Malankara body of the Syriac Orthodox Church in India
Not to be confused with the British political movement,
Jacobitism
.
The
Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
,
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
or
[12]
the
Syriac Orthodox Church in India
,
[13]
[14]
is a
Maphrianate
of the
Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch
based in
Kerala
, India and part of the
Oriental Orthodox Church
. It recognizes the
Syriac Orthodox patriarch of Antioch and All the East
as supreme head of the church. It functions autonomously within the church as an Archdiocese, administered by the
Malankara Metropolitan
,
Gregorios Joseph
, and comes under the authority of the
Catholicos of India
,
Baselios Thomas I
. Following schism with the
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
, it is currently the only church in
Malankara
that is under the administrative supervision of
Syriac Orthodox Church
. The church employs the
West Syriac Rite
Liturgy of Saint James
.
[15]
[16]
[17]
Name
In the aftermath of the
Council of Chalcedon
, Emperor
Justinian I
who supported the
Chalcedonians
, exiled
Patriarch
Severus of Antioch
to Egypt, for refusing to accept the council, and professing
Miaphysitism
. The
Syriac Orthodox Church
is the church of Antioch that continued to accept Severus as
patriarch
until his death and died in 538 AD. During this turbulent time for the church,
Jacob Baradaeus
was consecrated as bishop with the support of
Empress Theodora
and he led and revived the church.
[18]
The term "Jacobite" was originally used as a derogatory word for Miaphysites from the church of Antioch, but were later embraced by the church.
Headquarters
Puthencruz
is the headquarters of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church in India. It is registered as a society under the Societies Act of the
Government of India
. Its headquarters are named after
Ignatius Zakka I
. The property was bought and built under the leadership of
Baselios Thomas I
after the church faced difficulties in continuing its operations in
Muvattupuzha
after
Baselios Paulose II
's death.
History
History and evolution of the Malankara church.
It is believed that
Saint Thomas Christians
of
Malabar
were placed under the jurisdiction of the
patriarch of Antioch
since AD 325 as per Canon 6 of the
Council of Nicaea
.
[19]
[20]
They received episcopal support from Syriac bishops, who traveled to Kerala in merchant ships along the spice route, while the local administrative leader of the Saint Thomas Christians held the rank of
archdeacon
, which was a hereditary office held by the Pakalomattam family. In the 6th century, the churches outside of the Roman Empire(in Persia towards the East), were arranged under the
catholicos of Seleucia
, who after conflicts with the patriarch (leading to the
Council of Capharthutha
), joined the
Church of the East
, causing a further split in the
Malankara Church
.
[21]
In the 16th century, the overtures of the
Portuguese
Padroado
to bring the Saint Thomas Christians into the
Latin Church
of the Catholic Church led to the first of several rifts in the community due to Portuguese colonialists, and the establishment of the
Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
. Since then, further splits have occurred, and the Saint Thomas Christians are now divided into several factions.
Saint Thomas Christians were administratively under the single native dynastic leadership of an archdeacon (a native ecclesiastical head with spiritual and temporal powers, deriving from the Greek term
arkhidi?konos
) and were in communion with the church in the Middle East from at least 496 AD.
The indigenous Church of Malabar/Malankara followed the faith and traditions handed over by the apostle
St. Thomas
. In the 16th century, the Portuguese
Jesuits
deliberately attempted to annex the native Christians to the Catholic Church, and in 1599 they succeeded through the
Synod of Diamper
. Resentment against these forceful measures caused the majority of the community under Archdeacon Thomas to swear an oath never to submit to the Portuguese, known as the
Coonan Cross Oath
, in 1653.
Meanwhile, the
Dutch East India Company
defeated the Portuguese and gained supremacy over the spice trade in Malabar in 1663. The Malankara church used this opportunity to escape from Catholic persecution with the company's help. At the church's request, the Dutch brought
Gregorius Abdul Jaleel
of
Jerusalem
, a bishop of the
Syriac Orthodox Church
, aboard their trading vessel in 1665. The Malankara Church consolidated under
Archdeacon Thoma
welcomed
Gregorios Abdal Jaleel
, who regularized the canonical ordination of Thoma as a bishop. The Malankara Church gradually adopted
West Syriac liturgy
and practices.
