Catholicose

(Greek Katholikos, universal). Catholicose (plural Catholicoi) is a title used by the head bishop of any of certain Eastern churches. It is derived from the Greek Καθολικος, meaning universal or general.

The title seems to have arisen sometime after the establishment of five patriarchs (of Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem). The title first seems to have been applied to a deputy of the Patriarch of Antioch who administered the churches east of the Roman Empire, under Persian control. This Catholicose of the East was known as Maphryānā (translated as Maphrian or Fructifier) in Syriac. Likewise, the heads of major churches outside of the Roman Empire bore the title Catholicose.

The title is used in the Armenian Apostolic Church, which is one of the Oriental Orthodox churches. His Holiness, the Catholicose of All Armenians presides over the Supreme Spiritual Council (the Armenian Church's governing college of bishops), and is the head of the world's 7 million Armenian Apostolic Christians. It is also used in the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church, whose head carries the title Catholicose-Patriarch of All Georgia. Historically, the title was also used by the chief bishop of Caucasian Albania.

Catholicose of the East is title borne by a number of church leaders in India. The head of the Indian Orthodox Church and the leader of the Indian portion of the Syrian Orthodox Church both use this title. The latter, however, acknowledges the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch as his superior. Now the head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is often styled Catholicose, but is now legally a major archbishop.

Catholicose of the East

The Catholicose of the East is the title of the autonomous Primate of the East whose succession is that of St.Thomas the apostle, and who has a spiritual primacy of honor over all churches of the east. He is the supreme head of the Indian Orthodox Church. He is called the Catholicose of the East and Malankara Metropolitan. Two titles with separate responsibilities for a single individual.

Seal of the Catholicate of the East The Catholicose of the East consecrates Bishops for the Orthodox Church of the East, presides over the Episcopal Synod, declares its decisions and implements them, conducts administration as the representative of the Synod and consecrates the Holy Mooron (Oil).

The Malankara Metropolitan is the head of the Malankara Archdiocese, the President of the Malankara Syrian Christian Association and the Managing Committee. The Prime Jurisdiction regarding the temporal ecclesiastical and spiritual administration of the Malankara Church is vested in the Malankara Metropolitan subject to the provisions of the Church constitution.

Catholicate of the East was re-located from Persia, and established in India by H.H. Abdul Messiah, the Patriarch of Antioch in 1912, when H.H. Baselious Paulose I was ordained as the first Catholicose of the Indian Orthodox Church, at St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church, Niranam (Niranam Valiyapally).

The present Catholicose is His Holiness Catholicose Baselios Mar Thoma Didymos I Catholicose of the East and Malankara Metropolitan.

NESTORIANS

During the first five centuries Seleucia in Mesopotamia, subsequently the see of the Nestorian catholicos, was under the Patriarchate of Antioch. In the fifth century, as can be seen in the "Synodicon Orientale" (ed. Chabot), almost all the bishops of Seleucia-Ctesiphon bore the title of catholicos, without, however, severing their relations with Antioch; hence, originally, the word catholicos was not synonymous with patriarch. Owing to the political separation of the East from the West and to theological disputes, several attempts were made during the fifth century to secure religious independence. In the synod held at Seleucia under Dadjesus in 424 (cf. Synodicon, 51, text and 296. tr.) it was forbidden to appeal from the Catholicos of Seleucia to the Patriarch of Antioch. The breach, however, became complete and permanent under the Nestorian Mar Babai. The synod held under him (497 or 499) renewed the decree of independence from Antioch, and henceforth Seleucia became the centre of Nestorianism. The list of the Nestorian catholicoi is given by Bar Hebraeus (Chronicon ed. Abbeloos, and Lamy, III passim), the list is supplemented by the editors, III, 566 sqq. In the middle of the sixteenth century, in opposition to the Catholicos Mar Mama, several bishops met, elected Sullaka, and sent him to Rome for consecration. Since then there has been a Catholic patriarch whose residence is now at Mosul. A list of the catholicoi united with Rome is given by Abbeloos and Lamy, op. cit., 570 sqq. (See NESTORIANS)

