Malankara Orthodox Church, Malankara Jacobite Church, and Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

CHAPTER TWELVE Malankara Orthodox church Malankara Jacobite Church Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

AD 1912 - 1972 Though the acceptance of the Antiochian supremacy was expedient for those opposing the reformation, not all members of the church were happy with it. This group sent a request to the Patriarch of Syria to ordain a Maphrianate for Malankara. Maphrianate was an ecclesiastical position in Persian Churches under the Patriarch. Konattu Mathen Malpan and Vattasseril Geevarghese Malpan wrote to the Patriarch, raising this issue. But the Patriarch flatly refused the request and replied: "No one should ask for this, he who defies will be cursed in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit". The Patriarch said, if necessary, a native syrian may be elevated as Maphrian and sent to Malankara.

In 1895 when Abdul Messiah was elected and elevated as Patriarch. At that time Mar Abdulla was also a candidate for the position but he was defeated in the election. As a result, Mar Abdulla left the Orthodox church and joined the Roman church in 1896 and stayed with it until 1906. Meanwhile, Mar Ivanios, the bishop of Jerusalem was removed from office by Patriarch Abdul-Messiah for some irregularities in the administration of his diocese..This resulted in a collaboration between Mar Ivanios and Mar Abdulla to take revenge on Mar Abdul-Messiah. After a series of political subterfuge with the help of the Sultan of Turkey, Abdul-Messiah was declared Patriarch to. became the rival Patriarch of Antioch. (Later, Abdulla himself excommunicated mar Ivanios). Thus for a period the Syrian Church had two rival Partriarchs. (A repetition of this took place again in 20th century, during Abdul-Messiah's tenure.) Thus Abdulla II had usurped the Patriarchal seat in 1906. The Patriarch Abdullah issued a letter on 31st May 1911 excommunicating Geevarghese Mar Dionysius (Mar Dionysius VI).

Abdulla II came to Kerala and wanted Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysios to sign a document declaring that the Patriarch had temporal powers over the Malankara Church. Mar Dionysios refused to sign this document and he was therefore excommunicated by the Patriarch. Mar Abdulla, after stay of 2 years in Malankara returned to Antioch only to die on the way in 1915.

The church consequently split into two groups, one group supporting the Patriarch and called themselves the "Bava party" and the group of supporting Mar Dionysios called themselves the "Metran party".

Following a request by Mar Dionysios in 1912 to Patriarch Mar Abdul Messiah to come to Kerala and enthrone a Catholicos in 1964 a Catholicos was ordained as Catholicos Augen I. In 1972 the "Bava party" with their own Catholicos and bishops separated themselves and formed the Malankara Orthodox Church. The Other group is known as the Malankara Syrian Church. or commonly called as Jacobite Church.

The Malankara Association Managing Committee met at Parumala under the Presidentship of Mar Dionysius VI and resolved to install Mar Ivanios, Metropolitan of Kandanad Diocese as the Catholicos of the East. The then Patriarch Mar Abdul Messiah camde down to Kerala installed Mar Ivanios of Kandanad Diocese as the first Catholicos of Malankara Church and give him the title Mar Baselios. The installation was on 15 Sept. 1912 at the Niranam Church, founded by St. Thomas.

Malankara Metropolitan had deposited about 3,000 Poovarahan (gold coin currency of Kerala at that time) on 8% interest, with the British government. This desposit money is known as Vatti paanam. As the Church got seperated a raging court case ensued which prolonged over many years in bitterness to both groups.

In the midst of these power struggle in AD 1930 A group of people left the Jacobite church together with Mar Ivanios and Mar Theophilos to join the Roman Catholic following the Syro-Malankara Rites and Liturgies. This Church is commonly known as Reeth Sabha. Later two other Bishops, Mar Savarios and Thomas Mar Diyascorus also joined with the Syro Malankara Rites.

CHAPTER TWELVE Malankara Orthodox church Malankara Jacobite Church Syro-Malankara Catholic Church AD 1912 -1972 Though the acceptance of the Antiochian supremacy was expedient for those opposing the reformation,

not all members of the church were happy with it. This group sent a request to the Patriarch of Syria to

ordain a Maphrianate for Malankara. Maphrianate was an ecclesiastical position in Persian Churches

under the Patriarch. Konattu Mathen Malpan and Vattasseril Geevarghese Malpan wrote to the

Patriarch, raising this issue. But the Patriarch flatly refused the request and replied: "No one should ask

for this, he who defies will be cursed in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit". The Patriarch

said, if necessary, a native syrian may be elevated as Maphrian and sent to Malankara.

In 1895 when Abdul Messiah was elected and elevated as Patriarch. At that time Mar Abdulla was also

a candidate for the position but he was defeated in the election. As a result, Mar Abdulla left the

Orthodox church and joined the Roman church in 1896 and stayed with it until 1906. Meanwhile, Mar

Ivanios, the bishop of Jerusalem was removed from office by Patriarch Abdul-Messiah for some

irregularities in the administration of his diocese..This resulted in a collaboration between Mar Ivanios

and Mar Abdulla to take revenge on Mar Abdul-Messiah. After a series of political subterfuge with the

help of the Sultan of Turkey, Abdul-Messiah was declared Patriarch to. became the rival Patriarch of

Antioch. (Later, Abdulla himself excommunicated mar Ivanios). Thus for a period the Syrian Church

had two rival Partriarchs. (A repetition of this took place again in 20th century, during Abdul-Messiah's tenure.) Thus Abdulla II had usurped the Patriarchal seat in 1906. The Patriarch Abdullah issued a letter on 31st May 1911 excommunicating Geevarghese Mar Dionysius (Mar Dionysius VI).

Abdulla II came to Kerala and wanted Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysios to sign a document

declaring that the Patriarch had temporal powers over the Malankara Church. Mar Dionysios refused to

sign this document and he was therefore excommunicated by the Patriarch. Mar Abdulla, after stay of 2

years in Malankara returned to Antioch only to die on the way in 1915. The church consequently split into two groups, one group supporting the Patriarch and called themselves

the "Bava party" and the group of supporting Mar Dionysios called themselves the "Metran party".

Following a request by Mar Dionysios in 1912 to Patriarch Mar Abdul Messiah to come to Kerala and

enthrone a Catholicos in 1964 a Catholicos was ordained as Catholicos Augen I. In 1972 the "Bava

party" with their own Catholicos and bishops separated themselves and formed the Malankara Orthodox

Church. The Other group is known as the Malankara Syrian Church. or commonly called as Jacobite

Church.

The Malankara Association Managing Committee met at Parumala under the Presidentship of Mar

Dionysius VI and resolved to install Mar Ivanios, Metropolitan of Kandanad Diocese as the Catholicos of

the East. The then Patriarch Mar Abdul Messiah camde down to Kerala installed Mar Ivanios of

Kandanad Diocese as the first Catholicos of Malankara Church and give him the title Mar Baselios. The

installation was on 15 Sept. 1912 at the Niranam Church, founded by St. Thomas.

Malankara Metropolitan had deposited about 3,000 Poovarahan (gold coin currency of Kerala at that

time) on 8% interest, with the British government. This desposit money is known as Vatti paanam. As the

Church got seperated a raging court case ensued which prolonged over many years in bitterness to both

groups. In the midst of these power struggle in AD 1930 A group of people left the Jacobite church together with

Mar Ivanios and Mar Theophilos to join the Roman Catholic following the Syro-Malankara Rites and

Liturgies. This Church is commonly known as Reeth Sabha. Later two other Bishops, Mar Savarios and

Thomas Mar Diyascorus also joined with the Syro Malankara Rites.