The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (Aramaic/Syriac: ?????? ??????????? ???????? ????????? Edta Qatholiqi D'Malabar Suryaya); (Malayalam : ???????? ??????? ?????????? ?? Suriyani Malabar Katholika Sabha) or Church of Malabar Syrian Catholics is an Eastern Catholic Major Archiepiscopal Church based in Kerala, India. It is a sui iuris particular church in full communion with the Pope and the worldwide Catholic Church, with self-governance under the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.
The Church is headed by Major Archbishop Mar George Alencherry of the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly in Kerala. The Syro-Malabar Church uses the Liturgy of Saints Mar Addai and Mar Mari belonging to the East Syriac Rite, which dates back to 3rd century Edessa, as such it is a part of Syriac Christianity by liturgy and heritage. The name Syro-Malabar is coined from the words Syriac (referring to the East Syriac liturgy) and Malabar (the historical name for Kerala). The name has been in usage in official Vatican documents since the nineteenth century. The Church shares the same liturgy with the Chaldean Catholic Church based in Iraq and the Chaldean Syrian Church based in Thrissur, Kerala which is an archbishopric of the Assyrian Church of the East based in Iraq. It is the third-largest particular church (sui juris) in the Catholic Church (after the Latin or Roman Church and the Ukrainian Catholic Church).
The Syro-Malabar Church is the largest of the "Nasrani" St. Thomas Christians denominations with around 4.6 million believers and traces its origins to the evangelistic activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century. Syro-Malabar historian and theologian Bishop Mar Placid Podipara describes the Church as "Catholic by faith, Indian by culture, and East Syriac/Oriental in liturgy." The Syro-Malabar Church members are mostly of the Malayali ethnic group and their vernacular language is Malayalam. Although due to emigration of the members, various eparchies have opened up in other parts of India along with various parts in the rest of the world due to a worldwide Syro-Malabar Malayali diaspora living in North America, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The members of the Church are colloquially known in Kerala as Roman Catholic Syrian Christian (RCSC) and Syrian Catholic, and they have been known at various times as Nasrani, Catholic Syrian, Catholicka Kaldaya Suriyani, Catholicka Nasrani, or St. Thomas Christian. Saint Alphonsa is the Church's first canonized saint, followed by Saint Kuriakose Chavara and Saint Euphrasia. It is one of the two Eastern Catholic churches from India, the other one being the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church which uses the West Syriac Rite liturgy.
Video Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
History
CHRONICLE: EARLY PERIOD
AD50: November St Thomas the Apostle lands at Maliamkara near Kodungalloor the Chera royal capital. He converts a few and after a week goes to Chola Kingdom and China.
AD 51: November St Thomas arrives again at Maliamkara.
AD52: Conversions and establishment of Church ( = a full fledged ecclesial unit with liturgical leaders) at the Chera royal city of Maliamkara. He starts such Churches or communities at Kollam, Thrikpaleswaram, Chayal, Niranam, Kokamangalam, Kottakayal, Palur. Thrikpaleswaram was shifted to Niranam because of adversities.
AD 59: St Thomas goes to Mylapur and Chola Kingdom, conversions and establishment of Church.
AD 62: St Thomas returns to Malankara coast via Malayatur where he establishes 'the half Church' (a small Christian community dependant on the Church of Maliamkara).
AD 69: St Thomas goes to Pandi and other kingdoms
AD 72 July 3: St Thomas martyred at Mylapur.
AD 50-100: Thomas stories and legends develop in South India. The most famous develop orally in the so called Seven and half Churches. Christian persecutions result in emigrations to Angamaly, Pallipuram, Kaduthuruthy and Kuravilangad. Marian apparitions at Kuravilangad
AD 100-180 :South Indian Thomas stories reach Persia, Mesopotamia and especially Edessa.
AD 190 :Pantaenus visits South India at the invitation of Christians there.
200-250 :Relics of Thomas arrives in Edessa from Mylapur. A revised version of the Acts of Judas Thomas written in Syriac.
295 :Mar David of Basra leaves for South India.
325 :Council of Nicaea
363-365 :Mar Aprem describes the powerful relics of Thomas in Edessa brought from India by a Christian merchant.
381 :Council of Constantinople
440: Daniel the Indian scholar helps the translation works at the School of Edessa.
470: Mar Ma'na of Riwardashir sends liturgical and hymn books in Persian and Syriac to India.
500-1000:Crosses of Mylapur, Kodungallur (two crosses now at Kottayam Valiyapally),
Kaduthuruthy (two crosses), Alangad, Muttuchira, Kothanallur and Kadamattam,
and Goa. Two similar crosses are from Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka) and Singanfou (China). To call them 'Persian Crosses' would be a misnomer. Excavations will result in the discovery of similar crosses from Malabar.