ARMENIANS

            Among the Armenians also catholicos was originally a simple title for the principal bishop of the country; he was subordinate to the See of Caesarea in Cappadocia. The bishops of Albania and Georgia, although dependent on the Catholicos of Armenia bore the same title. Under King Pap and the Catholicos lousik Armenia asserted its independence of Caesarea. In the fifth century the Armenians adopted Monophysitism and anathematized the Council of Chalcedon, 491. Many of the catholicoi, however, especially after the Crusades, professed the orthodox Catholic Faith. The see of the Armenian catholicos, originally Achtichat, has varied considerably. Besides many schisms have taken place, and today there are no less than five Armenian catholicoi. One of them, the successor of the old catholicos, is at Sis in Cilicia, with jurisdiction over the Turkish provinces of Asia. His power in ecclesiastical matters, supreme in theory, is considerably curtailed in practice by the appointment of a catholicoi with additional powers in Constantinople. Since 1113 there is also an Armenian catholicos at Aghtamar with jurisdiction over the island of that name and the villages surrounding Lake Van. Another catholicos resides in Jerusalem, but with greatly reduced powers. In 1441 another schism occurred, and a catholicos was elected in Etchmiadzin in Greater Armenia. Today he bears the title of "Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians" and at least theoretically, is considered the principal catholicos by all non-Catholic Armanians. Since 1740 there has also been a Catholic catholicos in Constantinople with the title of Patriarch of Cilicia. He is recognized by the Porte as having jurisdiction over all Catholic Armenians in the Turkish possessions.
     In the beginning of the fourth Century Albania and Georgia (Iberia) were converted to Christianity by Armenian missionaries, and the principal bishop of each of these countries bore the title of catholicos, although neither of them was autocephalous. They followed the Armenians in rejecting the Council of Chalcedon. At the end of the sixth, or beginning of the seventh, century the Georgian catholicos asserted his independence and came back to orthodoxy. Henceforward the Georgian Church underwent the same evolutions as the Greek. In 1783 Georgia abolished the office of its catholicos, and placed itself under the Holy Synod of Russia, to which country it was united politically in 1801. The Albanian catholicos remained loyal to the Armenian Church, with the exception of a brief schism towards the end of the sixth century. Shortly afterwards Albania was assimilated partly with Armenia and partly with Georgia. There is no mention of any catholicos in Albania after the seventh century. It is asserted by some that the head of the Abyssinian Church, the Abuna, also bears the title of catholicos, but, although this name may have been applied to him by analogy, there is, to our knowledge, no authority for asserting that this title is used by the Abyssinian Church itself.

Apostolic Period

The Syrian church includes two major churches - the Syrian church of the West and the Church of the East. The Syrian Church of the East was founded by the Apostles of Christ. It was established and strengthened by Apostles St. Thomas, St. Thaddaeus among the twelve and other Apostles among the seventy. The 'Chair of succession' in the East is mentioned in ancient documents of the Church.

1. Mar Thoma Sleeha (St. Thomas the Apostle)

Apostle St.. Thomas. Founder of the Eastern Church. After establishing the Church in Persia, moved to India. Suffered Martyrdom in India. According to Canonical documents, such as Coptic Synaxarium, writings of early fathers, liturgical hymns of Orthodox Churches and local tradition of the Indian Church, St. Thomas established churches and ordained Bishops and presbyters for them. "Thoma Parvom", a traditional Indian work describes the works of Apostle Thomas in India.
AD 72: Martyrdom of St. Thomas in India

2. Mar Addai Sleeha (St. Thaddeus the Apostle)

Apostle St. Thaddeus. Mar Thomas Sleeha appointed St. Thaddeus in Persian regions and proceeded to India [].

3. Mar Aggai Sleeha

66-87

Apostle St. Aggai. According to the Doctrine of Thaddeus, an ancient Syriac document popular in Eastern Churches, Mar Aggai succeeded Mar Addai in the "chair".

4. Mar Mari Sleeha

88-120

5. Mar Abres

6. Mar Abraham I of Kashkar

159-171

7. Mar Yaco I

172-190

Alexandrian father Pantaenus visits India and records about Christians and existence of Gospel in India.

8. Mar Ahha d'Aboui

190-220

According to Tertullian, by AD 200, there were several bishoprics in the East during this period.

9. Mar Shahioupa

220-240

VACANT

240-317

But bishops existed. In AD 300, Bishop David of Basra visited India.
In AD 311 Emperor Constantine accepted Christian faith.

10. Mar Papa

317-329

A famous Catholicos of the East.   In AD 314 Persian Synod of Seleucia deposes Papa after he proposes that the bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon should have primacy over the other Eastern bishops. In AD 315 Emperor Constantine sends a letter to Shapur II urging him to protect Christians in his realm. Mar Papa restored as bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon with the title "Catholicos of the East".
AD 325: First Ecumenical Council of Nicea.
James of Nisibis and a Persian bishop from "India" recorded as attending the council.

11. Mar Shimoun Bar Sabba'e

329-341

After the departure of Mar Papa and Mar Shimun bar Sabbaeas succeeded as Catholicos
In AD 344, Catholicos Shimun Bar Sabbae suffered Martyrdon along with 5 bishops and 100 priests
The Knanaya Migration to India.
72 Mesopotamian Christian families immigrated to India. Mesopotamia was part of the Babylonian empire. The immigrants were under the jurisdiction of the Catholicos of the East in Seleucia-Ctesiphon. This church trace it's origin to the apostle St. Thomas. Mar Shimoun, the Catholicos of the East came to know about the Indian church through traders who had been trading with India. As directed by the Catholicos, Thomas Kinayi (Knayi Thoma), a merchant, organized an immigration of 72 families from seven tribes of Jewish Christians. They were accompanied by Bishop Mar Joseph of Uraha (now a place in Iraq) and four priests and a few deacons. On reaching the Indian coast (Malabar Coast) Thomas Kinayi visited the ruling King Cheraman Perumal and obtained from him land and some highly esteemed previleges. The Knanaya immigrants lived in unity with the St. Thomas Christians of India.

