Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church

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Syrian Orthodox Church
Syriac orthodox COA.svg
Syriac Orthodox Church Emblem
Independence Apostolic Era
Recognition Oriental Orthodox
Primate Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II
Headquarters Kochi, India
Territory India
Possessions India, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and North America
Language Malayalam, English, Hindi, Syriac
Members 2 Million[citation needed]

The Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church,[1][2][3][4][5] known by a variety of names, is an integral branch of the Syriac Orthodox Church centred in Kerala, India. It recognizes the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch, currently Ignatius Aphrem II, as its supreme head. It functions as a largely autonomous unit within the church, under the authority of the Catholicos of India, currently Baselios Thomas I. Its members are part of the Saint Thomas Christian community, which traces its origins to the evangelistic activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century.[6][7][8][9]

Historically, the Saint Thomas Christians were united in leadership and liturgy, and were part of the Syriac Orthodox Church centred in Persia.[10][11] From the 16th century the Portuguese Jesuits attempted to forcefully bring the community into the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. Resentment of these measures lead a part of the community to join the archdeacon, Thomas, in swearing never to submit to the Portuguese in the Coonan Cross Oath in 1653. The part of the church that followed Thomas is known as the Malankara Church.

Following the arrival of the Bishop Gregorios Abdal Jaleel of Jerusalem, Archdeacon Thomas forged a relationship with the Syriac Orthodox Church and gradually adopted West Syrian liturgy and practices. Over time, however, relations soured between the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs and the local hierarchy, particularly after Patriarch Ignatius Peter IV (reigned 1872—1894) began demanding registered deeds for the transfer of properties. In 1912, a synod led by the Patriarch Ignatius Abdul Masih II, who had been controversially deposed by the Ottoman government, consecrated Evanios as Catholicos of the East, under the name Baselios Paulose I. The faction that supported Baselios Paulose became what is now the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, while those who supported the new Patriarch Ignatius Abded Aloho II became the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church.[12][13] Church leaders made several attempts at reunification in the mid-20th century, leading to two Supreme Court decisions, but were unable to resolve the contention, and the two churches operate independently today.[14][15][16]

As part of the Syriac Orthodox communion the church uses the West Syrian liturgy and is part of the Oriental Orthodox group of churches. It has dioceses in most parts of India as well as in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Western Europe, and the Persian Gulf nations. In 2003 it was estimated that the church has 1,200,000 members globally.[14]

Part of a series on
Saint Thomas Christians
മാർത്തോമാ നസ്രാണികൾ
St. Thomas Cross
Saint Thomas · Thomas of Cana · Mar Sabor and Mar Proth · Tharisapalli plates · Synod of Diamper · Coonan Cross Oath
Ancient crosses · Churches · Shrines · Liturgical language · Church music
Prominent persons
Abraham Malpan · Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar · Kayamkulam Philipose Ramban · Kuriakose Elias Chavara · Mar Thoma I · Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly · Sadhu Kochoonju Upadesi · Kariattil Mar Ousep · Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril · Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala · Ignatius Elias III · Geevarghese Mar Ivanios · Saint Alphonsa · Yeldho Mar Baselios · Euphrasia Eluvathingal · Thoma of Villarvattom

Margam Kali · Parichamuttukali · Cuisine · Suriyani Malayalam


The Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church has been known by several names during its existence. Other variants include Jacobite Syrian Christian Church,[17] Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church, and Jacobite Syrian Church.[18]


Puthencruz is the headquarters of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church in India. The headquarters is situated near the St. Peter's and St. Paul's Jacobite Syrian church. Its headquarters is named after the illustrious Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas. The property was bought and built under the leadership of the Catholicos of India Baselios Thomas I, after the church faced difficulties in continuing its functioning from its base at Muvattupuzha with the demise of Catholicos Baselios Paulose II. Within a short time this religious centre rose to significance inside the community and state.

