| Chaldean Syrian Church Archdiocese of India of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East | |
|---|---|
| ܥܕܬܐ ܕܡܕܢܚܐ ܕܐܬܘܖ̈ܝܐ കൽദായ സുറിയാനി സഭ | |
 The Mar Thoma Sleeva or The Saint Thomas Cross, the symbol of the Church | |
| Classification | Christian |
| Orientation | Syriac |
| Theology | East Syriac theology |
| Catholicos- Patriarch | Mar Awa III |
| Metropolitan of India | Mar Awgin Kuriakose |
| Region | India,diaspora |
| Language | Syriac,Malayalam |
| Liturgy | East Syriac Rite |
| Headquarters | Marth Mariam Cathedral Thrissur,Kerala,India |
| Founder | Saint Thomas the Apostle |
| Origin | Apostolic Era |
| Branched from | Church of the East inIndia |
| Members | 27,568[1] 45,000[2][3] |
| Official website | Official website |
TheChaldean Syrian Church of India (Classical Syriac:ܥܕܬܐ ܕܡܕܢܚܐ ܕܐܬܘܖ̈ܝܐ;Malayalam:കൽദായ സുറിയാനി സഭ,romanized: Kaldaya Suriyani Sabha), or theArchdiocese of India and Southern Gulf Countries, is anEastern Christian denomination, based inThrissur, inIndia. It is part of the greaterAssyrian Church of the East and is organised a singular Metropolitan (Archdiocese) See of India, and represents the part of traditional Christian communities that follow theEast Syriac Rite in theMalabar region of India.[4] It is headed byMarAwgin Kuriakose.[5][6]
The church uses theEast Syriac Rite, and employs theDivine Liturgy of Saints Addai and Mari.[7] Its members constitute a traditional community amongSaint Thomas Christians (also known asNasrani), who trace their origins to the evangelistic activity ofThomas the Apostle in the 1st century. They are based mostly in the state ofKerala, numbering some 15,000 members in the region.[8]
The Chaldean Syrian Church is a modern-day continuation of the historicalecclesiastical province of India, that was active in continuity until the 16th century, as part of the ancientChurch of the East.[9] After the long period of internal schisms and struggles, that lasted from the end of the 16th to the beginning of the 20th century, the Church was consolidated during the tenure of MarAbimalek Timotheus (d. 1945), who is revered as asaint by the Church of the East.[10]
Christianity in India traditionally traces its origin toThomas the Apostle, who is believed to have evangelized inIndia in the 1st century. Honoring that tradition, Christians in India became known asSaint Thomas Christians. By the 3rd century, relations between Christian communities in India and neighbouringPersian Empire were well established, thus enablingPatriarchs of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, as heads of theChurch of the East, to establish their jurisdiction over India. Since theEast Syriac Rite was the principalliturgical rite of the Church of the East, that rite was also used by the Christian communities of India, located mostly along theMalabar Coast. In the 7th centuryIndia was designated as its ownecclesiastical province, headed bymetropolitan bishops. Throughout the entiremedieval period, Metropolitans of India belonged to the ecclesiastical hierarchy of the Church of the East.[11]
In 1490–1491, PatriarchShemon IV responded to the request of Christians from India, and appointed two bishops, Mar Yohannan and Mar Awgin, dispatching them to India. These bishops, were followed by Mar Yahballaha, Mar Dinkha and MarYaqobin 1503–1504. They were later followed by MetropolitanAbraham, who died in 1597. By that time, Christians of the Malabar Coast were facing new challenges, caused by the establishment ofPortuguese presence in India.[12][13]
The arrival of Portuguese in India, and gradual establishment of their presence along theMalabar Coast, was consequently followed by the missionary activity of theCatholic Church. Portuguese authorities used intimidation to force local Christians into becomingEastern Catholics, though under the jurisdiction of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Goa. The Archbishops of Goa, backed by the Portuguese and theJesuites, claimed full jurisdiction over the local Christians of the Malabar Coast. In the process, the local liturgical rite wasLatinized, holy books were burned under the suspicion ofNestorianism, and connection with theChurch of the East in Mesopotamia was denounced at theSynod of Diamper (1599).[14][15]