12. Mar Shalidoste

341-345

Suffered Martyrdom in 344.
Knayi Thoma and immigrants lead by him arrived Indian coast in AD 345.

13. Mar Barbashmin

345-346

Suffered Martyrdom in 346

VACANT

350-363

Bishops existed. In AD 354, Mar Theophilos visited India and Maldives.

14. Mar Toumarsa

363-371

15. Mar Qaioma

372-399

AD 381: Ecumenical Council of Constantinople.
In 390, Mar Abdyeshu builds monastery on the island of Bahrain

16. Mar Issac

399-410

17. Mar Ahha

410-415

410 First General Synod of the Persian Church (Synod of Isaac) confirms the primacy of the bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon as "Catholicos of all the Orient" and the equality of Seleucia-Ctesiphon with the sees of Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria and Rome, adopts the Nicene Creed and establishes metropolitans for Jundishapur, Nisibis, Basra, Arbela, and Kirkuk

18. Mar Yab-Alaha I

415-420

19. Maana

420

420 Second General Synod of the Persian Church (Synod of Yaballaha I)

20. Mar Frabokht

420-421

21. Mar Dadisho I

421-456

AD 431: Ecumenical Council of Ephesus
424 Third General Synod of the Persian Church (Synod of Dadyeshu) confirms Catholicos of the Church of the East as "Patriarch of the East" and asserts him as equal to all other patriarch.

22. Mar Babwahi

457-484

484 Persian Church Council in Jundishapur honors memory of Theodore of Mopsuestia and adopts a Nestorian confession of faith under influence of Barsauma, Metropolitan of Nisibis.

23. Mar Aqaq-Acace

485-496

486 Fourth General Synod of the Persian Church (Synod of Acacius) officially adopts Nestorian Christology and affirms right of priests and bishops to marry

24. Mar Babai I

497-503

25. Mar Shila

503-523

26. Mar Narsai Elisha

524-539

27. Mar Paul I

539-540

28. Mar Aba I

540-552

544 Sixth General Synod of the Persian Church (Synod of Mar Aba I) adopts the creed and decrees of the Council of Chalcedon

29. Mar Joseph I

552-566

30. Mar Ezecbiel

566-581

Reviving the non-Chalcedonian (Oriental Orthodox) Catholicate of the East.

In the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431), the faith of Patriarch St. Cyril of Alexandria was accepted as the Orthodox faith.
The terminology "Theotokos" was confirmed as consistent with the Orthodox faith. But a group of Eastern Christians remained loyal to the faith of Nestor, the Patriarch of Constantinople.
A non-Chalcedonian (Oriental Orthodox) revival happened in the Eastern Church with Patriarch Theodosius of Alexandria ordaining Mar Yakub Burdana (St. Jacob of Edessa) as a Catholicos (Universal Bishop). Mar Yakub Burdana strengthened the Oriental Orthodox Church in the Persia, Armenia, Mesopotomia and elevated Mar Ahoudemme as the Orthodox Catholicose of the East. Mar Ahoudemme was ordained a Bishop by Christophorus, the Catholicos of the Armenian Church.

31. Catholicos Mar Ahoudemme

559-77

Elevated Catholicos of the East by Mar Yakub Burdana. Suffered Martyrdom.

32. Catholicos Mar Qum Yeshu

578 - 79

33. Catholicos Mar Samuel

614 -24

Reduction of Catholicate of the East to "Maphriyan of the East"

A renaissance of the pre-Chalcedon faith began, led by Jacob Bardeus, emphasizing the West Syrian Christological tradition of the One United Nature, influencing the church in Persia as well. Availing the relatively equable political climate following the Arab conquest of Syria and other parts of West Asia, a Maphrianate of the anti-Chalcedonians was established by Mar Marutha, a native Persian, became the first Maphriana (Catholicos) of the East.

After Mar Samuel, the Catholicate was vacant. In 628, a reconciliation was reached between the Persian and Roman Empires. Patriarch Athanasius I (595-631) sent his secretary Rabban (Monk) Youhanna to the East. He met with Bishop Christophorus, head of the Monastery of St. Matthew and discussed with him the subject of resuming relations between the Church of Antioch and the Church in the East. The bishop convened a synod which was attended by Monk Youhanna and four regional bishops. They elected three monks, Marotha, Ithalaha and Aha as bishops. The patriarch honored the old custom of the Church of the East which allowed three bishops in the absence of the Catholicos.

