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{{refimprove|date=September 2018}}
{{sources}}{{context}}Mar Thoma I was the first bishop of the Indian church. Arch Deacon Thomas and 1,000 followers stood up to the Portuguse who wanted to make the church Catholic. By doing this the Coonen Cross Oath came into affect. "We and our children shall never be under Rome." Thus 12 priests put their hands on the head of Arch Deacon Thomas Thus consencrating him as Mar Thoma I by his supporters. He was re consencrated by Mar Gregorios of Jerusalem.
{{short description|17th century Saint Thomas Christian bishop}}
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox bishop
| honorific_prefix = [[His Grace]]
| name = Mar Thoma I
| honorific-suffix = Malankara Metropolitan
| bishop_of = [[Malankara Church]]
| image =
| caption =
| diocese = [[Malankara Church (Puthenkur)| Malankara Syrian Church]]
| ordination = 1637
| consecration = regularized in 1665<ref name=ThomasJoseph/>
| enthroned = 22 May 1653<ref name=ThomasJoseph/>
| ended = 1670
| predecessor = ''post created''
| successor = [[Thoma II|Mar Thoma II]]
| birth_name = Palamattom Thoma
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Kadamattom]]
| death_date = 25 April 1670
| death_place = [[Angamaly]]
| buried = [[St. Mary's Jacobite Soonoro Cathedral, Angamaly|St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Angamaly]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sor.cua.edu/ChMon/Ankamaly/AnkamalyHVMary.html/ |title=Morth Mariam Church, Ankamaly |access-date=2016-04-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405125033/http://sor.cua.edu/ChMon/Ankamaly/AnkamalyHVMary.html |archive-date=5 April 2016 }}</ref>
| nationality =
| signature =
| module = {{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Archdeacon
|name = Parambil Thoma
|title= Archdeacon of All India of the [[Archdiocese of Cranganore]]
|predecessor= Arkadeacon [[Givargis of the Cross]]
|successor= post abolished
|appointed= by [[Etienne de Brito|Stephen Britto]]<ref name=Thekedath/>}}
| type = Bishop
}}'''Mar Thoma I''', also known as '''Valiya Mar Thoma''' (Mar Thoma the Great) and '''Arkkadiyakkon Thoma''' (Archdeacon Thomas) in [[Malayalam]], and referred to as '''Thomas de Campo''' in [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], was the first native-born [[Malankara Metropolitan|Metropolitan]] bishop of the [[Malankara Church]] in the 17th century. He was the last Archdeacon of the undivided [[Saint Thomas Christians|St. Thomas Christians]] of Malankara.<ref name=Thekedath>{{cite book|title= The troubled days of Francis Garcia S. J. Archbishop of Cranganore (1641-1659)|page= 7, 21 |last= Thekedath |first=Joseph|year=1972|isbn= 9788876521584 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=chkD52PhJZUC&pg=PA21}}</ref>

Following the death of [[Giwargis of the Cross|Archdeacon George of the Cross]] on 25 July 1640, Parambil Thoma Kathanar was elected and enthroned as the new Archdeacon while still under 30 years old. He played a significant role in leading the Church during the [[Coonan Cross Oath]] on 3 January 1653, an event that led to a schism within the Nasrani Church. After the Oath, Thoma was elected as a Bishop by the Malankara Yogam (Association) and was consecrated at St. Mary's Church, Alangad, by the laying on of hands by 12 priests on 22 May 1653.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}} However, certain factions within the community, including two Southist churches in [[Kaduthuruthy]] and [[Udayamperoor]], did not recognize his episcopal authority.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Despite this, Thoma began to exercise episcopal powers and sought to regularize his consecration with the Church of Antioch. His episcopal consecration was formally recognized in 1665 by [[Gregorios Abdal Jaleel|Mar Gregorios Abdal Jaleel]], a delegate of the [[Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East|Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch]], though the exact date and location of this event remain unknown.<ref name=ThomasJoseph>{{cite encyclopedia |first=Thomas|last=Joseph|title=Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church|encyclopedia=Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage: Electronic Edition |editor1=Sebastian P. Brock |editor2=Aaron M. Butts |editor3=George A. Kiraz |editor4=Lucas Van Rompay
|url=https://gedsh.bethmardutho.org/Malankara-Syriac-Orthodox-Church |publisher=Gorgias Press|year=2011|access-date=22 September 2016}}</ref> During his tenure, Mar Thoma was advised by [[Palliveettil Chandy|Palliveettil Mar Chandy]], [[Kadavil Chandy|Kadavil Chandy Kathanar]], Vengoor Geevargese Kathanar, and Anjilimoottil Ittithomman Kathanar.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Brown|first=Leslie W.|title=The Indian Christians of St Thomas: An Account of the Ancient Syrian Church of Malabar|year=1956|location=Cambridge|publisher=Cambridge University Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H9gYAAAAIAAJ |page=103}}</ref>{{Nasrani People}}