As part of the Syriac Orthodox Church, the church uses the
West Syriac liturgy
and is part of the
Oriental Orthodox
Communion. It has dioceses in most parts of India as well as in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Western Europe, the
Persian Gulf
, Australia, and New Zealand. In 2003 it was estimated that the church had 1,000,000 (including
Knanaya
) members globally.
[23]
Hierarchy
The highest rank in the ecclesiastical hierarchy is the
patriarch of Antioch
, head of the Syriac Orthodox Church, who became the
first among equals
of the
Diocese of the East
as stated by the
Council of Nicaea
(Canon 6). The second among equals is the
maphrian
, also known as the catholicos of India, and is the head of the Jacobite Syrian Church in India, and first among the Syriac Orthodox bishops in India. There are also archbishops, and bishops.
Three ranks of hierarchy
There are three ranks of priesthood in the Syriac Orthodox Church:
The Church
Thomas of Cana
and the
Knanaya
depart for India
The Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church of India established by
Thomas the Apostle
believes in
apostolic succession
within the hierarchy of the
Syriac Orthodox Church
, within the
Oriental Orthodox communion
. The Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, as a part of the Syriac Orthodox Church, rejects the
Council of Chalcedon
along with the rest of the
Oriental Orthodox Church
.
[24]
The Church believes in the faith as proclaimed by the three Ecumenical
Councils of Nicaea
,
Constantinople
, and
Ephesus
. It is under the
Holy See of Antioch
, established by
Saint Peter
, which was confirmed as a patriarchate in the
Council of Nicaea
, along with the
Holy See of Alexandria
, and the Holy See of Rome.
Relics
The
Syriac Orthodox Church
respects the relics of Saint Mary, and the saints. The most notable of these relics, are the
Holy Girdle
of the
Theotokos
and the relics of the
Thomas the Apostle
. The Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church kept some of these relics and celebrates them on occasions.
[25]
The church of India also has relics from other saints including
St. George the Martyr
,
St. Cyricus the Martyr
, as well as other saints.
Liturgy
Traditional baptismal font with indigenous sculptural elements at Akaparamb Mor Sapor Mor Prod Church.
The
liturgical service
is called
Holy Qurbono
in the
Syriac language
. The Liturgy of Saint James is celebrated on Sundays and special occasions. The Holy Eucharist consists of
Gospel
reading,
Bible readings
, prayers, and songs. Apart from certain readings, prayers are sung in the form of
chants
and
melodies
. Hundreds of melodies remain preserved in the book known as
Beth Gazo
.
[26]
Holy Bible
The official Bible of the church is the
Peshitta
or its Malayalam translation,
Vishudhagrandham
(??????? ???????) translated by Fr. Kurien Kaniamparambil.
Prayers
The Jacobite Syrian Christians pray from the
Shehimo
during
canonical hours
in accordance with
Psalm 119
. In 1910, Reverend Konattu Mathen Malpan translated the prayer book of the Syrian orthodox church into Malayalam, known as Pampakuda Namaskaram, with permission from
Ignatius Abded Aloho II
.
[27]
[28]
It is the common prayer book of Syrian Orthodox Christians in India.
Theology
The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church officially accepted
Miaphysitism
per pictorial evidence in St. Mary's Knanaya Church of Kottayam,
Piravom Church
, and
Mulanthuruthy Church
since the first millennium.
[29]
In punishment by the cross (was) the suffering on this one; He who is true Christ and God above, and Guide ever Pure
?
Inscription of St. Mary's Knanaya Church, Kottayam
[30]
Nasrani Cross
The
Nasrani Cross
(Persian cross) is used by Syrian Christians of India, which spread in the early fourth century.
[31]
Dispute with Malankara Orthodox
The JSC and MOSC regularly engage in disputes over the former's staunch allegiance to the
Syriac Orthodox Church
. The latter proclaims the general agreement of territorial jurisdictions integral to the Orthodox Churches around the world and alleges that the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate illegally interferes in the temporal matters of the Malankara Church. The JSC lost many of its prominent churches to the Malankara Orthodox after the Supreme Court of India's verdict, despite having absolute majority in many of those churches.
[32]
After the long struggle for talks on churches that were dismissed by Malankara Orthodox, the Jacobite Syrian Church decided to end their sacramental relationship with them in 2022.