Mar Marutha was installed to preside over the East as the "Maphriyan of the East". The jurisdiction of this Maphriyan extended to 18 Episcopal dioceses in lower Mesopotamia and East, but significantly, not to India. Mar Marutha of Tikrit (d. 649) was the first to be called Maphryono.

one of the three new bishops, as Bishop of Tikrit, and gave him authority to preside over the East, on his behalf. The above incident indicates that the Church in the East was autonomous and that its Catholicos who was installed by the patriarch had authority over all its bishoprics. Also we can see in the history of the church that the Patriarch was enthroned by the fathers of the church with the cooperation of the Catholicos. Several attempts have taken place for infringing this tradition.

Morooso (Tigris)

628 - 49

Reduction of Catholicate and origin of Maphriyanate:

Mar Marotha of Tikrit (d. 649) was the first to be called Maphryono. From him the Maphrianate took its line of succession.

Denha -1

650-59

Bar Yeshu

669-84

Abraham

686-87

David

687

Youhanon Soubo

687-88

Denha - 11

688-728

Paulos

728-57

Youhanon Keeyunoyo

758-88

Joseph

789-93

Sharbeel

794-810

Simun

812-828

Baselios Bar Baldoyo

828-838

Daniel

838 - 847

Thomas of Tigris

848-56

Lo Asar

856-69

Sargis

872-883

Athanasius

887 - 904

Thoma Asthunoro

912 - 13

Denha 111

915-35

Baselios 111

938-62

Kuriakos

964-82

Youhanan Darmascus

991-97

Ignatius Barkiki

997-1022

Athanasius of Edessa

1027 - 141

Baselious of Tigris

1046 - 69

Youhanan Sleeba

1075 - 1106

Dionysius Moosa

1112 - 42

Ignatius Lo Asar

1143-64

Youhanan Srugayo

1165- 88

Dionysius Bar Msah

1188 - 1204

Gregorios Yakoub

1204 - 15

Ignatius David

1215-22

Dionysius Sleeba

1222-31

Youhanan bar Madan

1232-53

Ignatius Sleeba of Edessa

1253-58

Gregorios Bar Hebraeus

266-86 (1264-1281)

Bishoprics of the East increased in number to the extent that they outnumbered the dioceses of the Church of Antioch during the time of Mar Gregorios Bar Ebraya. Bar `Ebroyo is considered to be one of the most famous and scholarly Maphryonos of the East.

Gregorios Bar Sauma

1289-1308

Gregorios Matthai

1317-60

Athanasius Abraham

1365-79

Baselios Bahnam

1404-12

Dioscoros Bahnam

1415-17

Baselios Barsauma

1422-55

Baselio Asiz

1471-87

Ignatius Nuh

1490-94

1490: Portuguese arrival in India and forced St. Thomas Christians of India to accept the Roman Catholic faith.
1490: St. Thomas Christians from India travel to the Catholicos (non-Ephesian) Patriarch in Gagarta, near Mosul, to bring back bishops for India.

Baselios Abraham

1494-96

1503: Catholicos Mar Eliyah (non-Ephesian) consecrates Metropolitans for India, Java and China.

Baselios

1560-89

Baselios Yalda (d. at Kothamangalam)

1634-85

1665: Relationship with the non-Chalcedonian Maphrianate established.
Declared saint by Catholicos and Malankara Metropolitan Mar Baselius Gheevarghese 11 in 1947.

Baselios Shakrulla (d . at Kandanad)

1751-64

Baselios Elias

1838-40

Baselios Bahnam in Malankara

1850-60

In the year 1860, after the death of Maphryono Mor Baselios Bahnam IV, the Maphrianate was abolished by a decision of a local synod held by the Antiochian Church.

The Rule of Malankara Metropolitans

By this time the non-Chalcedonian (Oriental Orthodox) section of the St. Thomas Christians of the East was confined mostly to India. In 1490, the Roman Catholic mission, which came to India with the Portuguese colonizers, tried to bring the Indian Church under their bishop Menezes and the rule of Rome. They convened the Synod of Diamper (Udayamperor), to bring Indian Christians of St. Thomas under the law of Peter, accepting the supremacy of rule of successors of Peter of Rome. Indian Christians of St. Thomas, under the leadership of Archdeacon Thomas rejected the Synod of Diamper and affirmed their St. Thomas heritage. 12 Indian priests layed hands and raised Archdeacon Thomas to the status of Metropolitan following the advice of Mar Ahatallah.

Mar Thoma I

1653-70

Consecrated by twelve Indian priests.

Mar Thoma II

1670-86

Consecrated by Mar Thoma 1

Mar Thoma III

1686-88

Mar Thoma 1V

1688-1728

Mar Thoma V

1728-65

Mar Thoma VI (Mar Dionysius 1)

1765-1808

Consecrated by Mar Thoma V in 1761.

Mar Thoma VII

1808-09

Consecrated by Mar Thoma VI in 1796

Mar Thoma VIII

1809-15

Consecrated by Mar Thoma VII

Pulukottil Joseph Mar Dionysios II

1815-16

Mar Philoxenos,Kidangan(Thozhiyur)

1816-17

Mar Thoma IX

1817 -

Consecrated by Mar Thoma VIII

Punnathara Mar Dionysios III

1817-25

Cheppad Mar Dionysius IV

1825-55

Palakunnath Mathews Mar Athanasius

1843-77

First bishop to get direct ordination from the Patriarch of Antioch. Returning back, he claimed to be the Malankara Metropolitan. But when he introduced reforms inspired by Protestant faith of English missionaries, he was removed.