522 :Cosmas Indicopleustes visits the Indian and East Syrian Christians here.
660: East Syrian Patriarch Isho Yahb III rebukes Mar Simeon of Riwardashir for neglect of sending bishops to India.
760 :Church of India reconstituted under the Metropolitan and Gate of All India.
813: Arrival of Persian bishops Mar Sapor and Mar Proth at Kollam.
1002: Oldest Syriac inscription so far discovered, at the step of the altar at the old Cathedral of Palai.
1291: John Monte Corvino visits India.
1295: Marco Polo visits Malabar and Mylapur.
1301: Fourteen year old Deacon Scaria son of Yawsep son of Scaria writes Vat Syr 22 at the Church of Mar Kuriakose at Kodungallur. It is an East Syriac lectionary on Pauline letters. Metropolitan Mar Yakob sits on "The Throne St Thomas" and Yahb Allaha III is the Patriarch. This is the oldest surviving Syriac manuscript of Indian origin.
1321 :Four Franciscans martyred at Thane near Mumbai.
1321: Dominican Jordanus Catalani visits India.
1329 : Pope John XXII sends bishop Jordanus Catalani to Kollam.
1341 :Ancient city of Kodungallur (Muchiri) disappears in natural calamity.
1350: Papal Nuncio John Maringoly visits Kollam.
1425: Nicolo Conti visits the East Syriac
Christians at Mylapur.
1496: East Syrian bishops Mar Thoma and Mar Yohannan arrive from Mesopotamia.
? PERIOD OF MILD LATINIZATION ?
1498 :Vasco de Gama lands at Kozhikod (Calicut).
1502 :Joseph the Indian priest visits Portugal and Rome.
1503 :Kochi under Portuguese rule.
1504: East Syrian bishops Mar Thoma, Mar Yahb Alaha, Mar Denha and Mar Yakob arrive in Malabar.
1504 :Kodungallur captured by the Portuguese. Syrian Christians begin to leave Kodungallur.
1510 :Portuguese Franciscans arrive in India.
1540: Franciscans start a seminary at Kodungallur.
1541 :Jesuits start St Paul's seminary at Goa.
1542: Francis Xavier and Jesuits in Malabar.
1547: St Thomas Cross discovered at Mylapur.
1552: Hierarchy in Goa.
1558 :Chaldean bishops Mar Abraham and Mar Joseph in Malabar.
1565 :Angamaly Archdiocese.
1577: Vypinkotta Seminary.
1597 :Death of Mar Abraham the last Chaldean Metropolitan of India.
?PERIOD OF WILD LATINIZATION ?
1599: Udayamperur (Diamper) Synod. Latin rule forced upon St Thomas Christians. Forceful latinizations go on.
1601 All India jurisdiction of St Thomas Christians restricted to Malabar. Jesuit Francis Roz appointed for St Thomas Christians.
1609 Kodungallur becomes diocese instead of Angamaly.
1624 Dominican Seminary at Kaduthuruthy.
? PERIOD OF DIVISIONS ?
1653 January 3 Koonan Cross Oath at Mattancherry. A few months later 12 priests place their hands on Mar Thoma Arkadiacon and declare him Metropolitan.
1661 Mar Sebastiani arrives as Vicar Apotolic. Already the St Thomas Christians are divided into two factions (Puthenkur and Pazhayakur). Pzhayakur became Syro-Malabar Church and Chaldean Syrian Church of Trichur. Puthenkur developed into Independent Syrian Church of Thozhiyur (1772), Yakobaya Church (1665-1876), Mar Thoma Syrian Church (1876), Malankara Orthodox Church (1912) and Malankara Catholic Church (1930/32).
1663 The Dutch overthrow the Portuguese in Kochi.
1663 Palliveettil Mar Chandy consecrated as the first native Vicar Apostolic since Sebastiani had to quit India.
1665 Mar Grigorios of Jerusalem arrives. In history he is the first ever West Syrian or Antiochean bishop to come to India. He is the starting point of Antiochean and Yakobaya connection in India.
1687 Death of Palliveettil Mar Chandy.
1701 Chaldean bishop Mar Simeon reaches Malabar and consecrates Angelo Francis.
1705 Mar Gabriel arrives.
1735 Death and burial of Mar Gabriel at Kottayam Cheriya pally.
1752 Mar Devasahayam Pillai martyred.
1778 Kariyattil Yawsep Malpan and Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar tavel to Lisbon and Rome to reunite the St Thomas Christians into one fold.
