Introduction

The Malabar independent Syrian church also known as the Thozhiyoor Church is a Christian church centered in Kerala. It is one of the churches of the saint Thomas Christian community, which traces its origins to the activity of one certain Kattumangattu  Kurian kathanar of Mulamthuruthy, who secretly got Episcopal consecration from Antiochen bishop Gregorios. Gregorios came to Kerala in 1751 A.D, consecrated Kurian Kattumangattu  as bishop Abraham mar Koorilose in 1772 A.D at Mattancherry church, Cochin. He was driven into exile from the states of Travancore and Cochin, where the majority of St.Thomas Christians lived, to Anjoor in the state of Malabar. A few relatives and friends joined him there. This group was known as Thozhiyoor church later named as Malabar Independent Syrian Church, after a court verdict in 1862.Today the church remains small, with about only 2000 members, and maintains good relations with the Mar Thoma Church. Now the church has 16 congregations .The church has three primary schools and one secondary school. In 1972 the church opened a hospital named Mar Koorilose Mission Hospital.

 

The Origin Of the Thozhiyoor Church

                                  The history of the church commences from the second half of the eighteenth century and its origin is from Gregorios the Antiochen bishop. In 1751 two foreign bishops from the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch were brought to Kerala by the Dutch at the request of the non-Roman Syrians; Mar Gregorios and Mar Ivanios. They were not however well received by Mar Thoma V who co-operated with them grudgingly. Mar Thoma VI who was consecrated by Mar Thoma V got himself  re-consecrated by these foreign bishops in the year 1770, and took a new name Mar Dionysius I. He is also known as Dionysius the Great.[1]

There was a certain priest of the Kattumangattu who was very friendly with foreign bishop, Mar Gregorios. Unfortunately the relations between this foreign prelate and Mar Thoma VI, were not cordial. Attempts were made to bring about peace and good will between these two, but all ended in vain. So the foreign prelate, Mar Gregorious  secretly  consecrated a priest namely Kurian Kathanar as a bishop under  the title Mar Koorilose, who had the support of the ruling powers like the Raja of Cochin and his chief minister  Paliathachen and Dutch authorities. The consecration was made without consulting Dionysius I. His authority as bishop was questioned by Dionysius I. The congregation in and around mulanthuruthi, the stronghold of the Jacobites in those days also was happy to have Mar Koorilose as the head of their church. So the newly consecrated bishop Mar Koorilose had to leave Travancore and went to British Malabar. There he established with seat at Anjoor, Thozhiyoor near Kunnamkulam which later became the head quarters of the church.[2]

   Metropolitans of the Church

  1. Mar Koorilose Abraham (1772-1802)

Mar Koorilose was the first metropolitan of the Thozhiyoor church. It is said that he was consecrated as                       bishop by Mar Gregorios, prompting the tension with Dionysius I that ultimately resulted in the formation   of the Malabar Independent Syrian church.

 

  1. Mar Koorilose II / Kattumangatt Geevarghese(1802-1807)

Mar Koorilose II was known as the Younger Bava, he was the younger brother of Mar Koorilose I.

 

  1. Skaria Mar Philexenos (1807-1811).

Mar Philexenos was consecrated by Geevarghese Mar Koorilose.

  1. Kidangan Geevarghese Mar Philexenos II (1811-1829).

Mar Philexenos II was consecrated by Skaria Mar Philexenos. During his period Mar Thoma IX was the Metropolitan of the Malankara Church, but because he was not accepted by the people and clergy, the Ittoop Kathanar from Kunnamkulam was selected to succeed him. However, there was no bishop to consecrate him, so members of the Malankara Church invited Mar Philexenos from Thozhiyoor for the consecration. Even though his ancestors were driven out of the Malankara Church, without a grudge he accepted the invitation. The Ittoop Kathanar was consecrated on March 22, 1816, and was given the episcopal title Pulikottil Joseph Mar Dionysius. However, in November that same year, Joseph Mar Dionysius died. Because there were no other metropolitans in Malankara at that time, Mar Philoxenos was accepted as Malankara Metropolitan and the concerned governments issued Royal Proclamation. On October 19, 1817, he consecrated Punnathara Mar Dionysious and returned to Thozhyoor, but Punnathara Mar Dionysious died on May 17, 1825. Mar Philoxenos was again invited and he consecrated Cheppad Mar Dionysios for the Malankara Church. Mar Philoxenos died on February 7, 1829.

  1. Geevarghese Mar Koorilose (1829–1856)

Mar Philexenos did not appoint any successors. So Thozhyoor church invited Cheppad Mar Dionysios of the     Malankara church and it was he who consecrated Geevarghese Mar Koorilose.

  1. Joseph Mar Koorilose (1856–1888)

Geevarghese Mar Koorilose died without appointing a successor. So Mathews Mar Athanasius, metropolitan of the Malankara Church consecrated the Joseph Kathanar and gave him the episcopal title Joseph Mar Koorilose. At that time Yuyakim Mar Koorilos, a bishop sent by the Patriarch of Antioch, was also in Kerala. In 1857, he filed a civil case stating that he was the Malankara Metropolitan and he had the rights to the Thozhiyoor Church and its properties. In 1862, the Madras High Court issued the final verdict stating that the Church was an Independent Syrian Church in Malabar and that Yuyakim Mar Koorilos had no claim on the Church or its properties. Because of this case Thozhiyoor Church was given the name Malabar Independent Syrian Church.