The Catholicossate chapel is named after Poulose Mor Athanasius of Aluva and under the chapel is situated the space for tombs for the use of future Catholicos of the church. An Arts and Science college named after Mor Athanasius of Aluva is also run in the premises of the Zakka centre. It is the place where Akhila Malankara Suvisesha Yogam, the official gospel convention of the community, that is generally conducted from 26 to 31 December of every year. The official publishing house of the church, JSC Publishers are also a part of the large complex.Its subsidiary institutions such as the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Sunday School Association (MJSSA) is also based in Puthencruz.


History and evolution of the Malankara church in a nutshell

Thomas the Apostle is credited by tradition for founding the Indian Church in 52 AD.[14][19][20][21] This "Nasrani" faith had many similarities to ancient Judaism, see also Jewish Christianity, and owing to the heritage of the Nasrani people, developed contacts with the Nestorian religious authorities of Edessa, Mesopotamia.

The local church maintained its autonomous character under its local leader. When the Portuguese established themselves in India in the 16th century, they found the Church in Kerala as an administratively independent community. Following the arrival of Vasco de Gama in 1498, the Portuguese came to South India and established their political power there. They brought missionaries to carry out evangelistic work in order to establish churches in communion with Rome under the Portuguese patronage. These missionaries were eager to bring the Indian Church under the Pope's control. They succeeded in their efforts in 1599 with the Synod of Diamper. The representatives of various parishes who attended the assembly were forced by Portuguese authorities to accept the Papal authority.

Following the synod, the Indian Church was governed by Portuguese prelates. They were generally unwilling to respect the integrity of the local church. This resulted in disaffection which led to a general revolt in 1653 known as the "Coonan Cross Oath".Under the leadership of their elder Thomas, Nazranis around Cochin gathered at Mattancherry church on Friday, 24 January 1653 (M.E. 828 Makaram 3) and made an oath that is known as the Great Oath of Bent Cross. The following oath was read aloud and the people touching a stone-cross repeated it loudly. By the Father, Son and Holy Spirit that henceforth we would not adhere to the Franks, nor accept the faith of the Pope of Rome.[22] This reference from the The Missionary Register of 1822 seems to be the earliest reliable document available. Those who were not able to touch the cross tied ropes on the cross, held the rope in their hands and made the oath. Because of the weight it is believed by the followers that the cross bent a little and so it is known as "Oath of the bent cross" (Coonen Kurisu Sathyam). This demanded administrative autonomy for the local church. Since it had no bishop, it faced serious difficulties. It appealed to several eastern christian churches for help. The Syrian Patriarch of Antioch responded and sent the metropolitan bishop Gregorios Abdal Jaleel of Jerusalem to India in 1665. He regularized the canonical ordination of Marthoma I as a bishop and worked together with him to organize the Malankara church.

For the current Catholicos of India, see Catholicos Baselios Thomas I.

Catholicos of India[edit]

Catholicose of India is an ecclesiastical office in the Syriac Orthodox Church, the head of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church in Kerala, India. He is the Catholicos/Maphrian of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church an autonomous body within the Syriac Orthodox Church, and functions at an ecclesiastical rank second to the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch. The jurisdiction of the Syriac Orthodox Catholicos is limited to India and Indian diaspora, although he is often invited to preside over Syriac Orthodox functions abroad.[23] The current Catholicos of India is Catholicos Baselios Thomas I, who was consecrated in 2002.

The position was created in the 20th century, amid a series of splits within the local Malankara Church and the broader Syriac Orthodox communion that divided the community into rival Jacobite Syrian and Indian Orthodox factions. It was instituted to provide a regional head for Jacobite Syrian Church, the faction that remained closely aligned with the Patriarch of Antioch.

Catholicos Baselios Thomas I (Mal: ആബൂന്‍ മോര്‍ ബസേലിയോസ് തോമസ്‌ പ്രഥമന്‍ കാതോലിക്ക ബാവ, b: July 22, 1929) is the second Maphrian i.e. Catholicos of the Syriac Orthodox Church in India and Metropolitan Trustee of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church.

