Malankara Metropolitan

Malankara Metropolitan is the title of the head of Malankara Church of Kerala, India , believed to be started by St.Thomas, the apostle of Jesus Christ. Maliankara, a place near Muziris, (now known as Pattanam, near Cochin on the Malabar Coast), where Thomas the Apostle first landed in Kerala in 52 AD, was the headquarters of the Church from the first century. (Malankara is cognate of this name Maliankara).

From 1909, the Indian head of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is officially titled as Catholicos of the East and also as Malankara Metropolitan.

First fifteen centuries

During the first fifteen centuries, each parish appointed its own elders (Edavaka Mooppen). These elders met together and elected their Elder (Malankara Mooppen). Laying of hands on the Malankara Mooppen was by twelve Edavaka Mooppens. Names of Malankara Mooppens (elders) from first century till 1597 are not known. Tombs of five of them can be seen at Kuttaram Palli at Kuravilangad.

Malankara Mooppen, Portuguese period.

Geevarughese Kathanar, of Pakalomattom family was the Malankara Mooppen during the Portuguese period. He was the head of the church from 1597 to 1637 and attended the Synod of Udayamperoor (Synod of Diamper). He was succeeded by Kuravilangad Pakalomattom Parampil Thomas Kathanar. It was during his time in 1653 The Great Swearing (Koonen Kurisu Sathyam) was held.

From 1653 to 1877.

After the Great swearing (Coonen Kurisu Sathyam), the parish elders (Edavaka Mooppens) of the Church met together and elected Kuravilangad Parampil Thomas Kathanar as Malankara Elder (Malankara Mooppen). He was the first Mar Thoma. (Malankara Metropolitan.)

• Mar Thoma I (1653-1670).
• Mar Thoma II (1670-1686)
• Mar Thoma III (1686-1688)
• Mar Thoma IV (1688-1728)
• Mar Thoma V (1728-1765)
• Mar Thoma VI (1765-1808) (Dionysius I)
• Mar Thoma VII (1808-1809)
• Mar Thoma VIII (1809-1816)
• Mar Thoma IX (1816)
• Mar Thoma X - Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious I (Dionysious II) (1816 for 9 months)
• Mar Philoxenos II, Kidangan (1816-1817) - Due to the sudden demise of Dionysious II, Mar Philoxenos II of Malabar Independent Syrian Church (Thozhiyoor Sabha) was elected by the clergy and laymen as Malankara Metropolitan.
• Mar Thoma XI- Punnathra Mar Dionysious (Dionysious III) (1817-1825)
• Mar Thoma XII- Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius (Dionysius IV) (1825-1855)
• Mar Thoma XIII -Palakunnathu Mathews Mar Athanasius Consecrated in 1842. Malankara Metropolitan (1852-1877). There was a rumour that he was excommunicated, but as per canon a bishop cannot be excommunicated.

Malankara Metropolitans

• Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious II (Dionysious V) (1864-1909; He is the first Metropolitan who adorned the title of ,Malankara Metropolitan')
• St. Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril (Dionysius VI) (1909-1934). H.G. was excommunicated by the Patriarch on June 12, 1911 following serious difference of opinion between two sections in Malankara which resulted in the vertical split of Malankara Church. However this decesion of excommunication was revoked by Patriarch Elias III during the last years of the Metropolitan's life time.
• H.G. Paulose Mor Koorilose Kochuparambil (Malankara Metropolitan of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, 1911-1917)
• St. Paulose Mor Athanasius - Valiya Thirumeni (Malankara Metropolitan of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, 1917-1953)

Malankara(Indian)Orthodox Catholicoi and Malankara Metropolitans

See also:Catholicos of the East

• H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Paulose I (1912-1914) (Catholicose of the East)
• H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Geevarghese I (1925-1928) (Catholicose of the East)
• H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Geevarghese II (Catholicose of the East, 1929-1964 & Malankara Metropolitan, 1934-1964)
  (From this time onwards, the offices of Catholicos and Malankara Metropolitan have been united in one person.)
• H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Augen I (1964-1975) (Catholicose of the East & Malankara Metropolitan)
• H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I (1975-1991) (Catholicose of the East & Malankara Metropolitan)
• H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II (1991-2005) (Catholicose of the East & Malankara Metropolitan)
• H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Didymos I (2005-present) (Catholicose of the East & Malankara Metropolitan)

Malankara Syriac Orthodox (Jacobite) Catholicoi and Malankara Metropolitans

See also:Catholicos of the East

• Aboon Mor Baselios Paulose II (1975-1996)
  (There is a 7 year gap before the consecration of the next Catholicose)
• Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I (2002-present)

Malankara Throne,The throne used for this consecration of Mar Thoma I in 1653

Malankara Throne.

The throne was used for the consecrations of the Head of the Malankara Church. It was used at the time of consecrations of Mar Thoma I (in 1653) to Mar Thoma XXI (2007) except for that of Mar Thoma XIII, Palakunnathu Mathews Mar Athanasios. It is now in the possession of the Mar Thoma Church.

St Thomas Syrian Metropolitans of Malabar

(ref>Letters of correspondence.</ref>)

• Mar Thoma XIV - Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan (1877- 1893)

Malankara Marthoma Metropolitans

• Mar Thoma XV - Titus I Mar Thoma Metropolitan (1893-1910)
• Mar Thoma XVI - Titus II Mar Thoma Metropolitan (1910-1944)
• Mar Thoma XVII - Abraham Mar Thoma Metropolitan (1944-1947)
• Mar Thoma XVIII - Juhanon Mar Thoma Metropolitan (1947-1976)
• Mar Thoma XIX - Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan (1976-1999)
• Mar Thoma XX - Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Metropolitan (1999–2007)
• Mar Thoma XXI - Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan (2007-Present)

See also

• Holy Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas
• Malankara Church
• Mar Thoma Church

External links

• Ordinations, Demises etc. of Malankara Church leaders at Niranam Valiyapally