==Early life==
[[Kuravilangad]] is a town located in the [[Kottayam]] district of [[Kerala]], [[South India]]. The town is situated in the [[Meenachil]] Taluk, about 22&nbsp;km north of [[Kottayam]]. [[Pakalomattom family]] was one of the oldest families at [[Kuravilangad]]. Thomas who later became the first Mar Thoma, was born in this family.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Brown |first=L.W.|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/781412260|title=The Indian Christians of St. Thomas: an account of the ancient Syrian church of Malabar|date=1982|publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=0-521-21258-8|oclc=781412260 |orig-date=1956 |edition=Revised}}</ref>

==Archdeacon==
[[Giwargis of the Cross|Pakalomattom Geevarghese Kathanar]], the Archdeacon (Arkkadiyakkon) of the Saint Thomas Christians, passed away in 1637. Following his death, Thomas, a relative of Geevarghese, was appointed as the next Archdeacon by Archbishop [[Estevão de Brito|Stephen Britto]]. In 1653, Thomas and his followers took the Coonan Cross Oath, declaring that they would no longer obey Archbishop Garcia or any other prelate from the [[Jesuits|Society of Jesus]], and they vowed to exclude the Jesuits from Malabar and their churches.<ref name=Thekedath/>

After the Coonan Cross Oath, on 5 January 1653, the church elders gathered at [[St. George's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Edappally|St. Mary's Church in Edapally]] (now dedicated to [[Saint George]]) and proclaimed Archdeacon Thoma as the Governor of the Church. Four priests—[[Anjilimoottil Itty Thommen Kathanar|Anjilimoottil Itty Thomman]], [[Kadavil Chandy]], Vengoor Geevarghese, and [[Palliveettil Chandy]]—were selected as his advisors.<ref>[http://cs.nyu.edu/kandathi/parambil.html Mar Chandy Palliveettil] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411230832/http://cs.nyu.edu/kandathi/parambil.html |date=11 April 2011 }}</ref><ref>Mathew N. M. ''History of the Marthoma Church'', Vol. I. Page 183.</ref> Of these, three later returned to the [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] faction of the St. Thomas Christians.

Four months after the Coonan Cross Oath, on 22 May 1653, twelve priests ordained Thomas as the first Bishop of the Malankara See through the act of laying hands on him collectively. However, the Catholic faction disputed the validity of this consecration, arguing that it was irregular. It is claimed that the consecration was regularized by [[Gregorios Abdal Jaleel]], a delegate of the [[Patriarch of Antioch]], in 1665, although the exact place and date remain unknown. Thomas adopted the name Mar Thoma, asserting his role as the successor of [[Thomas the Apostle|St. Thomas the Apostle]].