Coercive actions of the Portuguesepadroado system ultimately caused resistance, and in 1653 a traditionalist faction of the local Christian community decided to follow ArchdeaconMar Thoma I in a rebellion, which became known as theCoonan Cross Oath.[16][17] As a response to these events, Rome sentCarmelites from the "Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples" to the Malabar Coast. They first arrived in 1655, and began to deal directly with the Archdeacon Mar Thoma I. Although they were unable to sway the Archdeacon, Carmelites gained the support of other local leaders, includingPalliveettil Chandy,Alexandar Kadavil and the Vicar of Muttam, the three councilors of Mar Thoma i.[18]
As a result of this, between 1661 and 1662, out of the 116 churches, the Carmelites reclaimed eighty-four churches, leaving Mar Thoma I with thirty-two churches. The eighty-four churches and their congregations were the body from which the laterSyro-Malabar Church and the Chaldean Syrian Church have descended, while the other thirty-two churches and their congregations represented the nucleus of thePuthenkoor, which was eventually turned into theMalankara Church, after the introduction of theWest Syriac Rite. That process was initiated in 1665, when MarGregorios Abdal Jaleel, a bishop sent by theSyriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, arrived in India. The dissident group under the leadership of Mar Thoma I welcomed him, apparently mistaking him for a bishop ofEast Syriac Rite sent by theChurch of the East.[19][20]
Though most of the Saint Thomas Christians gradually relented in their strong opposition to the Catholic influence, the arrival of the Mar Gregorios marked the new step towards permanent schism. Those who accepted new liturgical practices (West Syriac Rite) and theology of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch became known as the "New Party" (Puthenkuttukar, also known as theJacobites), while the remaining pro-Catholic fraction became known as "Old Party" (Pazhayakuttukar), later forming theSyro-Malabar Catholic Church.[21]
A minority within the Christian community tried to preserve the traditional use of the East Syriac Rite and re-establish ties with patriarchs of the Church of the East, who occasionally sent emissaries to India. At the very beginning of the 18th century (c. 1708), bishop Mar Gabriel (d.c. 1733) arrived to India, sent by the sitting patriarch. He succeeded in reviving the traditionalist community, but was faced with rivalry both from West Syriac (Jacobite) and pro-Catholic party.[22][23][24][25]
The Chaldean Syrian Church's former Metropolitan, MarAprem Mooken, has argued that the church represents a continuation of the ancient Church of the East hierarchy in India.[9] In 1862, an attempt was made to reestablish direct ties between the community in India and the PatriarchShimun XVIII, who consecrated an Indian born Mar Abdisho Thondanat (d. 1900) as Metropolitan of India, but his task proved to be very difficult and challenging.[26]
In order to place Christians of the East Syriac Rite in India under his authority,Chaldean Catholic PatriarchJoseph Audo sent a request toPope Pius IX, asking for confirmation of his jurisdiction. Without waiting for a reply, he dispatched MarElias Mellus, Bishop of'Aqra, to India in July 1874. Mar Mellus had substantial success convincing local Christian communities in Thrissur District, and also some churches in Kottayam District, to recognize him as their bishop. Although the churches were called by the name Syro-Malabar (also known as Chaldean Syrians at that time), the actual situation was that from Irinjalakuda to northwards and south of Bharathapuzha River, and in some churches in Meenachil taluk, the Syro-Malabarians (also known as Chaldean Syrians at that time) were half Catholic and half Nestorian, with anEast Syriac liturgy. Nevertheless, by 1877, 24,000 followers had joined his group, based in Our Lady of Dolours Church (nowMarth Mariam Cathedral) in the parish ofThrissur. In response, the Pope dispatched Latin Catholic leaders to remove Mar Mellus from the country and sent him back to Mesopotamia in 1882.[27]
After 1882, the majority of Mellus' followers returned to theSyro-Malabar Catholic Church, but some 8,000 Christians maintained their demand for restoration of traditional ecclesiastical order. In order to answer those requests, Mar Abdisho Thondanat revived his activity, fulfilling the aspirations of local Christians of the East Syriac Rite for the full reestablishment of traditional ecclesiastical structure. Until his death in 1900, he partially succeeded in organizing the local church, that was named the Chaldean Syrian Church.[26]
