Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church
http://www.kuwaitmarthoma.org.accession/ Date and Time 17-10-2011; 4.30PM
During the time of Moses and King Solomon, the Malabar coast traded spices and luxury articles with Israel.[7] Excavations carried out at Pattanam from 2005 provided evidence that the maritime trade between Kerala and the Mediterranean ports existed even before 500 BC or earlier [8]. It is possible that some of those traders who arrived from the west, including Jews, remained in Kerala.[9]
The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church (official name Malankara Mar Thoma Suryani Sabha) also known as the Mar Thoma Church is a Christian denomination based in Kerala, the south-western state of India. One of the Saint Thomas Christian churches tracing its origins to the missionary activity of Thomas the Apostle, the Mar Thoma Church defines itself as "Apostolic in origin, Universal in nature, Biblical in faith, Evangelical in principle, Ecumenical in outlook, Oriental in worship, Democratic in function, and Episcopal in character."[2]. It is independent and indigenous. Its regular work as well as special projects are almost entirely financed by contributions from its members at home and abroad. It is currently in communion with the Anglican Communion and the Malabar Independent Syrian Church.
The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church sees itself as continuing the apostolic succession and traditions first introduced by Apostle Thomas. Its direct origins lie in the activities of Anglican missionaries in the 18th and 19th centuries among the Malankara Church, the Syriac Orthodox church that emerged out of the first split in the Saint Thomas community in the 17th century. Particularly influential was the introduction of the first Malayam-language version of the Bible. The Mar Thoma Church became officially independent of the Malankara Church and its hierarchy after a court case in the late 19th century (seminary case: 1879-1889)
Until the beginning of twentieth century Marthomites lived in a few districts of Central Travancore and Kunnamkulam of the southern Indian state ofKerala. But it has spread with the 20th-century Indian diaspora to North America, Europe, the Middle East, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa,Australia and New Zealand, and currently has around one million members worldwide [1]. Their mother tongue is Malayalam the language of Kerala.
Definitions
Mar Thoma Church. Malankara Mar Thoma Suryani Sabha (Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church) is the official name of the Church. Succinct name in Malayalam is Marthoma Sabha and in English, Mar Thoma Church.
Mar Thoma or Marthoma is Aramaic, means Saint Thomas. Members of this church are often referred to as Marthomites.
Malankara is cognate of this name Maliankara, a place near Muziris, where Thomas the Apostle first landed in Kerala. It was the headquarters of the Church from the first century.
Syrian Church. The original liturgical language used in Malankara Church was Aramaic and Hebrew. Later this was replaced by Syriac. In 1900 when the Church accepted a new name Malanakara Mar Thoma Suryani Sabha, it included the word Suryani also in it. This does not mean that the Mar Thoma Christians were Syrians (people who came from Syria) or the Church was under any Syrian Church. Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church was never ruled by any other Churches.
Administration
Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church has a well defined constitution and has a democratic pattern of administration. There is an ‘Episcopal Synod’, a Grand Assembly known as ‘Marthoma Suryani Sabha Prathinidhi Mandalam’ (House of Representatives), a council to aid the Metropolitan in administrative matters and a Vaideeka Selection Committee, to select candidates for the ministry of the Church.
Each diocese has its own council and an assembly. The assembly members are elected by the individual parishes, and the council members, by the Assembly.
All members of a parish are members of Edavaka Sangham (General Body) and they also have the right to elect their representatives to the Diocesan Assembly and Prathinidhi Mandalam, (Church Parliament).
The title of the head of the Church is “Marthoma” and is addressed as “Marthoma Metropolitan”. He is installed from among the duly consecrated bishops (episcopas) of the Church, the choice being ordinarily that of the senior most among them. The present “Marthoma Metropolitan” is the Most Reverend Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma who resides at Poolatheen at Church Headquarters in Tiruvalla, Kerala.
If the Metropolitan is personally satisfied that he has difficulty to continue to perform the duties appertaining to his office, he may, relinquish the powers and responsibilities as the Metropolian. Then he becomes the Senior Mar Thoma Metropolitan and is addressed as “Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan”. The present “Marthoma Valiya Metropolitan” is the Most Reverend Dr. Philipose Mar ChrysostomValiya Metropolitan.