1783 Yawsep Kariyattil from Alangad consecrated Metropolitan of Kodungallur. 1786 Mar Kariyattil "martyred" at Goa.
1786 Paremmakkal becomes the Administrator of Kodungallur.
1786 Angamaly Padiyola.
1799 Demise of Administrator Mar Thomas Paremmakkal at Ramapuram.
1814 Demise of Mar Thachil Mathu Tharakan
1857 Mar Kudakkachira Anthony Kathanar died at Baghdad.
1861 Chaldean bishop Mar Thoma Rokos arrived. In 1862 he is forced to return.
1862 Anthony Thondanat approached the Chaldean Patriarch to be consecrated but got rejected. Then he was consecrated as Mar Abdisho at Kurdistan by Patriarch Mar Ruwel Shimon.
1866 Puthenpally Seminary.
1874 'Seven Dolours' expelled from TOCD.
1874-82 Chaldean bishop Mar Eliah Mellus in Trichur. He was forced to return in 1882. But Mar Abdisho took charge of the community under Mellus.
1876 Apostolic Visitor Leo Meureen arrives.
1885 Apostolic Delegate Anthony Aliyardi arrives.
1886 Latin hierarchy of Varapuzha.
?SYRO-MALABAR CHURCH ?
1887 Vicariates of Kottayam and Trichur. Two Latin and non-Indian bishops were entrusted with the so-called Syro-Malabar Church.
1896 Vicariates of Ernakulam, Kottayam (Changanachery) and Trichur with native bishops..
1900 Nov 16 Mar Abdisho died in Trichur.
1904 June 20 Demise of mar Nidhirikal Mani Kathanar
1908 Feb 27 East Syrian Mar Abimalek Timotheos reached Trichur and re-introduced East Syriac traditions though the community was called CHALDEAN SYRIANS.
1911 Vicariate of Kottayam for the Southists.
1923 Syro-Malabar hierarchy.
1930 Reunion of Mar Ivanios and followers result in the creation of SYRO-MALANKARA CHURCH in 1932.
1932 Puthenpally Seminary shifted to Mangalapuzha.
1946 Death of Marth Alphonsa at Bharananganam.
1950 Dioceses of Changanacherry and Palai.
1953 Cardinal Tisserant's visit.
1953 Thalasserry diocese.
1954-1959 CMI priests work in Ambikapur mission, but after a few years ousted because of their being Syro-Malabar.
1955 Syro-Malabar jurisdiction extended beyond Pampa and Bharathapuzha because of Tisserant and Mar Ouseph Placid Malpan.
1956 Changanacherry Archdiocese.
1957 Kothamangalam diocese.
1961 Relics of Mar Kariyattil brought from Goa to Alangad.
1962 Chanda mission to CMI priests.
1962 Vadavathur Seminary.
1962 Restoration of Syro-Malabar Qurbana.
1968 Exarchates of Chanda, Ujjain,Satna and Sagar.
1972 Exarchates of Bijnor and Jagdalpur. 1973 Diocese of Mananthavady.
1974 Diocese of Palakkad.
1977 Diocese of Kanjirappally.
1978 Diocese of Iringalakuda.
1983 Diocese of Rajkot.
1984 Diocese of Gorakpur.
1986 Renewed Syro-Malabar Qurbana. 1986 Diocese of Thamarasserry.
1988 Diocese of Kalyan.
1993 Syro-Malabar Church becomes Major Archiepiscopal. Metropolitan and Gate of all India Padiyara Mar Anthony becomes the Major Archbishop and Mar Abraham Kattumana, the Pontifical Delegate.
1995 Trichur and Thalasserry Archdioceses.
1996 Diocese of Thakkala.
1997 Metropolitan and Gate of all India Vithayathil Mar Geevarghese metropolitan becomes Apostolic Administrator, later the Major Archbishop.
1999 Diocese of Adilabad.
1999 Diocese of Belthangadi.
2001 Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago.
2003 Diocese of Idukki.
2005 October 19 Demise of Mar John Bosco Thottakara
2007 Diocese of Bhadravathy.
2008 Canonization of Marth Alphonsa. 2010 Diocese of Mandya.
2010 Diocese of Ramanathapuram.
2011 Metropolitan and Gate of all India Alencherry Mar Geevarghese metropolitan elected as Metropolitan of Syro Malabar (Marthoma Nasrani) Church and Successor of Marthoma Sleeha.
2015 August demise of Mar Thelly Mani Malpan
Maps Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
Coonan Cross Oath
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 would not obey the Jesuit Bishops or the Pope.