[33]
Cemetery ordinance
As per Supreme Court Order 2017, the Syrian Church disputed its rights to attend holy mass and rituals and took the proposed ordinance for cemeteries. The ordinance gives the right for every person to attend rituals and laws passed on by the majority votes with the support of the chief minister, ministers and other Assembly members.
[34]
Sacramental relationships
Catholic Church
According to the Agreement of Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I and
Pope John Paul II
, the
Catholic Church
and Syriac Orthodox Church have a relationship between sacraments of Penance, Eucharist and Anointing of the Sick for a grave spiritual need.
[35]
[36]
Marthoma Syrian Church
The
Mar Thoma Syrian Church
also known as Malankara Mar Thoma, or Reformed Syrian church of
Malabar
and Jacobite Syrian Church attend prayer meetings and marriage ceremonies together. They continue their synods in recognition of theological acceptance and Holy Communion from their understanding. The Holy Myron was given by
Ignatius Elias II
in 1842. The Mar Thoma church does not use the ecclesiastical title of
Ignatius
and
Baselios
to honor the Syriac Orthodox Church.
[37]
Catholicate
Tomb of
Baselios Yeldo
Maphrian of the East
(Catholicos) in the
Marthoma CheriyaPally
By the fourth century, the bishops of Antioch, Alexandria and Rome became the heads of the regional churches, and were known as patriarchs In the seventh century, the Syriac Orthodox Christians who lived outside the Roman Empire began using the title for its maphrian, for their head. This office ranked right below the Patriarch of Antioch in Syriac Orthodox church hierarchy, until it was abolished in 1860 and reinstated in 1964 in India.
Catholicos of India
The
Maphrian of India
(Catholicos) is an ecclesiastical office of the
Syriac Orthodox Church
and the local head of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church. He is the head of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, which is a part of the Syriac Orthodox Church. The jurisdiction of Catholicos is limited to India so to avoid disambiguation and avoid legal issues. The Syriac Orthodox Church uses the title Catholicos of India, distinct from
Catholicos of the East
.
[38]
Fathers of the Church
The following saints from Malankara are included in the 5th
Diptych
(Canon of the Church Fathers):
Dioceses
Dioceses in Kerala
Dioceses outside Kerala
- Mangalore Diocese
- Bangalore Diocese
- Mylapore Diocese
[49]
(formerly Chennai Diocese)
- Mumbai Diocese
- Delhi Diocese
[50]
Bishops of the church
See also
References
- ^
History of Jacobite Syrian Church
- ^
Malankara Church
- ^
"Syriac Orthodox Church"
. Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
. Retrieved
20 June
2022
.
- ^
"Jacobite Syrian Christian Church Constitution 2002 (in Malayalam) The official Constitution of the Church"
(PDF)
.
- ^
Chaillot, Christine (2006). "The Ancient Oriental Churches". In
Wainwright, Geoffrey
; Westerfield Tucker, Karen B. (eds.).
The Oxford History of Christian Worship
.
Oxford
:
Oxford University Press
. p. 132.
ISBN
978-0-19-513886-3
.
- ^
K.C. Zachariah, "Religious Denominations of Kerala" (Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India), Working Paper 468, April 2016, p. 29
- ^
"JSC News - The Official News Portal of the Holy Jacobite Syrian Christian Church"
. Archived from the original on 7 October 2013.
{{
cite web
}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
link
)
- ^
"Pastoral message of H.B Thomas I, Maphrian of India, Jacobite Church Head in India"
. Archived from
the original
on 17 September 2016
. Retrieved
19 February
2023
.
- ^
"Official Publication of Jacobite Syrian Christian Church"
. Archived from
the original
on 18 December 2019
. Retrieved
19 February
2023
.
- ^
"Jacobite Syrian Christian Church Constitution 2002 (in Malayalam) The official Constitution of the Church"
(PDF)
.
- ^
"India ? Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch"
.
syrianorthodoxchurch.org
. Retrieved
16 March
2022
.
- ^
"Metropolitan's from the Syriac Orthodox Church of India Visits Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II"
. 21 October 2016.
- ^
Alexander, George (2018).
The Orthodox Dilemma
(3rd rev. ed.). OCP Publications. p. 56.
ISBN
9781387922284
.
- ^
"Saint Thomas Christians- Chronological Events from First Century to Twenty First Century"
.
Nasranis
.
- ^
Thomas, Abraham Vazhayil (1974).
Christians in Secular India
. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press.
ISBN
9780838610213
.