Pulikottil Joseph Mar Dionysius V

1864-1909

A royal proclamation accepting Mar Dionysius 11 as the lawful Malankara Metropolitan was issued from the Regent Maharani Laxmibai of Travancore in January 1816. Thereafter, Mar Dionysius took over the reigns as the Malankara Metropolitan.

St. Dionysius (Vattasheril Gheevarghese Mar Dionysius V1)

1908-34

Elected by the Malankara Association 1908.

Reviving the Catholicate of the East in India and its merger with Malankara Metropolitan

By the 20th century the non-Chalcedonian (Oriental Orthodox) Christians of the East were confined mostly to India. The Malankara Metropolitan Vattasheril Mar Dionysius negotiated with Patriarch Mar Abded Messih. With the support of the Patriarch, the Catholicate of the East was restored in India in 1912. The identity and status of the Catholicate of the East was accepted in the Oriental Orthodox Ecumenical council of Addis Ababa, 1965, which was described in the official minutes as the Ecumenical Council of Orthodox Churches after the Council of Ephesus (AD 431). In this council, the Catholicos of the East was addressed "The Catholicos of the ancient See of St. Thomas".

1912-1914

Elected by the Malankara Association. Oriental Orthodox community of India under the leadership of Vattasheril Mar Divannasios (Mar Dionysius) negotiated with Antioch. This resulted in reviving the Catholicate of the East in India. The title "Maphroyono", which is a reduction introduced in 7th century was abolished and the original title of the head of the East Church "Catholicose of the East" revived by the Indian Church of St. Thomas.

Mar Baselios Geevarghese I

1925-28

Elected by the Malankara Association.

Mar Baselios Geevarghese II

1929-64

Elected by the Malankara Association. During his the Malankara Church remained united. the Constitution of 1934 was accepted as the united constitution of the Orthodox Syrian Church of the East.

1965: Ecumenical Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Mar Baselios Ougen 1

1974-75

Elected by the Malankara Association. Participated in the Ecumenical Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches held in 1965, Addis Ababa, representing the Orthodox Church of India. This council is described as the fourth Ecumenical council of the Church after Ephesus (AD 431).

When the Patriarch Yakub 111 of the Syrian Church taught that Apostle Thomas lacks in priesthood, Catholicose Mar Ougen strongly refuted the teaching and safeguarded the faith of St. Thomas Christians of India.

Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I

1975 - 1991

Received Pope John Paul 11 of Rome and expressed the concerns about division caused by RCC leading to the formation of Malanakara Catholic Church.

Malankara Church represented in the dialogues between Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches.

Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II

1991-2005

Visited the Armenian Orthodox Church in 2001.

The March 20, 2002 Malankara Association decided his status as the Malankara Metropolitan and the Indian Supreme Court confirmed his status.

Mar Baselios Didimus I

2005-

Visited the Armenian Orthodox Church in 2001.

The March 20, 2002 Malankara Association decided his status as the Malankara Metropolitan and the Indian Supreme Court confirmed his status.

Apostolic Period
The Syrian church includes two major churches - the Syrian church of the West and the Church of the East. The Syrian Church of the East was founded by the Apostles of Christ. It was established and strengthened by Apostles St. Thomas, St. Thaddaeus among the twelve and other Apostles among the seventy. The 'Chair of succession' in the East is mentioned in ancient documents of the Church.

1. Mar Thoma Sleeha (St. Thomas the Apostle)		Apostle St.. Thomas. Founder of the Eastern Church. After establishing the Church in Persia, moved to India. Suffered Martyrdom in India. According to Canonical documents, such as Coptic Synaxarium, writings of early fathers, liturgical hymns of Orthodox Churches and local tradition of the Indian Church, St. Thomas established churches and ordained Bishops and presbyters for them. "Thoma Parvom", a traditional Indian work describes the works of Apostle Thomas in India. AD 72: Martyrdom of St. Thomas in India

2. Mar Addai Sleeha (St. Thaddeus the Apostle)		Apostle St. Thaddeus. Mar Thomas Sleeha appointed St. Thaddeus in Persian regions and proceeded to India [].

3. Mar Aggai Sleeha	66-87	Apostle St. Aggai. According to the Doctrine of Thaddeus, an ancient Syriac document popular in Eastern Churches, Mar Aggai succeeded Mar Addai in the "chair".

4. Mar Mari Sleeha	88-120

5. Mar Abres

6. Mar Abraham I of Kashkar	159-171

7. Mar Yaco I	172-190	Alexandrian father Pantaenus visits India and records about Christians and existence of Gospel in India.

