Click here to go next Page

The Fathers who led the Sabha

St.Thomas AD 52-AD 72(Dec-21) the Apostle of India St.Thomas a disciple of Jesus Christ, who came to Kerala in 52 A.D. is the founder of the Christian community in Kerala. The Brahmin families who got converted to Christianity and the Churches he established heralded the advent of a new era of enlightenment. The Christians of Kerala are known by different names: Marthoma Christians, Malankara Nasranis, Syrian Christians, mapillas, Tharisians, 'Arupathinalkurs' and soon. History infers that these people who had achieved oneness with the cultural mainstream were in religion Christian, by worship Eastern and by culture completely Indian. Margamkalipattu, Ramban Pattu, Knanya Thoman Plaque (345 A.D) Tharisapalli Royal decrea (849 A.D), Virara- ghava Royal decree (230 A. D? 14 A.D?) these historical records are pointers to the golden age of the bygone years of the Mar Thoma Christians. Though Malankara Church had connection with the Persian Church so far as leadership was concerned in administrative matters the Archdeacon or Archdeacon was the supreme regional spiritual leader. The Archdeacon guided the believers in all things relating to the religious, social, political and racial matters. Only Keralite priests were selected for this important post. The names' Jathiku Karthavyan 'and Jathiku Thalavan' also knew the Archdeacon. The Archdeacons evolved a regional administrative set up based on ' Marthoman Law' embedded in the Marthoman traditions. The palliyogam or (Church committee) consisted of the required number of representatives of the laity and the Vicar. These parish committee used to execute the administration of the Church. It is clear that they established a completely free/ independent 'Christian Republic'. We don't have an authentic list of the Archdeacons and Metropolitans who ruled the Church before the great Fathers bearing the name of Mar Thoma assumed spiritual leadership. Therefore, without attempting to include hypothetical statements regarding that, a brief history of the Fathers bearing the name of " Mar Thoma " is given below. Mar Thoma I 1653-1670 Ist Catholicose Mar Thoma I was the successor of Archdeacon Geevarghese pakalomattom who was the Archdeacon of Malankara Syrian church during and immediately after the Udaymperoor Synod (1599). (Archdeacon Pakalomattom Thomas). In 1653, at the Alangatt Church meeting (Yogam), twelve priests installed him as the Metroplitan of Malankara Syrian Church. To confirm this rank, the Metroploitan and leaders of the Church together wrote letters to the patriarchs of Alexandria and Antioch to send a higher authority. In 1665 the Metropolitan of Jerusalem Mar Gregorios came to Malankara and conferred on Mar Thoma the Apostolic blessings.' Mar Thoma I' was a courageous man who protected the true faith and the independence of the Malankara Church. In Church history, 'Mar Thoma I' has been described as ' Mar Thoma I the great'. He passed away on 22 April 1670. His mortal remains are interred in Angamaly Church. His death anniversary is celebrated on 25th April. Mar Thoma II 1670-1686 2nd Catholicose Mar Thoma II is the nephew of the Mar Thoma I and in 1665 when the Metropolitan of Jerusalem Mar Gregorios came; he was consecrated as Mar Thoma II. Having shouldered the administration of the Malankara Church from 1670 and preserved the faith and given leadership to its activities, he passed away on 13 April 1686. His mortal remains are interred in the Niranam Church. His death anniversary is on 14th April. Mar Thoma III 1686-1688 3rd Catholicose After the end of Mar Thoma II's administration, in 1686 Metropolitan Mar Ivanios anointed another member of the Pakalomattom family as Mar Thoma III. He visited all the important Churches of Malankara during his regime and administered the Church efficiently. At the ancient St: Thomas Church of Kadambanad, he fell ill and passed away on 19th April 1688. He was laid to rest in St. Thomas (Valiya) Church, Kadambanad. His Anniversary is on 21st April. Mar Thoma IV 1688-1728 4th Catholicose In 1688 he was consecrated as Mar Thoma IV. It was during this period that as per the order of Catholicos Elisa of Baghdad that the Nesthorian Metropolitan started propagating