- ^
Joseph, John (1984).
Muslim-Christian Relations and Inter-Christian Rivalries in the Middle East: The Case of the Jacobites in an Age of Transition
. SUNY Press.
ISBN
9781438408064
.
- ^
"Mor Ya'qub Burdono (St. Jacob Baradaeus)"
.
www.syriacchristianity.info
. Retrieved
1 September
2021
.
- ^
Joseph, Thomas.
"Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church"
.
Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage: Electronic Edition
.
- ^
"CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: First Council of Nicaea"
.
www.newadvent.org
. Retrieved
22 October
2023
.
- ^
"Catholicate of the East"
.
www.syriacchristianity.info
. Retrieved
22 October
2023
.
- ^
Fahlbusch, Erwin; Lochman, Jan Milic; Mbiti, John S.; Vischer, Lukas; Bromiley, Geoffrey William (2003).
The Encyclopedia of Christianity (Encyclopedia of Christianity) Volume 5
. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. pp. 285?286.
ISBN
0-8028-2417-X
.
- ^
Nicea Synod Canon 6
- ^
"St.Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Manarcad"
. Retrieved
1 September
2021
.
- ^
Patrologia syriaca: complectens opera omnia ss. patrum, doctorum scriptorumque catholicorum, quibus accedunt aliorum acatholicorum auctorum scripta quae ad res ecclesiasticas pertinent, quotquot syriace supersunt, secundum codices praesertim, londinenses, parisienses, vaticanos accurante R. Graffin ...
Firmin-Didot et socii. 1926.
- ^
http://www.pampakudavaliyapally.com/details.php?page=1&id=4
[
bare URL
]
- ^
"Konatt Mathen Corepiscopo"
.
- ^
Kottayam Valiyapally Mural Painting
- ^
Burnell, Arthur Coke (1874).
On some Pahlav? inscriptions in South India
. p. 314.
- ^
"Nasrani Cross"
.
www.seiyaku.com
. Retrieved
1 September
2021
.
- ^
Explained | The Piravom church stand-off and the century-old rivalry among two Christian factions in Kerala
- ^
"Sacramental Relationship"
. Archived from
the original
on 1 November 2020
. Retrieved
29 March
2021
.
- ^
Cemetery Ordinance News
- ^
Agreement
- ^
Common Declaration
- ^
"CONSTITUTION OF THE SYRIAC ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ANTIOCH"
.
malankaraworld.com
.
- ^
"Catholicate of the East"
.
catholicose.org
. Archived from
the original
on 14 July 2014.
- ^
"Kollam Diocese of Jacobite Syrian Church"
. Archived from
the original
on 25 March 2019
. Retrieved
5 March
2015
.
- ^
"Official site of Thumpamon Diocese"
. Thumpamon Diocese. Archived from
the original
on 12 March 2015
. Retrieved
5 March
2015
.
- ^
"Niranam Diocese of Jacobite Syrian Christian Church"
. Niranam Diocese
. Retrieved
26 September
2017
.
- ^
"Kottayam Diocese"
. Kottayam Diocese
. Retrieved
26 September
2017
.
- ^
"Official website of Idukki Dioces"
. Retrieved
26 September
2017
.
- ^
"Kandanad Diocese - Jacobite Syrian Christian Church"
. Kandanad Diocese. Archived from
the original
on 22 February 2015
. Retrieved
26 September
2017
.
- ^
Kochi Diocese of Jacobite Syrian Church
Retrieved 26 September 2017.
- ^
"Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church"
. Thrissur Diocese. Archived from
the original
on 10 August 2018
. Retrieved
26 September
2017
.
- ^
"Kozhikode Diocese - Jacobite Syrian Christian Church"
. Kozhikode Diocese. Archived from
the original
on 26 September 2018
. Retrieved
26 September
2017
.
- ^
"Official Website of Malabar Diocese, Jacobite Syrian Christian Church"
. Malabar Diocese. Archived from
the original
on 30 March 2018
. Retrieved
26 September
2017
.
- ^
"Mylapore Diocese - Diocese of Jacobite Syrian Christian Church"
. Mylapore Diocese. Archived from
the original
on 15 February 2015
. Retrieved
26 September
2017
.
- ^
"Delhi Diocese of Jacobite Syrian Church"
. Delhi Diocese
. Retrieved
26 September
2017
.
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