8. Mar Ahha d'Aboui	190-220	According to Tertullian, by AD 200, there were several bishoprics in the East during this period.

9. Mar Shahioupa	220-240

VACANT	240-317	But bishops existed. In AD 300, Bishop David of Basra visited India. In AD 311 Emperor Constantine accepted Christian faith.
10. Mar Papa	317-329	A famous Catholicos of the East. In AD 314 Persian Synod of Seleucia deposes Papa after he proposes that the bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon should have primacy over the other Eastern bishops. In AD 315 Emperor Constantine sends a letter to Shapur II urging him to protect Christians in his realm. Mar Papa restored as bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon with the title "Catholicos of the East". AD 325: First Ecumenical Council of Nicea. James of Nisibis and a Persian bishop from "India" recorded as attending the council.

11. Mar Shimoun Bar Sabba'e	329-341	After the departure of Mar Papa and Mar Shimun bar Sabbaeas succeeded as Catholicos In AD 344, Catholicos Shimun Bar Sabbae suffered Martyrdon along with 5 bishops and 100 priests The Knanaya Migration to India. 72 Mesopotamian Christian families immigrated to India. Mesopotamia was part of the Babylonian empire. The immigrants were under the jurisdiction of the Catholicos of the East in Seleucia-Ctesiphon. This church trace it's origin to the apostle St. Thomas. Mar Shimoun, the Catholicos of the East came to know about the Indian church through traders who had been trading with India. As directed by the Catholicos, Thomas Kinayi (Knayi Thoma), a merchant, organized an immigration of 72 families from seven tribes of Jewish Christians. They were accompanied by Bishop Mar Joseph of Uraha (now a place in Iraq) and four priests and a few deacons. On reaching the Indian coast (Malabar Coast) Thomas Kinayi visited the ruling King Cheraman Perumal and obtained from him land and some highly esteemed previleges. The Knanaya immigrants lived in unity with the St. Thomas Christians of India.

12. Mar Shalidoste	341-345	Suffered Martyrdom in 344. Knayi Thoma and immigrants lead by him arrived Indian coast in AD 345.

13. Mar Barbashmin	345-346	Suffered Martyrdom in 346

VACANT	350-363	Bishops existed. In AD 354, Mar Theophilos visited India and Maldives.

14. Mar Toumarsa	363-371

15. Mar Qaioma	372-399	AD 381: Ecumenical Council of Constantinople. In 390, Mar Abdyeshu builds monastery on the island of Bahrain

16. Mar Issac	399-410

17. Mar Ahha	410-415	410 First General Synod of the Persian Church (Synod of Isaac) confirms the primacy of the bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon as "Catholicos of all the Orient" and the equality of Seleucia-Ctesiphon with the sees of Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria and Rome, adopts the Nicene Creed and establishes metropolitans for Jundishapur, Nisibis, Basra, Arbela, and Kirkuk

18. Mar Yab-Alaha I	415-420

19. Maana	420	420 Second General Synod of the Persian Church (Synod of Yaballaha I)

20. Mar Frabokht	420-421

21. Mar Dadisho I	421-456	AD 431: Ecumenical Council of Ephesus 424 Third General Synod of the Persian Church (Synod of Dadyeshu) confirms Catholicos of the Church of the East as "Patriarch of the East" and asserts him as equal to all other patriarch.

22. Mar Babwahi	457-484	484 Persian Church Council in Jundishapur honors memory of Theodore of Mopsuestia and adopts a Nestorian confession of faith under influence of Barsauma, Metropolitan of Nisibis.

23. Mar Aqaq-Acace	485-496	486 Fourth General Synod of the Persian Church (Synod of Acacius) officially adopts Nestorian Christology and affirms right of priests and bishops to marry

24. Mar Babai I	497-503

25. Mar Shila	503-523

26. Mar Narsai Elisha	524-539

27. Mar Paul I	539-540

28. Mar Aba I	540-552	544 Sixth General Synod of the Persian Church (Synod of Mar Aba I) adopts the creed and decrees of the Council of Chalcedon

29. Mar Joseph I	552-566

30. Mar Ezecbiel	566-581

Reviving the non-Chalcedonian (Oriental Orthodox) Catholicate of the East.
In the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431), the faith of Patriarch St. Cyril of Alexandria was accepted as the Orthodox faith. The terminology "Theotokos" was confirmed as consistent with the Orthodox faith. But a group of Eastern Christians remained loyal to the faith of Nestor, the Patriarch of Constantinople. A non-Chalcedonian (Oriental Orthodox) revival happened in the Eastern Church with Patriarch Theodosius of Alexandria ordaining Mar Yakub Burdana (St. Jacob of Edessa) as a Catholicos (Universal Bishop). Mar Yakub Burdana strengthened the Oriental Orthodox Church in the Persia, Armenia, Mesopotomia and elevated Mar Ahoudemme as the Orthodox Catholicose of the East. Mar Ahoudemme was ordained a Bishop by Christophorus, the Catholicos of the Armenian Church.