Nesthorian faith. But Mar Thoma IV opposed him stoutly and nullified the blasphemous Nesthorian beliefs.He consecrated his successor and passed away on 24 March 1728. He was laid to rest in Martha Mariam Church at Kandanad. His Death Anniversary is on 25th March. Mar Thoma V 1728-1765 5th Catholicose Mar Thoma IV consecrated a member of the pakalomattom family as Mar ThomaV. As a result of the rejection by a faction of his authority, an attempt was made to bring foreign Metropolitans and change his name 'Mar Thoma' and consecrate him Metroploitan under the name 'Mar Dionysius'. But he did not submit to this, and stood firmly working relentlessly for the independence of the Malankara Church. On 18 Dhanu 1754 the foreign Metroplitans signed an agreement declaring that they would not give ordination to anyone without the permission of the Malankara Metroploitan nor interfere in administrative aspects of the Church. Mar Thoma V passed away on 8th May 1765 and his mortal remains are interred in the Niranam Church. Anniversary 8th May. Mar Thoma VI 1765-1808 6th Catholicose Valiya Mar Dionysius As the successor of Mar Thoma V, Marthoma VI was consecrated in 1761 at Niranam. In order to work in harmony with the Metropolitans of Antioch, he accepted on 10 July 1770 the name, Mar Dionysius. He was an extraordinarily capable, clever and shrewd administrator.It was on 8 April 1808 that he passed away. He was laid to rest in St.Mary's Church, Puthencavu. His Anniversary is on 8th April. Mar Thoma VII 1808-1809 7th Catholicose Mar Thoma VII Valiya Mar Dionysius' nephew Ramban Mathanw as on 5 May 1796 consecrated in Syrian Church, Chengannur as Mar Thoma VII. Though his tenure was (1808-1809) was brief, many administrative and leadership lessons were to be learnt from him. On I December 1808, the interest money (Vattipanam) that was collected as a fixed deposit of the Church was handed over to the Government and receipt thereot accepted. His demise was on 4th July 1809 at Kandanad. He was laid to rest at Kolencherry Church. Anniversery: 4th July. His Anniversary is on 8th April. Mar Thoma VIII 1809-1816 8th Catholicose Mar Thoma VIII When Mar Thoma VII was bed- ridden and when his illness took a serious turn, his successor pakalomattom Thoma Kathanar was given the attire, the insignia and sceptre that go with the high office and brought to sick- bed. The sick Metropolitan placed his hand on him and consecrated him as the 8th Metropolitan on 2nd July 1809. When there was a difference of opinion regarding this consecration, on 13 August 1809 Ramban Philipose of Kayamkulam and Itoop Kathanar of Kunnamkulam were appointed to enquire into the case as to who put a ring and formally accepted him Metropolitan. He left for his heavenly abode in 1816 and his mortal remains were interred in Puthencavu Church. His Death Anniversarry is on 28th October Mar Thoma IX 1816-1817 9th Catholicose Mar Thoma IX Mar Thoma VIII's Paternal brother Iype Kathanar was consecrated as Mar Thoma IX in 1815. One group of people argued that the consecration of Mar Thoma IX as Metropolitan was not valid and created a lot of commotion on that score. There after, as per the directions of Muntro the British resident the red attire, sceptre, crown and cross were taken away from him and he was deprived of the office of Metropolitan. He spent the rest of his life at Kadamattom Church in prayer and fasting. He passed away in 1817 and was laid to rest in Kadamattom Church. Mar Thoma XI 1817-1825 11th Catholicose Mar Thoma XI As Pulikottil Josehp Mar Dionysius' successor, punnathra Geevarghese Mar Dionysius became the eleventh Mar Thoma of the Malankara Church. He was the earlier Vicar- General of the Malankara Church. It was on 19 October 1817, that he was ordained as Geevarghese Mar Dionysius. He established friendly relation with the Missionaries who came to Malankara by giving them support, freedom and help whenever required. While serving as the Malankara Metropolitan, he passed away on 16 May 1825. He was laid to rest in Cheriyapalli, Kottayam. His Death Anniversary is on 17th May. Click here to Continue "Please send pictures of our forefathers if you have"

	Fr. Johnson Punchakonam(vicar) St.Mary's Orthodox Church Nalanchira Post,Trivandrum Ph:+91-471-443939