This consecration was not accepted by two Southist churches, one at [[Kaduthuruthy]] and another at [[Udayamperoor]]. Later, Bishop Sebastiani, who was ordained on 15 December 1659, convinced many priests and laypeople, including the three advisors who had initially supported Mar Thoma, that the consecration was irregular. Due to political and financial pressures exerted by the [[Carmelites|Carmelite]] fathers through the [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] and native kings, many churches and laypeople withdrew their allegiance to Mar Thoma. They requested that he relinquish his episcopal dignity, but Mar Thoma continued to perform episcopal functions.

As a result, the Malankara Church split into two factions: one led by Mar Thoma I and the other by Bishop [[Palliveettil Chandy|Palliveettil Mar Chandy]], also known as Alexander de Campo. Both claimed to have Apostolic briefs of appointment as Bishop. To resolve the dispute, the case was referred to the King of Cochin. On 20 September 1661, the King requested that both parties present their Apostolic briefs in his court. [[Apostolic Commissary|The Apostolic Commissary]] was able to produce briefs from the [[Pope|Pope of Rome]], while the Archdeacon's party failed to present any. On 9 October 1661 Bishop Sebastiani attempted to capture Mar Thoma with the assistance of Portuguese forces and local allies, but Mar Thoma and his followers managed to escape the night before, disguising themselves as soldiers to avoid recognition.<ref>The Grave Tragedy of the Church of St. Thomas Christians and the Apostolic Mission of Sebastiani by Paul Pallath Page 159</ref>

==Rise of Dutch power==
The [[Dutch East India Company]] (''Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie'' or VOC in [[History of Dutch orthography|old-spelling]] [[Dutch language|Dutch]], literally "United [[Indies|East Indian]] Company") was established in 1602. By 1652, VOC trading posts were established in [[Malabar Coast]] in India. On 7 January 1663, Cochin was attacked and the king of Cochin surrendered to the Dutch on 20 March 1663.

==Regularization of consecration==
By 1665, Cochin was under Dutch control. That year [[Gregorios Abdal Jaleel]], a delegate of the [[Patriarch of Antioch]] came to Malankara as per the request of Mar Thoma and regularized his Metropolitan consecration.<ref name=ThomasJoseph/>

==Death==
He died on 25 April 1670 and was buried in [[St. Mary's Jacobite Soonoro Cathedral, Angamaly]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stmarysangamaly.org/ |title=:::Welcome to St:mary's Jacobite syrian church Angamaly::: |access-date=2010-03-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324234344/http://stmarysangamaly.org/ |archive-date=24 March 2010 }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Malankara Metropolitan]]
*[[List of Malankara Metropolitans]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading==
* Mathew N. M. (2003). ''St. Thomas Christians of Malabar Through Ages'', C.S.S. Tiruvalla. {{ISBN|81-782-1008-8}} and CN 80303.
* Mathew, N. M. ''Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram'' (History of the Marthoma Church), Volume 1 (2006), Volume II (2007), Volume III (2008). Pub. E.J.Institute, Thiruvalla.
* Pallath, Paul. ''The Grave Tragedy of the Church of St. Thomas Christians and the Apostolic Mission of Sebastiani'', HIRS Publications.

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before=Archdeacon Geevarghese}}
{{s-ttl|title= The last Archdeacon of the Malankara Church|years=1640–1653}}
{{s-aft|after=Title abolished}}
{{s-end}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before= No Predecessor}}
{{s-ttl|title= The first Metropolitan of the St Thomas Christians |years=1653-1670}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Mar Thoma II]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thoma 01, Mar}}
[[Category:Christian clergy from Kottayam]]
[[Category:Indian bishops]]
[[Category:Pakalomattam family]]
[[Category:1670 deaths]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Syriac Orthodox Church bishops]]
[[Category:Oriental Orthodoxy in India]]
[[Category:17th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Christians]]
[[Category:Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church bishops]]
[[Category:Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church saints]]
[[Category:Saint Thomas Christians]]

