

Relationship with Syrian Church and the Patriarch of Antioch

Mar Thoma Church has special regards and respect to Syriac Orthodox Church. The Apostolic succession of Mar Thoma Episcopacy, St James liturgy, Ecclesiastical tradition and order are all from West Syriac Tradition of Antioch. The First Reforming Metropolitan of Malankara Mathews Mar Athanasious was ordained to ecclesiastical orders by Patriarch Elias Of Antioch in 1842. After Demise of Mathews Mar Athanasious, the ecclesiastical robe and other insignia were sent to Patriarch of Antioch as per tradition. It was later returned to Mar Thoma Church during the time of Patriarch Zakka I. Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I and Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II have visited Maraman Convention and blessed its faithful. Mar Thoma Church has made a convention or practice that it will never consecrate a bishop with the name "Ignatius" the Ecclesiastical Title of Patriarch. Other Malankara churches started consecrating their own Holy Muron, Mar Thoma church still have not done that. Mar Thoma church hitherto have been increasing and using the holy muron Consecrated by Patriarch Elias and brought to Malankara by Mathews Mar Athanasious in 1842. Mar Thoma church maintains good relation with Jacobite Syrian Christian Church. There is an active ecumenical dialogue between Syrian orthodox church and Mar Thoma Church for mutual acceptance and wider communion.

Relationship with Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church and Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church have the same Malankara antiquity and heritage that dates back to Saint Thomas' mission in Kerala, as well as West Syriac St James liturgical traditions dating back to the Puthencoor faction.
These churches are often referred as Swadeshi Churches as both have their spiritual and temporal leaders based within Kerala, India unlike many other Christian Churches of Kerala. However, there is no official Holy communion relationship between both the churches.
At the same time, both clergy and laity come together in matters of social and public concern.
Ecumenical worship services during Christmas season is common outside Kerala among the diaspora, and also at many places within Kerala.
Marriages between the members of the two Churches are very common given the mutual historical privileged caste status of Kerala Syrian Christian community, although ecclesiastical authorities like to discourage such alliances and may not grant proper documents.
Leaders of both churches have held ecumenical dialogues to discuss their differences in theology, traditions or practices that still remain pending clarification for mutual recognition, joint theological education and research, and communion; such efforts remain ongoing.
There are many church leaders in both the churches who are widely respected across the larger Syrian Christian community, irrespective of their individual affiliation.
Mar Thoma church has established an internal tradition that it will never consecrate an Episcopa or Metropolitan with the Greek name Baselios The ecclesiastical title of Catholicos of Edessa, which is now being used for primates of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and Jacobite Syrian Christian Church.
Both Mar Thoma Church and Malankara Orthodox Church believes that their Primates are occupying the Ecclesiastical Throne of St Thomas.
Both churches share church buildings to conduct their worship services at several places such as Chengannur, Koorthamala, Bahrain, Hyderabad etc. with peace and mutual love. These serve as examples of Christian Unity and brotherhood that many other churches can learn from and replicate.

Relationship with STECI, Old Catholic and Lutheran churches

The Mar Thoma Church has concluded its ecumenical dialogue with the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht in 2014. This dialogue is in the process of reception. There is an ecumenical dialogue of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church with the Lutheran churches.

Relationship with Eastern Catholic ChurchesThe Vatican II document, "Orientalium Ecclesiarum (Latin for "of the Eastern Churches"), acknowledges and declares that Eastern Catholic communities are true Catholic Churches and not just sui juris rites within the Catholic Church. Richard P. McBrien, THE CHURCH: THE EVOLUTION OF CATHOLICISM (New York: Harper One, 2008), 450. in India

The church maintains friendly relations with the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church and the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church; but the Catholic doctrines are not accepted by Mar Thoma church in their fullness. The Mar Thoma Church keeps a multifaceted approach in these relationships by adapting to spiritual and cultural environment of the communions yet strongly abiding with the Mar Thoma Syrian identity. The Mar Thoma Church also keeps good ecumenical relations with other Christian churches around the world.

Vestments in the Mar Thoma Syrian Church

The Mar Thoma Syrian Church is an autonomous Reformed Oriental Church which is based in the state of Kerala in India is spread all across the world. The Mar Thoma Syrian Church has the Liturgical Orders of Deacons or Shemshono's, Priests or Kasheesho's, Monastics and Bishops.