31. Catholicos Mar Ahoudemme	559-77	Elevated Catholicos of the East by Mar Yakub Burdana. Suffered Martyrdom.

32. Catholicos Mar Qum Yeshu	578 - 79

33. Catholicos Mar Samuel	614 -24

Reduction of Catholicate of the East to "Maphriyan of the East"

A renaissance of the pre-Chalcedon faith began, led by Jacob Bardeus, emphasizing the West Syrian Christological tradition of the One United Nature, influencing the church in Persia as well. Availing the relatively equable political climate following the Arab conquest of Syria and other parts of West Asia, a Maphrianate of the anti-Chalcedonians was established by Mar Marutha, a native Persian, became the first Maphriana (Catholicos) of the East.

After Mar Samuel, the Catholicate was vacant. In 628, a reconciliation was reached between the Persian and Roman Empires. Patriarch Athanasius I (595-631) sent his secretary Rabban (Monk) Youhanna to the East. He met with Bishop Christophorus, head of the Monastery of St. Matthew and discussed with him the subject of resuming relations between the Church of Antioch and the Church in the East. The bishop convened a synod which was attended by Monk Youhanna and four regional bishops. They elected three monks, Marotha, Ithalaha and Aha as bishops. The patriarch honored the old custom of the Church of the East which allowed three bishops in the absence of the Catholicos.

Mar Marutha was installed to preside over the East as the "Maphriyan of the East". The jurisdiction of this Maphriyan extended to 18 Episcopal dioceses in lower Mesopotamia and East, but significantly, not to India. Mar Marutha of Tikrit (d. 649) was the first to be called Maphryono.

one of the three new bishops, as Bishop of Tikrit, and gave him authority to preside over the East, on his behalf. The above incident indicates that the Church in the East was autonomous and that its Catholicos who was installed by the patriarch had authority over all its bishoprics. Also we can see in the history of the church that the Patriarch was enthroned by the fathers of the church with the cooperation of the Catholicos. Several attempts have taken place for infringing this tradition.

Morooso (Tigris)	628 - 49	Reduction of Catholicate and origin of Maphriyanate: Mar Marotha of Tikrit (d. 649) was the first to be called Maphryono. From him the Maphrianate took its line of succession.

Denha -1	650-59

Bar Yeshu	669-84

Abraham	686-87

David	687

Youhanon Soubo	687-88

Denha - 11	688-728

Paulos	728-57

Youhanon Keeyunoyo	758-88

Joseph	789-93

Sharbeel	794-810

Simun	812-828

Baselios Bar Baldoyo	828-838

Daniel	838 - 847

Thomas of Tigris	848-56

Lo Asar	856-69

Sargis	872-883

Athanasius	887 - 904

Thoma Asthunoro	912 - 13

Denha 111	915-35

Baselios 111	938-62

Kuriakos	964-82

Youhanan Darmascus	991-97

Ignatius Barkiki	997-1022

Athanasius of Edessa	1027 - 141

Baselious of Tigris	1046 - 69

Youhanan Sleeba	1075 - 1106

Dionysius Moosa	1112 - 42

Ignatius Lo Asar	1143-64

Youhanan Srugayo	1165- 88

Dionysius Bar Msah	1188 - 1204

Gregorios Yakoub	1204 - 15

Ignatius David	1215-22

Dionysius Sleeba	1222-31

Youhanan bar Madan	1232-53

Ignatius Sleeba of Edessa	1253-58

Gregorios Bar Hebraeus	266-86 (1264-1281)	Bishoprics of the East increased in number to the extent that they outnumbered the dioceses of the Church of Antioch during the time of Mar Gregorios Bar Ebraya. Bar `Ebroyo is considered to be one of the most famous and scholarly Maphryonos of the East.

Gregorios Bar Sauma	1289-1308

Gregorios Matthai	1317-60

Athanasius Abraham	1365-79

Baselios Bahnam	1404-12

Dioscoros Bahnam	1415-17

Baselios Barsauma	1422-55

Baselio Asiz	1471-87

Ignatius Nuh	1490-94	1490: Portuguese arrival in India and forced St. Thomas Christians of India to accept the Roman Catholic faith. 1490: St. Thomas Christians from India travel to the Catholicos (non-Ephesian) Patriarch in Gagarta, near Mosul, to bring back bishops for India.

Baselios Abraham	1494-96	1503: Catholicos Mar Eliyah (non-Ephesian) consecrates Metropolitans for India, Java and China.

Baselios	1560-89

Baselios Yalda (d. at Kothamangalam)	1634-85	1665: Relationship with the non-Chalcedonian Maphrianate established. Declared saint by Catholicos and Malankara Metropolitan Mar Baselius Gheevarghese 11 in 1947.

Baselios Shakrulla (d . at Kandanad)	1751-64

Baselios Elias	1838-40

Baselios Bahnam in Malankara	1850-60	In the year 1860, after the death of Maphryono Mor Baselios Bahnam IV, the Maphrianate was abolished by a decision of a local synod held by the Antiochian Church.