  1. Joseph Mar Athanasius. (1888–1898)

Joseph Mar Koorilose consecrated his successor, Joseph Mar Athanasius. Thomas Mar Athanasius, appointed by Mathews Mar Athanasius, died in August 1893 without appointing a successor. So Joseph Mar Athanasius consecrated Titus I as metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church. And then onwards they were with the Mar Thoma church.

  1. Geevarghese Mar Koorilose (1898–1935)

He was consecrated by Joseph Mar Athanasios. He consecrated Poulose Mar Athanasius, assisted by Thomas Mar Athanasius of the Mar Thoma Church as suffragan. Two schools were opened during his time. He also sent deacons to study at the Cambridge National Institute and at the Serampore College. He associated with the consecrations of three Metropolitans of the Mar Thoma Church.

  1. Kuriakose Mar Koorilose ( (1935–1947)

 He was consecrated by Titus II Mar Thoma,

  1. Geevarghese Mar Koorilose (1948–1967)

He was consecrated by Dr.Juhanon Mar Thoma  

  1. Paulose Mar Philexenos(1967-1977).

While Metropolitan, he joined the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, in union with the Pope.

  1. Mathews Mar Koorilose (1978–1986)

When the previous Metropolitan Paulose Mar Philexenos, joined the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, MISC was left without a hierarchy. Mathews Mar Koorilos was consecrated by Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma, of the Mar Thoma Church.

  1. Joseph Mar Koorilose( 1986-2014)

He was consecrated by Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma of the Mar Thoma Church. On 28th May 2001, the sabha council unanimously decided to consecrate the Metropolitan Joseph Mar Koorilose as the “Valiya Methrapolitha” and the constitution of Malabar Independent Syrian Church was modified accordingly.

  1. G Aboon Mor Baselius Cyril.

 The Sabha Mandalam (church synod) of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church held on 10 December 2000 unanimously elected Rev. Fr. K. C. Sunny as the metropolitan-elect.[3]

 

Ecumenical Relations

The Malabar Independent Syrian Church maintains good relations with the other Malankara churches. On several occasions Thozhiyoor bishops have stepped in to consecrate bishops for the other churches. The Orthodox church and the Thozhiyoor church which have the same faith and tradition existed as two independent churches friendly with each other till the time of Mar Thoma reformation. The Thozhiyoor church helped the Mar Thoma church in a serious crisis. According to the constitution of the Thozhiyoor church, when difficulties arise the church should seek the guidance of the Mar Thoma Metropolitan despite the fact that either church has no authority over other. Thus the relation between these two churches is unique. The heads of these two churches co-operate whenever there is a consecration. But they do not interfere in the internal administration of each other. The creed and liturgy of these two churches differ. Malabar Independent Syrian Church is a member of the Christian Conference of Asia, the Council of Churches in India, and the Kerala Council of Churches. Ecumenical links have been developed also with the Anglican and Lutheran Churches. This has been facilitated through a support group based in England, where the Church is a registered charitable trust[4].

The Worship of the Church

The church faith and traditions are strictly Oriental Orthodox, adhering to the West Syrian Rite and consistently using Western Syriac and Malayalam during the Holy Qurbana. The Orthodoxy of the faith and worship of the Malabar Independent Syrian church has never been in doubt and is attested by other Orthodox.[5]

 

  The Constitution of the Church

Until the twentieth century the administration of the church as a whole was directly under the Metropolitan who was assisted by a senior priest designated the Vicar-General. After  the death of Kuriakose Mar Koorilose VI in 1947 the parishes sought to participate in the administration  of the church. With the assistance of the Mar Thoma Metropolitan  Juhanon Mar Thoma a constitution was drafted and accepted in 1948.

The constitution makes provision for two bodies;

  • The Sabha Mandalam; This is the General synod of the church and is its supreme authority. It is composed of the bishops,clergy and elected lay members .The chief powers of the Sabha Mandalam are those of amending the constitution and electing bishops.
  • The Council;                                                                                                                                     This is composed of ex-officio and elected members. The former category comprises the Metropolitan, the clergy, two church Trustees and the church secretary. Each parish elects two to four representatives, depending on its size. The constitution also lays down that in times of difficulty in the life of the Malabar Independent Syrian church, the advice of the Mar Thoma Metropolitan is to be sought.[6]

Conclusion

The Malabar Independent Syrian church or Thozhiyoor church occupies a unique place in the story of the St.Thoms Christians. It is by no means inconceivable that it will play a significant role in future attempts to heal division with the Syrian Christian body

Reference

  1. Fenwick, John. The Malabar Independent Syrian Church. Grove book publication,England,1992.
  2. Fenwick, The Forgotten Bishops, Gorgias press, USA, 2009.
  3. Mathew, N.M. Malankara Marthoma  Sabha  Charitram;  J institute press, Thiruvalla, 2007.
  4. Menachery, George. (ed) The St.Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India.Madras,1973.
  5. Mar Thoma,Juhanon. Christanity in India and a Brief History of the Mar Thoma Syrian church  .M Cherian publication, Madars, 1968.
  1. Varghese,K.C, Independent Syrian Church of Thozhiyoor,Thrissur,1972.

End Notes

[1] Mar Thoma, Juhanon. christanity in India and a brief history of the mar thoma Syrian church, madars,p-19

[2] Fenwick,John. The Malabar Independent Syrian Church.p-20

[3] en.wikipedia.org/MISC

[4] en.wikipedia.org/MISC

[5] Fenwick,John. The Malabar Independent Syrian Church.P—47

[6] Fenwick,John. The Malabar Independent Syrian Church.P-45

 

His Beatitude Abune Mar Baselios Cyril I – Metropolitan- Primate of the Malabar Independent Syrian

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