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 directly with the Archdeacon, Mar Thoma I. Fr. Sebastiani, with the help of Portuguese, gained the support of many, especially with the support of Palliveettil Mar Chandy, Kadavil Chandy Kathanar and Vengoor Geevarghese Kathanar . These were the three of the four counselors of Mar Thoma I, who had been defected with Francisco Garcia Mendes, SJ, Archbishop of Cranganore, before the arrival of Sebastaini, according to Jesuit reports.
Between 1661 and 1662, out of the 116 churches, the Carmelites claimed eighty-four churches, leaving the native metropolitan Mar Thoma I with thirty-two churches. The eighty-four churches and their congregations were the body from which the Syro Malabar Catholic Church has descended. The other thirty-two churches and their congregations represented the nucleus from which the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church (Jacobites), the Orthodox Syrian Church, the Thozhiyur Church, Mar Thoma Syrian (Reformed Syrians), Syro Malankara Catholic Church have originated.
In 1665 Mar Gregorios, a Bishop sent by the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, arrived in India. The independent group under the leadership of the Archdeacon welcomed him. Though most of the St. Thomas Christians gradually relented in their strong opposition to the Western control, the arrival of the Bishop Mar Gregorios of the Syriac Orthodox Church in 1665 marked the beginning of a formal schism among the St. Thomas Christians. Those who accepted the West Syriac liturgical tradition of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch of Mar Gregorios became known as the Jacobites or Puthenkoor; they also continued to use the name "Malankara," the real name of the St. Thomas Christian community for the church. Those who joined the communion of Rome after the Synod of Daimper and remained in the communion even after the oath of bent cross, and those who joined the catholic communion from the Puhenkoor Malankara church during the Carmelite period, came to be known as the Syro Malabar Church from the last decade of the Nineteenth century onwards. Some of the churches not joined in the Angamaly Padiyola (1787) later became Latin churches, e.g. Mathilakom (Pappinivattom), Maliankara, Thuruthipuram etc. One branch of the Syro Malabar Catholic church later left to form the Assyrian Church of the East aligned Chaldean Syrian Church when an Eastern Syriac rite bishop, Mar Gabriel, came to evangelize them in 1701. Kottayam cheriapalli was the headquarters of Mar Gabriel.
Restoration of the Syro-Malabar hierarchy
After the split in the church community, the Catholics of the Malabar coast faced an identity crisis and thus some priests and laymen attempted to persuade the hierarchy to improve the identity of the local church and for the appointment of bishops from local priests. To represent their position, Kerala's Syrian Catholics Joseph Kariattil and Paremmakkal Thomma Kathanar went to Rome in 1778. While they were in Europe, Kariatty Joseph Kathanar was installed in Portugal as the Archbishop of Kodungalloor Archdiocese. While journeying home, they stayed in Goa where Kariattil died before he could formally take charge. Before he died, Kariattil appointed Kathanar as the Administrator of Kodungalloor Archdiocese after him. The new administrator ran the affairs of the church establishing his headquarters at Angamaly. In 1790, the headquarters of the Archdiocese was shifted to Vadayar dodging the invasion of Tippu Sultan. In the last four years of his life, Thomma Kathanar managed church administration from his own parish, Ramapuram.
After being under Babylonian Assyrian Church of the East (Catholic faction of this church is known as Chaldean Catholic Church from 1681) bishops earlier and under Latin Church Roman Catholic bishops from 1599, Catholics of St. Thomas Christians obtained their own bishops from 1896. They were known as Catholic Chaldean Syrians during the period from around 1787(Angamaly Padiyola) to around 1911. They were known as the Catholic Syrians or Romo-Syrians to differentiate them from the Orthodox Syrians and Latin Church Catholics in Kerala. They came to be known as the Syro Malabar Catholics from 1932 onwards to differentiate them from the Syro-Malankara Catholics in Kerala. The Indian East Syrian Catholic Hierarchy was restored on 21 December 1923 with Mar Augustine Kandathil as the first Metropolitan and Head of the Church with the name Syro-Malabar.
Time line of events
Time line of events
- 1 Ancient Era
- 2 Portuguese Era
- 3 Era of Divisions
- 4 The Dark Era of Invasions
- 5 Era of Self-governance
- 6 A Sui iuris Church.
- 7 Title restoration
Syro-Malabar identity
Syro-Malabar Historian and theologian Fr. Placid Podipara describes it as "Catholic by faith, Indian by culture & East Syrian/Syriac/Oriental in liturgy." Today, the Syro-Malabar Church finds herself as the second-largest Eastern Catholic Church in the world with over 4.6 million members worldwide.
Faith and communion of Syro-Malabarians
The St. Thomas Christians got their bishops from the Assyrian Church of the East/Chaldean Church from ca. 300 AD till the end of the sixteenth century, until it was stopped by the Portuguese Roman Catholics (Catholics) in 1597, after the death of Mar Abraham.