After his death, local Christians appealed to MarShimun XIX, Patriarch of theAssyrian Church of the East inQochanis who was forthcoming, and in December 1907 consecrated MarAbimalek Timotheus asmetropolitan bishop for India. He reached his diocese in February 1908, and took over the administration.[28]
Mar Abimalek Thomotheus organized ecclesiastical order and revived East Syriac rites and teachings in the local Thrissur church. These reforms caused some followers to break away and rejoin the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, but through the reforms, the original East-Syriac oriented Church of India was revived, as it was prior to theSynod of Diamper in 1599.[3]
In June 1952, PatriarchShimun XXI appointedThoma Darmo as newMetropolitan ofIndia, based atTrichur. During his tenure, several churches were built, preparation of new clergy was organized, and the Mar Narsai Press was established. In January 1964, a dispute broke out, and Thoma Darmo was suspended from the metropolitan office by the Patriarch.[29][30]
Emerging dispute had several causes, including issues related to hereditarysuccession and proposed reform ofchurch calendar. Thoma Darmo did not submit to the suspension, and the community became divided, splitting in two fractions, with one following the Metropolitan, and other remaining loyal to the Patriarch. In 1968, Thoma Darmo left for Iraq, to become head of the newly formedAncient Church of the East. He appointedAprem Mooken as new Metropolitan of India, for the fraction that joined the Ancient Church of the East. In the same time, the other part of community, that remained within the Assyrian Church of the East, were led by their own administrators and hierarchs, appointed by Patriarch Shimun XXI. First of them was MarDinkha Khanania, at that time Bishop of Iran, who was appointed Patriarchal delegate for India, in 1967.[31]
In October 1971, Patriarch Shimun XXI appointed Mar Timotheus II (d. 2001) as new Metropolitan for India.[32] During the following years, several attempts were made to heal the schism. In 1995, under new PatriarchDinkha IV of the Assyrian Church of the East, an agreement with Metropolitan Aprem Mooken was reached, thus initiating the process of reconciliation. On that occasion, the validity of ordinations performed by Thoma Darmo after the suspension of 1964 was recognized, and in 1997 the suspension itself was annulled by the Holy Synod of the Assyrian Church of the East.[33] This marked the end of the schism between the Metropolitan faction and the Patriarch faction in the Archdiocese of India and the church was united. Even so, the schism withAncient Church of the East still continues after several attempts at reconciliation failed.
The post reconciliation stage marked substantial growth for the church, with multiple new parishes being built. The Holy Synod of the Assyrian Church of the East was convened between 13th to 19th January 2010 at the Metropolitan's palace in Thrissur, marking the third patriarchal visit by MarDinkha IV to India and the consecration of two new bishops. This marked both the first Synod to held by the Assyrian Church in India, and the very first episcopal consecration in India. Archdeacon Joju Anto was consecrated as MarYohannan Yoseph Episcopa and Archdeacon Shaju Paulose as Mar Awgin Kuriakose Episcopa. On 29 September 2019, MarAbimalek Timotheus was officially canonised as a saint, his tomb is located in the Grave Chapel of the Metropolitan Cathedral inThrissur. Mar Aprem remained the Metropolitan of India until September 2021, when he retired due to issues related to age, becoming the Metropolitan Emeritus, marking almost 53 years as the Metropolitan. After his retirement, Mar Awgin was appointed as the Patriarchal Administrator of Archdiocese of India and UAE and later on January 8th, 2023 he was installed as the new Metropolitan of India and the Southern Gulf.[34][35] Mar Aprem died on 7 July, 2025 at the age of 85.
The Chaldean Syrian Church in India now constitutes one of the four Archbishoprics of the Assyrian Church of the East. Its followers number around 45,000.[3] The Metropolitan See based inThrissur City, with the seat being theMarth Mariam Cathedral.
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