Latest revision as of 17:05, 11 November 2024

His Grace

Mar Thoma I

Malankara Metropolitan
Malankara Church
Diocese Malankara Syrian Church
Installed22 May 1653[1]
Term ended1670
Predecessorpost created
SuccessorMar Thoma II
Orders
Ordination1637
Consecrationregularized in 1665[1]
Personal details
Born
Palamattom Thoma

Kadamattom
Died25 April 1670
Angamaly
BuriedSt. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Angamaly[2]
Parambil Thoma
Archdeacon of All India of the Archdiocese of Cranganore
Appointedby Stephen Britto[3]
PredecessorArkadeacon Givargis of the Cross
Successorpost abolished

Mar Thoma I, also known as Valiya Mar Thoma (Mar Thoma the Great) and Arkkadiyakkon Thoma (Archdeacon Thomas) in Malayalam, and referred to as Thomas de Campo in Portuguese, was the first native-born Metropolitan bishop of the Malankara Church in the 17th century. He was the last Archdeacon of the undivided St. Thomas Christians of Malankara.[3]

Following the death of Archdeacon George of the Cross on 25 July 1640, Parambil Thoma Kathanar was elected and enthroned as the new Archdeacon while still under 30 years old. He played a significant role in leading the Church during the Coonan Cross Oath on 3 January 1653, an event that led to a schism within the Nasrani Church. After the Oath, Thoma was elected as a Bishop by the Malankara Yogam (Association) and was consecrated at St. Mary's Church, Alangad, by the laying on of hands by 12 priests on 22 May 1653.[citation needed] However, certain factions within the community, including two Southist churches in Kaduthuruthy and Udayamperoor, did not recognize his episcopal authority.[citation needed]

Despite this, Thoma began to exercise episcopal powers and sought to regularize his consecration with the Church of Antioch. His episcopal consecration was formally recognized in 1665 by Mar Gregorios Abdal Jaleel, a delegate of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, though the exact date and location of this event remain unknown.[1] During his tenure, Mar Thoma was advised by Palliveettil Mar Chandy, Kadavil Chandy Kathanar, Vengoor Geevargese Kathanar, and Anjilimoottil Ittithomman Kathanar.[4]

Part of a series on
Saint Thomas Christians
Saint Thomas Christian cross
History
Religion
Prominent persons
Culture

Early life

[edit]

Kuravilangad is a town located in the Kottayam district of Kerala, South India. The town is situated in the Meenachil Taluk, about 22 km north of Kottayam. Pakalomattom family was one of the oldest families at Kuravilangad. Thomas who later became the first Mar Thoma, was born in this family.[5]

Archdeacon

[edit]

Pakalomattom Geevarghese Kathanar, the Archdeacon (Arkkadiyakkon) of the Saint Thomas Christians, passed away in 1637. Following his death, Thomas, a relative of Geevarghese, was appointed as the next Archdeacon by Archbishop Stephen Britto. In 1653, Thomas and his followers took the Coonan Cross Oath, declaring that they would no longer obey Archbishop Garcia or any other prelate from the Society of Jesus, and they vowed to exclude the Jesuits from Malabar and their churches.[3]

After the Coonan Cross Oath, on 5 January 1653, the church elders gathered at St. Mary's Church in Edapally (now dedicated to Saint George) and proclaimed Archdeacon Thoma as the Governor of the Church. Four priests—Anjilimoottil Itty Thomman, Kadavil Chandy, Vengoor Geevarghese, and Palliveettil Chandy—were selected as his advisors.[6][7] Of these, three later returned to the Catholic faction of the St. Thomas Christians.

Four months after the Coonan Cross Oath, on 22 May 1653, twelve priests ordained Thomas as the first Bishop of the Malankara See through the act of laying hands on him collectively. However, the Catholic faction disputed the validity of this consecration, arguing that it was irregular. It is claimed that the consecration was regularized by Gregorios Abdal Jaleel, a delegate of the Patriarch of Antioch, in 1665, although the exact place and date remain unknown. Thomas adopted the name Mar Thoma, asserting his role as the successor of St. Thomas the Apostle.