Liturgy
As per the East Syriac tradition, liturgical day of the Syro-Malabar Church starts at sunset (6 p. m.). Also the worshiper has to face the east while worshiping. This is not followed after Latinization.
According to the East Syriac Orthodox tradition which was prevalent before the induction of Catholicism, the following are the seven times of prayer:
- Ramsha (??????) or the Evening Liturgy (6 p. m.)
- Suba-a (????????) or the Supper Liturgy (9 p. m.)
- Lelya (??????) or the Night Liturgy (12 a. m.)
- Qala d-Shahra ( ????? ?????? ) or the Vigil Liturgy (3 a. m.)
- Sapra (??????) or the Morning Liturgy (6 a. m.)
- Quta'a (????????) or the Third Hour Liturgy (9 a. m.)
- Endana (???????) or the Noon Liturgy (12 p. m.)
The Holy Mass, which is called Holy Qurbana in East Syriac Aramaic and means 'Eucharist', is celebrated in its solemn form on Sundays and special occasions. During the celebration of the Qurbana, priests and deacons put on elaborate vestments which are unique to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.
Restoration of East Syriac liturgy
East Syriac liturgy has three anaphorae: those of the Holy Apostles (Saints Addai and Mari), Mar Nestorius, and Mar Theodore the Interpreter. The first is the most popularly and extensively used. The second was traditionally used on the Epiphany and the feasts of St. John the Baptist and of the Greek Doctors, both of which occur in Epiphany-tide on the Wednesday of the Rogation of the Ninevites, and on Maundy Thursday. The third is used (except when the second is ordered) from Advent to Palm Sunday. The same pro-anaphoral part serves for all three.
In the second half of 20th century, there was a movement for better understanding of the liturgical rites. A restored Eucharistic liturgy, drawing on the original East Syriac sources, was approved by Pope Pius XII in 1957 and for the first time on the feast of St. Thomas on July 3, 1962, the vernacular, Malayalam, was introduced for the celebration of the Syro-Malabar Qurbana. Currently they celebrate the Divine Liturgy of Addai and Mari and the Anaphora of Mar Theodre in mostly Malayalam, with Syriac and English influences.
Besides the Anaphora of Mar Addai and Mari being used currently in Syro-Malabar liturgy, there are two more anaphorae known as Anaphora of Mar Theodore and Anaphora of Mar Nestorius. That the Anaphora of Mar Theodore which was withdrawn from use after the Synod of Diamper(a large number of churches used it up to 1896) is being used again in Syro-Malabar Church after 415 years is indeed an important historical reality.In a way SyroMalabar church rejected Synod of Diamper Pope Pius XII during the process of restoration of the Syro-Malabar Qurbana in 1957 had requested the restoration of the Anaphorae of Mar Theodore and Mar Nestorius. The draft of the Anaphora of Mar Theodore was restored after meticulous study by the Central Liturgical Committee, Liturgical Research Centre, various sub-committees and the eparchial liturgical commissions. Many changes befitting to the times have been made in the prayers maintaining maximum fidelity to the original text of the Second Anaphora. It was this text so prepared that was sent to Rome for the recognition of the Apostolic See in accordance with the decision of the Syro-Malabar Synod. The Congregation for the Eastern Churches gave its approval for using this anaphora on an experimental basis for three years on 15 December 2012.
The Latinization of the Syro-Malabar rite churches was brought to a head when in 1896 Ladislaus Zaleski, the Apostolic Delegate to India, requested permission to translate the Roman Pontifical into Syriac. This was the choice of some Malabar prelates, who chose it over the East Syriac Rite and West Syriac Rite pontificals. A large number of Syro-Malabarians were Assyrian schismatics at that time and various problems and concerns delayed the approval of this translation, until in 1934 Pope Pius XI stated that Latinization was no longer to be encouraged among Eastern Rite Catholics. He initiated a process of liturgical reform that sought to restore the oriental nature of the Latinized Syro-Malabar rite. A restored Eucharistic liturgy, drawing on the original East Syriac sources, was approved by Pius XII in 1957 and introduced in 1962.
The church uses one of several Bible translations into Malayalam.