His official title is Catholicos of India. On 26 July 2002 he was enthroned as the second Catholicos and the head of the Malankara Jacobite church in India by the Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, in a ceremony held in Damascus, Syria. The position had remained vacant between 1996 (date of death of Catholicos Baselios Paulose II) and 2002.

Saints of the Church[edit]


The Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church has the following dioceses

Bethel Suloko Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church, Perumbavoor, Kerala

Archdioceses (Autonomous)[edit]

There are Archdioceses under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Antioch:

  1. Knanaya Archdiocese
    1. Region of Chingavanam
    2. Region of Kallisseri
    3. Region of Ranni
    4. Region of USA, Canada and Europe
  2. Malankara Archdiocese of North America
  3. Malankara Archdiocese of Europe
    1. Patriarchal Vicarate of Ireland
    2. Patriarchal Vicarate of UK
    3. Patriarchal vicarate of Germany & Central Europe

Dioceses in Kerala[edit]

  1. Trivandrum
  2. Kollam Diocese[24]
  3. Thumpamon Diocese[25]
  4. Niranam Diocese[26]
  5. Kottayam Diocese[27]
  6. Idukki Diocese[28]
  7. Kandanad Diocese[29]
  8. Kochi Diocese[30]
  9. Angamaly(Largest Diocese)
    1. Angamaly Region
    2. Perumbavoor Region
    3. Kothamangalam Region
    4. Highrange Region
    5. Muvattupuzha Region
    6. Pallikkara Region
  10. Thrissur Diocese[31]
  11. Kozhikode Diocese[32]
  12. Malabar Diocese[33]

Dioceses in Rest of India[edit]

  1. Mangalore DIocese
  2. Bangalore DIocese
  3. Mylapore DIocese[34] (formerly Chennai Diocese)
  4. Bombay Diocese
  5. New Delhi Diocese[35]

Dioceses in Outside India (Autonomous)[edit]

  1. Middle East Diocese - -Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen
  2. Australia & New Zealand
  3. Singapore & Malaysia

Other Dioceses (Autonomous)[edit]

There are dioceses under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Antioch.

  1. Honavar Mission[36]
  2. E.A.E (Evangelistic Association Of The East) Churches[37]
  3. Simhasana Churches

Present Synod[edit]

The Synod of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church comprises:

  1. Catholicos Baselios Thomas I
  2. Kuriakose Mor Severios Edavazhikal (Knanaya)
  3. Abraham Mor Severious
  4. Thomas Mor Timotheos
  5. Joseph Mor Gregorios
  6. Mathews Mor Ivanios
  7. Geevarghese Mor Dionysius
  8. Kuriakose Mor Dioscorus
  9. Geevarghese Mor Athanasios (Simhasana Churches)
  10. Kuriakose Mor Theophilos
  11. Yuhanon Mor Militos
  12. Mathews Mor Theodosius
  13. Mathews Mor Aphrem
  14. Pathros Mor Osthathios
  15. Geevarghese Mor Coorilose
  16. Yeldho Mor Theethose
  17. Kuriakose Mor Eusabios
  18. Markose Mor Chrisostamos
  19. Elias Mor Athanasios
  20. Kuriakose Mor Gregorios (Knanaya)
  21. Yaqu'b Mor Anthonios
  22. Zacharias Mor Philoxenos
  23. Paulose Mor Irenious
  24. Kuriakose Mor Ivanious (Knanaya)
  25. Ayub Mor Silvanious (Knanaya)
  26. Geevarghese Mor Barnabas
  27. Issac Osthathios
  28. Kuriakose Mor Julios
  29. Thomas Mor Alexandros
  30. Geevarghese Mor Polycarpus
  31. Mathews Mor Thimothios
  32. Matthews Mor Anthimos

See also[edit]



Complete video of the Holy Mass [Holy Qurbano] of the Jacobite Syrian Church:

  1. ^ Russell, Thomas Arthur; Comparative Christianity: A Student's Guide to a Religion and Its Diverse Traditions(English) Boca Raton, Florida;2010; Universal Publishers; p 40.
  2. ^ Gregorios; Paulos; Roberson; Ronald G.; The Encyclopedia Of Christianity Online (Syrian Orthodox Churches in India)(English) Netherlands;2016; Brill Online Reference works.
  3. ^ Lucian N. Leustean; Eastern christianity and the cold war, 1945-91(English) New York;2010; Routeledge Taylor&Francis Group; p.317.
  4. ^ Erwin Fahlbusch; The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 5(English);2008; Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing;p. 285.
  5. ^ Frykenberg, Eric; Christianity in India: from Beginnings to the Present(English); Oxford University Press; p 374.
  6. ^ Menachery G (1973) The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, ISBN 81-87132-06-X, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568; B.N.K. Press – (has some 70 lengthy articles by different experts on the origins, development, history, culture... of these Christians, with some 300 odd photographs).
  7. ^ Leslie Brown, (1956) The Indian Christians of St. Thomas. An Account of the Ancient Syrian Church of Malabar, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1956, 1982 (repr.)
  8. ^ Thomas Puthiakunnel, (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, ed. George Menachery, Vol. II., Trichur.
  9. ^ NSC Network (2007) St. Thomas, India mission- Early reference and testimonies
  10. ^ Frykenberg, p. 93.
  11. ^ Wilmshurst, EOCE, 343
  12. ^ Vadakkekara, Benedict (2007). Origin of Christianity in India: a historiographical critique, pp. 91–96. Media House Delhi.
  13. ^ Tamcke, p. 214.
  14. ^ a b c 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. 
  15. ^
  16. ^
  17. ^ Leustean, Lucian N. (2014). Eastern Christianity and Politics in the Twenty-First Century. Routledge. p. 585. ISBN 1317818660. 
  18. ^ Russell, Thomas Arthur (2010). Comparative Christianity: A Student's Guide to a Religion and Its Diverse Traditions. Boca Raton, Florida: Universal Publishers. p. 40. ISBN 1599428776. 
  19. ^ Medlycott, A E. 1905 "India and the Apostle Thomas"; Gorgias Press LLC; ISBN 1-59333-180-0.
  20. ^ N.M.Mathew. St. Thomas Christians of Malabar Through Ages. CSS Tiruvalla. (2003). ISBN 81-7821-008-8.
  21. ^ Origin of Christianity in India - A Historiographical Critique by Dr. Benedict Vadakkekara. (2007). ISBN 81-7495-258-6.
  22. ^ The Missionary Register for M DCCC XXII. October 1822, Letter from Punnathara Mar Dionysious (Mar Thoma XI)to the Head of the Church Missionary Society. [1] For a translation of it out of Syriac, by Professor Lee, see page 431- 432. Only the English text is published.
  23. ^ Catholicate of the East
  24. ^ "Kollam Diocese of Jacobite Syrian Church". Retrieved 5 March 2015. 
  25. ^ "Home". Retrieved 5 March 2015. 
  26. ^ "Niranam Diocese of Jacobite Syrian Christian Church". Retrieved 5 March 2015. 
  27. ^ "Kottayam Diocese". Retrieved 5 March 2015. 
  28. ^ "Official website of Idukki Diocese ::". Retrieved 5 March 2015. 
  29. ^ "Kandanad Diocese - Jacobite Syrian Christian Church". Retrieved 5 March 2015. 
  30. ^ Kochi Diocese
  31. ^ "Home". Retrieved 5 March 2015. 
  32. ^ "Kozhikode Diocese". Retrieved 5 March 2015. 
  33. ^ "Official Website of Malabar Diocese, Jacobite Syrian Christian Church". Retrieved 5 March 2015. 
  34. ^ "Mylapore Diocese". Retrieved 5 March 2015. 
  35. ^ "Delhi Diocese of Jacobite Syrian Church". Retrieved 5 March 2015. 
  36. ^ "Honnavar Mission". Retrieved 5 March 2015. 
  37. ^ *Evangelical Association of the East

External links[edit]