This consecration was not accepted by two Southist churches, one at Kaduthuruthy and another at Udayamperoor. Later, Bishop Sebastiani, who was ordained on 15 December 1659, convinced many priests and laypeople, including the three advisors who had initially supported Mar Thoma, that the consecration was irregular. Due to political and financial pressures exerted by the Carmelite fathers through the Portuguese and native kings, many churches and laypeople withdrew their allegiance to Mar Thoma. They requested that he relinquish his episcopal dignity, but Mar Thoma continued to perform episcopal functions.

As a result, the Malankara Church split into two factions: one led by Mar Thoma I and the other by Bishop Palliveettil Mar Chandy, also known as Alexander de Campo. Both claimed to have Apostolic briefs of appointment as Bishop. To resolve the dispute, the case was referred to the King of Cochin. On 20 September 1661, the King requested that both parties present their Apostolic briefs in his court. The Apostolic Commissary was able to produce briefs from the Pope of Rome, while the Archdeacon's party failed to present any. On 9 October 1661 Bishop Sebastiani attempted to capture Mar Thoma with the assistance of Portuguese forces and local allies, but Mar Thoma and his followers managed to escape the night before, disguising themselves as soldiers to avoid recognition.[8]

Rise of Dutch power

[edit]

The Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or VOC in old-spelling Dutch, literally "United East Indian Company") was established in 1602. By 1652, VOC trading posts were established in Malabar Coast in India. On 7 January 1663, Cochin was attacked and the king of Cochin surrendered to the Dutch on 20 March 1663.

Regularization of consecration

[edit]

By 1665, Cochin was under Dutch control. That year Gregorios Abdal Jaleel, a delegate of the Patriarch of Antioch came to Malankara as per the request of Mar Thoma and regularized his Metropolitan consecration.[1]

Death

[edit]

He died on 25 April 1670 and was buried in St. Mary's Jacobite Soonoro Cathedral, Angamaly.[9]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Joseph, Thomas (2011). "Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church". In Sebastian P. Brock; Aaron M. Butts; George A. Kiraz; Lucas Van Rompay (eds.). Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage: Electronic Edition. Gorgias Press. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Morth Mariam Church, Ankamaly". Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Thekedath, Joseph (1972). The troubled days of Francis Garcia S. J. Archbishop of Cranganore (1641-1659). p. 7, 21. ISBN 9788876521584.
  4. ^ Brown, Leslie W. (1956). The Indian Christians of St Thomas: An Account of the Ancient Syrian Church of Malabar. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 103.
  5. ^ Brown, L.W. (1982) [1956]. The Indian Christians of St. Thomas: an account of the ancient Syrian church of Malabar (Revised ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-21258-8. OCLC 781412260.
  6. ^ Mar Chandy Palliveettil Archived 11 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Mathew N. M. History of the Marthoma Church, Vol. I. Page 183.
  8. ^ The Grave Tragedy of the Church of St. Thomas Christians and the Apostolic Mission of Sebastiani by Paul Pallath Page 159
  9. ^ ":::Welcome to St:mary's Jacobite syrian church Angamaly:::". Archived from the original on 24 March 2010. Retrieved 22 March 2010.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Mathew N. M. (2003). St. Thomas Christians of Malabar Through Ages, C.S.S. Tiruvalla. ISBN 81-782-1008-8 and CN 80303.
  • Mathew, N. M. Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram (History of the Marthoma Church), Volume 1 (2006), Volume II (2007), Volume III (2008). Pub. E.J.Institute, Thiruvalla.
  • Pallath, Paul. The Grave Tragedy of the Church of St. Thomas Christians and the Apostolic Mission of Sebastiani, HIRS Publications.
Preceded by
Archdeacon Geevarghese
 The last Archdeacon of the Malankara Church
1640–1653 		Succeeded by
Title abolished
Preceded by
No Predecessor
 The first Metropolitan of the St Thomas Christians
1653-1670 		Succeeded by
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