Liturgical calendar
Syro Malabar Church has its own liturgical year. It is ordered according to the flow of salvation history. It focuses on the historical life of Jesus. There are nine seasons for the liturgical year. They are:
- Annunciation (Suvara)
- Nativity of Jesus
- Epiphany (Denha)
- Great Fast (Sawma Rabba)
- Resurrection (Qyamta)
- Apostles (Slihe)
- Summer (Qaita)
- Elijah-Cross-Moses (Elijah-Sliba-Muse)
- Dedication of the Church (Qudas-Edta)
Major feasts
Major feasts of the Church are,
- Dukrana of the Father in Faith - Mar Thoma Shliha Commemorated on July 3
- Marth Alphonsa - commemorated 28 July
- Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara - commemorated 3 January
- Mar Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly - commemorated 5 October
- Saint Euphrasia - commemorated 29 August
- Mar Bartholomeo Sleeha - commemorated 24 August
- Marth Shmoni and her 7 Children - commemorated 21 August
- The Assumption of St Mary (Shoonaya) - commemorated on 15 August
- Transfiguration (Geliyana) - commemorated 6 August
- Mar Addai and Mar Mari - commemorated on the Second Friday of Qaita (Summer)
- The 12 Apostles of our Lord, Iso' Misiha - commemorated 19 July
- The 70 Apostles - commemorated 17 July
- Mar Quriaqos and mother Yolethe - commemorated 15 July
- Mar Aprem- Commemorated - commemorated 9 June
- Blessed Mariam Thresia - commemorated 8 June
- Holy Pentecost - commemorated on 31 May
- The Ascension of our Lord, Iso' Misiha (Sulaqa) - commemorated 21 May
- Mar Addai Shliha - commemorated 10 May
- Mar Geevarghese Sahada - commemorated 24 April
- New Sunday - commemorated 19 April
- All Saints' Day - commemorated on the first Friday of the Season of Resurrection
- Entry of our Lord, Iso' Misiha into Jerusalem - Oshana Sunday
- The Annunciation of St Mary (Subara) - commemorated 25 March
- Remembrance of all Departed Faithful (Kol Anidhe) - commemorated on Last Friday of Denha
- The feast of Denha, the Epiphany - commemorated on 6 January
- The Nativity of our Lord, God and Saviour Iso M'siha (Yaldha) - commemorated 25 December
- Mar Thoma Sliva - commemorated 18 December
- Immaculate Conception of St Mary - commemorated 8 December
- Mar Augustinose Kunjachan - commemorated 16 October
- Passover Feast (Pesha)
Syro-Malabar hierarchy
Syro-Malabar major archiepiscopal curia
The curia of the Syro-Malabar Church began to function in March 1993 at the archbishop's house of Ernakulam-Angamaly. Later, on 27 May 1995, it was shifted to new premises at Mount St. Thomas near Kakkanad, Kochi. The newly constructed curial building was opened on 3 July 1998.
The administration of the Syro-Malabar Church has executive and judicial roles. The major archbishop, officials, various commissions, committees, and the permanent synod form the executive part. The permanent synod and other offices are formed in accordance with the CCEO. The officials include the chancellor, vice-chancellor, and other officers. Various commissions are appointed by the major archbishop: Liturgy, Pastoral care of the migrant and Evangelisation, Particular Law, Catechism, Ecumenism, Catholic Doctrine, Clergy and Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The members of the commissions are ordinarily bishops. But there are also priests in different commissions. For judicial activities there is the major archiepiscopal ordinary tribunal formed in accordance with CCEO and it has a statutes and sufficient personnel with a president, as its head. At present, Rev. Dr. Jose Chiramel is the president. The Major archiepiscopal curia functions in the curial building in Kerala, India. They have prepared the particular law for their Church and promulgated part by part in Synodal News, the official Bulletin of this Church. There are statutes for the permanent synod, for the superior and ordinary tribunals. Regarding economo, CCEO c. 122 § 2 is specific in the particular law, that the term of the office shall be five years and the same person shall not be appointed for more than two terms consecutively.
Provinces, (Arch)Eparchies and other jurisdictions
There are 31 eparchies (dioceses). Five of them are Archeparchies at present, all in southern India: The major Archbishop's see Ernakulam-Angamaly, Changanacherry, Trichur, Tellicherry and Kottayam.
Those have another 13 suffragan eparchies : Bhadravathi, Belthangady, Irinjalakuda, Kanjirapally, Kothamangalam, Idukki, Mananthavady, Mandya, Palai, Palghat, Ramanathapuram, Thamarassery and Thuckalay within the canonical territory of the Major Archiepiscopal Church.
There are 13 further eparchies outside the canonical territory of which Adilabad, Bijnor, Chanda, Gorakhpur, Jagdalpur, Kalyan, Rajkot, Sagar, Satna and Ujjain in India are with exclusive jurisdiction and Kalyan, Faridabad eparchies in India, the St. Thomas Eparchy of Chicago in the United States of America and St. Thomas the Apostle Eparchy of Melbourne in Australia enjoy personal jurisdiction.