The Rule of Malankara Metropolitans

By this time the non-Chalcedonian (Oriental Orthodox) section of the St. Thomas Christians of the East was confined mostly to India. In 1490, the Roman Catholic mission, which came to India with the Portuguese colonizers, tried to bring the Indian Church under their bishop Menezes and the rule of Rome. They convened the Synod of Diamper (Udayamperor), to bring Indian Christians of St. Thomas under the law of Peter, accepting the supremacy of rule of successors of Peter of Rome. Indian Christians of St. Thomas, under the leadership of Archdeacon Thomas rejected the Synod of Diamper and affirmed their St. Thomas heritage. 12 Indian priests layed hands and raised Archdeacon Thomas to the status of Metropolitan following the advice of Mar Ahatallah.

Mar Thoma I	1653-70	Consecrated by twelve Indian priests.

Mar Thoma II	1670-86	Consecrated by Mar Thoma 1

Mar Thoma III	1686-88

Mar Thoma 1V	1688-1728

Mar Thoma V	1728-65

Mar Thoma VI (Mar Dionysius 1)	1765-1808	Consecrated by Mar Thoma V in 1761.

Mar Thoma VII	1808-09	Consecrated by Mar Thoma VI in 1796

Mar Thoma VIII	1809-15	Consecrated by Mar Thoma VII

Pulukottil Joseph Mar Dionysios II	1815-16

Mar Philoxenos,Kidangan(Thozhiyur)	1816-17

Mar Thoma IX	1817 -	Consecrated by Mar Thoma VIII

Punnathara Mar Dionysios III	1817-25

Cheppad Mar Dionysius IV	1825-55

Palakunnath Mathews Mar Athanasius	1843-77	First bishop to get direct ordination from the Patriarch of Antioch. Returning back, he claimed to be the Malankara Metropolitan. But when he introduced reforms inspired by Protestant faith of English missionaries, he was removed.

Pulikottil Joseph Mar Dionysius V	1864-1909	A royal proclamation accepting Mar Dionysius 11 as the lawful Malankara Metropolitan was issued from the Regent Maharani Laxmibai of Travancore in January 1816. Thereafter, Mar Dionysius took over the reigns as the Malankara Metropolitan.

St. Dionysius (Vattasheril Gheevarghese Mar Dionysius V1)	1908-34	Elected by the Malankara Association 1908.

Reviving the Catholicate of the East in India and its merger with Malankara Metropolitan

By the 20th century the non-Chalcedonian (Oriental Orthodox) Christians of the East were confined mostly to India. The Malankara Metropolitan Vattasheril Mar Dionysius negotiated with Patriarch Mar Abded Messih. With the support of the Patriarch, the Catholicate of the East was restored in India in 1912. The identity and status of the Catholicate of the East was accepted in the Oriental Orthodox Ecumenical council of Addis Ababa, 1965, which was described in the official minutes as the Ecumenical Council of Orthodox Churches after the Council of Ephesus (AD 431). In this council, the Catholicos of the East was addressed "The Catholicos of the ancient See of St. Thomas".

	1912-1914	Elected by the Malankara Association. Oriental Orthodox community of India under the leadership of Vattasheril Mar Divannasios (Mar Dionysius) negotiated with Antioch. This resulted in reviving the Catholicate of the East in India. The title "Maphroyono", which is a reduction introduced in 7th century was abolished and the original title of the head of the East Church "Catholicose of the East" revived by the Indian Church of St. Thomas.

Mar Baselios Geevarghese I	1925-28	Elected by the Malankara Association.

Mar Baselios Geevarghese II	1929-64	Elected by the Malankara Association. During his the Malankara Church remained united. the Constitution of 1934 was accepted as the united constitution of the Orthodox Syrian Church of the East.
1965: Ecumenical Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches.
Mar Baselios Ougen 1	1974-75	Elected by the Malankara Association. Participated in the Ecumenical Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches held in 1965, Addis Ababa, representing the Orthodox Church of India. This council is described as the fourth Ecumenical council of the Church after Ephesus (AD 431). When the Patriarch Yakub 111 of the Syrian Church taught that Apostle Thomas lacks in priesthood, Catholicose Mar Ougen strongly refuted the teaching and safeguarded the faith of St. Thomas Christians of India.

Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I	1975 - 1991	Received Pope John Paul 11 of Rome and expressed the concerns about division caused by RCC leading to the formation of Malanakara Catholic Church. Malankara Church represented in the dialogues between Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches.

Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II	1991-2005	Visited the Armenian Orthodox Church in 2001. The March 20, 2002 Malankara Association decided his status as the Malankara Metropolitan and the Indian Supreme Court confirmed his status.


Mar Baselios Didimus I	2005-	Visited the Armenian Orthodox Church in 2001. The March 20, 2002 Malankara Association decided his status as the Malankara Metropolitan and the Indian Supreme Court confirmed his status.