To assist the Metropolitan there are episcopas, the senior most among them is called Suffragan Metropolitan. The present members of the Episcopal Synod are:
§ The Most Rev.Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom Valiya Metropolitan.
§ The Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan
§ The Rt. Rev. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus Suffragan Metropolitan.
§ The Rt. Rev. Geevarghese Mar Athanasius Episcopa.
§ The Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarhese Mar Theodosius Episcopa.
§ The Rt. Rev. Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos Episcopa.
§ The Rt. Rev. Joseph Mar Barnabas Episcopa.
§ The Rt. Rev. Thomas Mar Timotheos Episcopa.
§ The Rt. Rev. Dr. Isaac Mar Philoxenos Episcopa.
§ The Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Paulos Episcopa.
Clergy – ministers
‘’Semmasan’’ (Deacons): The Sabha Prathinidhi Mandalam elects a Vaideeka Selection board to select candidates for the ministry of the Church.
‘’Kassessa’’ (Clergy): Persons receiving ordination as ministers shall be duly ordained deacons. They all have had their theological training at the Mar Thoma Theological Seminary, Kottayam, Kerala.
Vicars general: From among the clergy who have completed 25 years of service in the ordained ministry and not less than sixty years of age are selected and ordained as vicars general. In the absence of the diocesan bishop, they may be appointed as head of the diocese.
Administrative divisions
For administrative purpose, the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church is divided into 12 dioceses w.e.f.January 1, 2010, headed by a Metropolitan or by an Episcopa. They are:
§ Diocese of Adoor
§ Diocese of Chengannur-Mavelikara
§ Diocese of Ranny-Nilackel.
§ Diocese of Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam
§ Diocese of Kunnamkulam- Malabar
§ Diocese of Delhi
§ Diocese of Mumbai
§ Diocese of North America-Europe.
History
First century BC
Muziris, near the tip of India, in the Peutinger Table.
On the south western side of the Indian peninsula; between the mountains and the Erythraean Sea (now Arabian Sea); stretching from Kannoor to Kanyakumari was the land called Cherarajyam, which was ruled by local chieftains. Later this land came to be known as Malabar and (now Kerala). Muziris(now known as Pattanam near Cochin) was the important entry port. After the discovery of Hippalus, every year 100 ships arrived here from various parts of the then known world, including Red Sea ports [6].Kodungallur:Cradle of Christianity in India. By Prof. George Menachery Mar Thoma Shrine, Azhikode, 1987, 2000. passim. </ref>.
During the time of Moses and King Solomon, the Malabar coast traded spices and luxury articles with Israel.[7] Excavations carried out at Pattanam from 2005 provided evidence that the maritime trade between Kerala and the Mediterranean ports existed even before 500 BC or earlier [8]. It is possible that some of those traders who arrived from the west, including Jews, remained in Kerala.[9]
While Augustus Caesar (31 BC- 14 AD) was the Emperor of Rome and Herod the Great (37-4 BC) was King of Judea, ambassadors from Malabar visited the Emperor Augustus.[10]. Nasranis believe that these ambassadors were The Wise Men From the East, of the Bible.[11] People who believe they are descendants of these Wise Men gather every year in Kerala.[12] In the first century map Tabula Peutingeriana (see the map) a temple of Augustus is clearly visible near Muziris showing the close relation between Rome and Malabar in the first century BC.
Arrival of Saint Thomas
Saint Thomas Christians believe that Thomas the Apostle arrived in Kerala around AD 52. He landed at Muziris (now known as Pattanam, near Cochin on the Malabar Coast). The Jews and a few of the Wise Men, who had been to Bethlehem to worship Jesus[13] listened to his preaching and became followers of Jesus of Nazareth.[14]. It is believed that after leaving Malankara, St. Thomas proceeded to the East coast of India and died a martyrs’ death at a place called Mylapore in Tamil Nadu.
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