Proper Ecclesiastical provinces
Most believers of this church are organized under 5 Metropolitan Archeparchies (archdioceses), all in Kerala, and their suffragan eparchies.
- Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly
- Eparchy of Idukki
- Eparchy of Kothamangalam
- Metropolitan Archeparchy Changanassery
- Eparchy of Kanjirappally
- Eparchy of Palai
- Eparchy of Thuckalay
- Archeparchy of Kottayam (nominally Metropolitan, no suffragan)
- Metropolitan Archeparchy of Tellicherry
- Eparchy of Belthangady
- Eparchy of Bhadravathi
- Eparchy of Mananthavady
- Eparchy of Mandya
- Eparchy of Thamarassery
- Metropolitan Archeparchy of Thrissur
- Eparchy of Irinjalakuda
- Eparchy of Palghat
- Eparchy of Ramanathapuram
Eparchies Outside Kerala
- Eparchy of Bijnor
- Eparchy of Gorakhpur
- Eparchy of Sagar
- Eparchy of Satna
- Eparchy of Ujjain
- Eparchy of Kalyan
- Eparchy of Rajkot
- Eparchy of Adilabad
- Eparchy of Chanda
- Eparchy of Jagdalpur
Exempt jurisdictions
- Eparchy of Faridabad, near Delhi, also serves Haryana, (Indian) Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and parts of Uttar Pradesh
- Eparchy of Hosur, in Tamil Nadu, established October 2017
- Eparchy of Shamshabad, includes the entire country of India not included in existing eparchies, established October 2017
Outside India:
- Apostolic Exarchate of Canada
- Eparchy of Melbourne, for Australia
- Eparchy of Chicago, for the USA
- Eparchy of Great Britain in Preston, England for England, Wales & Scotland
Syro-Malabar Religious Congregations
The Religious Congregations are divided in the Eastern Catholic Church Law (Code of Canons of the Oriental Churches - CCEO) as Monasteries, Hermitages, Orders, Congregations, Societies of Common Life in the Manner of Religious, Secular Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life.
Active are :
- Carmelites of Mary Immaculate
- Congregation of the Mother of Carmel
- Franciscan Clarist Congregation
- Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament
- Missionary Society of Saint Thomas the Apostle
- Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (Adoration Congregation)
- Vincentian Congregation
- Nazreth Sisters
Statistics
According to the Annuario Pontificio (the pontifical yearbook) for 2016 there were about 4,189,349 members in the Syro-Malabar Church.
Within the proper territory
There are sixteen eparchies in the proper territory of the Syro Malabar Church.
Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly has 510,000 members with 347 parishes, 731 religious/secular priests, 632 male religious and 4935 female religious. Archeparchy of Trichur has 471,328 members with 195 parishes, 418 religious/secular priests, 358 male religious and 3315 female religious. Eparchy of Idukki has 270,000 members with 129 parishes, 119 religious/secular priests, 109 male religious and 1320 female religious.
Archeparchy of Changanacherry has 390,000 members with 266 parishes, 615 religious/secular priests, 534 male religious and 2705 female religious. Eparchy of Palai has 348,128 members with 169 parishes, 502 religious/secular priests, 127 male religious and 3312 female religious. Archeparchy of Tellicherry has 317,782 members with 222 parishes, 293 religious/secular priests, 263 male religious and 1664 female religious. Eparchy of Irinjalakuda has 258,200 members with 128 parishes, 233 religious/secular priests, 132 male religious and 2350 female religious.
Eparchy of Kothamangalam has 217,420 members with 115 parishes, 242 religious/secular priests, 163 male religious and 2210 female religious. Eparchy of Kanjirapally has 192,000 members with 136 parishes, 314 religious/secular priests, 210 male religious and 1840 female religious. Archeparchy of Kottayam has 175,300 members with 149 parishes, 161 religious/secular priests, 107 male religious and 1233 female religious. Eparchy of Mananthavady has 170,100 members with 140 parishes, 413 religious/secular priests, 358 male religious and 1546 female religious. Eparchy of Thamarasserry has 129,600 members with 128 parishes, 247 religious/secular priests, 257 male religious and 1321 female religious. Eparchy of Palghat has 68,004 members with 106 parishes, 167 religious/secular priests, 82 male religious and 1360 female religious.
According to a study conducted, in Kerala about 30 percent of the Syro Malabar Church members lived in the erstwhile Cochin State. The remaining 70 percent lived in Travancore state.[citation needed] In the Travancore state, Meenachil Taluk had the largest proportion, followed by Changanaserry Taluk.