Deacons/Shemshono's

The first order of priesthood in the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar is the Order of Diaconate. In most of the other Syrian Churches there are six official orders of the diaconate, however in the Mar Thoma Syrian Church, there is only one orders of Diaconate. Deacons are given the mission of assisting the priest or bishop during the Holy Qurbana and is allowed to give the Holy Blood of Jesus Christ from the Casa.

Kuroyo/ Readers/ Altar Boys

The Mar Thoma Syrian Church being a democratic Church and being a Church which upholds the royal priesthood of all believers. Laymen are designated to assist the priest in worship. These laymen belong to the order of Kuroyo's or reader who has the duty of reading from the Holy Scriptures. These laymen wear a Kutino which is also known as the Shishroosha Kuppayam to symbolise the sanctity of worship. This dress code was a lost practice in the Mar thoma Church which is gaining popularity over the past few years. However this is not an official order.

Full Deacons

Full deacons in the Mar Thoma Church are permitted to officially serve in liturgical ceremonies. They assist the priest with the needs of the priest and have the privilege to read the Holy Evengelion, give Qurbana to the faithful and lead in the Kukyilions. In the Mar Thoma Syrian Church, there are no official liturgical vestments, instead they wear a white cassock or a Kammees.

Priests/Kasheesho's

Priests wearing the traditional Kammees and white cassock.

Daily Dress.

Mar Thoma priests are allowed to wear two kinds of casual dress as after their ordination. The first one is called a 'Kammees' which is the traditional attire worn by priests of Kerala. The 'Kammes' is a white robe and its length stops above the feet. The Kammees also has a small cape like cloth which emerges from the back of the Kammees and stops right above the Chest. The Kammees is shaped similar to a cross symbolising that the person wearing the Kammees are Cross bearers for Christ. The second kind of dress which is a long white cassock which was introduced in the Mar Thoma Church in the late 1930s. A black Girdle is tied in middle after wearing cassock symbolizing the steadfastness of their servant hood. There are Mar Thoma Priest who live as monastics called the Dayaraya Samooham. They wear a Khadi colored cassock which shows the Indian roots and also has a cross around their neck.

Liturgical Vestments

The Liturgical vestments of the priests in the Mar Thoma Syrian Church are very similar to that of the Church in Antioch. These Liturgical vestments are only worn during the performance of a sacrament and is worn after praying different prayers during the Preparatory Service. The Liturgical Vestments of the Celebrant priest are as follows.
Mar Thoma Priest wearing a Black Cassok during a sacramental function.
The priests who act as the co celebrants in the Holy Qurbana or any other sacramental function wears a loose black cassock over his casual cassock symbolizing the purity of the sacramental function he is a part of.

Bishops/Episcopa's

Bishops of the Mar Syrian Church belongs to the Monastic Order. They take a particular pledge or an oath before being consecrated as a monk in the Church. The vestments of the Prelate/Episcopa's are very similar to that of priests along with a few additions,

Daily Dress

The bishops have long colored cassocks for their daily matters of the Church, Bishops of the Mar Thoma Church wear an 'Eskimo' or a Hood which symbolizes that they are monks. The color of the Cassocks should be either a light Yellow color which is similar to what monks wear in the Indian subcontinent or should be a dark red which upholds the Syrian Tradition.

Liturgical Vestments

The Episocpa's of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church has very similar vestments to that of priest along with a few additional vestments. The bishops who are the co-celebrants of the Holy Qurbana or celebrants of all other Sacraments wear a loose black cassock over their casual cassock to symbolise the sanctity of the sacrament being performed.
If the Bishops are the celebrants of the Holy Qurbana Service, they wear the following vestments along with that of a priest:

Liturgical Vestments as per the Malankara Tradition.

Mar Thoma Syrian Church is among the couple Churches in Malankara which also upholds the ancient Malankara Tradition of the Church. These vestments are mostly worn during the consecration of a new Church or during an Ordination service. These vestments appear very similar to Roman Catholic vestments probably for the reason that the Malankara Church was under Rome for over 150 years from the 1500s to 1653. The vestments include Mitre, Surplice, and Amice

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