Erstwhile Cochin State, Meenachil and Changanaserry together had 56 percent of the total Syro Malabar population. Kottayam, Muvattupuzha, Kanjirappally, Thodupuzha, Kothamangalam, Cherthala, Mukundapuram (irinjalakkuda-chalakkudy), Wadakkancherry, Thrissur, North Parur, Alwaye, Kunnathunadu, Ambalapuzha, Kuttanad, Peerumedu, Nedumkandam and Devikulam etc. are the prominent taluks.
Outside the proper territory
There are eleven eparchies outside the proper territory of the Syro Malabar Church.
The Eparchy of Kalyan has 100,000 members with 106 parishes, 146 religious/secular priests, 105 male religious and 270 female religious. St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago, USA has 85,000 members with 11 parishes, 45 religious/secular priests, 13 male religious and 16 female religious. The Eparchy of Canada has 14,079 members with 5 parishes, 51 religious/secular priests, 182 male religious and 352 female religious. The Eparchy of Adilabad, has 13,273 members with 25 parishes, 50 religious/secular priests, 41 male religious and 143 female religious. The Eparchy of Rajkot has 12,850 members with 12 parishes, 140 religious/secular priests, 142 male religious and 421 female religious. There is a significant diaspora of Syro-Malabar Catholics in countries not under the jurisdiction of any of the existing eparchies.
Saints, Blesseds, Venerables and Servants of God
Saints
- Mar Thoma Sliha - Apostle and founder of the Syro-Malabar Church
- Marth Alphonsa - Religious sister of FCC congregation
- Mar Kuriakose Elias Chavara - Priest and founder of CMI
- Marth Euphrasia Eluvathingal - Religious sister of CMC congregation
Beatified people
- Marth Mariam Thresia Chiramel - Religious sister and founder of Holy Family congregation
- Mar Augustine Thevarparambil (Kunjachan) - Priest
- Marth Rani Maria (1954-1995) - Religious sister of FCC congregation
Venerables
- Mar Payyappilly Varghese Kathanar - Priest and founder of Sisters of the Destitute (1876-1929)
- Mar Thomas Kurialachery - First bishop of Archeparchy of Changanassery (1872-1925)
- Mar Kadalikkattil Mathai Kathanar - Priest (1872-1935)
- Mar Joseph Vithayathil - Priest and co-founder of Holy Family congregation (1865-1964)
Servants of God
- Mar Mathew Makil, (1851-1914)
- Mar Tommiyachan Poothathil, (1871-1943)
- Marth Mary Celine Payyappilly (1906-1993)
- Mar Augustine John Ukken (1880-1956)
- Mar Joseph C. Panjikaran (1888-1949)
- Mar Antony Thachuparambil (1894-1963)
- Mar Mathew Kavukatt (1904-1969)
- Marth Maria Celine Kannanaikal (1931-1957)
- Mar Thommachen Puthenparampil
- Mar Canisius CMI (1914-1998)
List of prominent Syro-Malabar Catholics in history
Prominent Syro-Malabar Catholics who worked for unity of Nasranis
- Mar Joseph Kariattil
- Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar
- Nidhiry Mani Kathanar
- Placid J. Podipara
Varthamanappusthakam
The Varthamanappusthakam is the first travelogue written in the Malayalam language. It is written by Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar. It describes the history of the Nasrani Church between the years 1773 and 1786 with emphasis on the journey of its author and Malpan Mar Ousep (Joseph) Kariattil from Malabar to Rome via Lisbon and back. Despite attempts by European ecclesiastical authorities to destroy it the major part of this book survived.
Mar Abraham of Angamaly
Abraham of Angamaly (Syriac: ????? ????, Mar Abraham died c. 1597) was the last in the long line of Mesopotamin Bishops who governed the Church of Saint Thomas Christians. In spite of the express approbation of the Pope, he was not welcomed by the Portuguese ecclesiastical authorities.
Mar Abrham died in January 1597 at Angamaly and his body was buried in Mar Hormiz Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Angamaly (old Cathedral church).
See also
- Sisters of the Destitute
- Carmelites of Mary Immaculate
- Congregation of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
- All India Catholic Union
- Catholic Church in India
- Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
- Syrian Malabar Nasrani
References
References and bibliography
External links
- Syro-Malabar Church
- Archdiocese of Thrissur
- Archdiocese of Kottayam
- Archdiocese of Changanacherry
- Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly
- Archdiocese of Tellicherry
- The website for Synod of Diamper
- Indian Christianity : Books by Geddes, Mackenzie, Medlycott, &c.
- The Chennai Mission
- Syro malabar mission in Chennai
- Syro Malabar Church in Australia
- Nazraney Heritage
- Syro Malabar Church in Qatar
- Syro Malabar Matrimony
- Article on the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church by Ronald Roberson on the CNEWA web site
Source of article : Wikipedia
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