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| Malabar Independent Syrian church | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Independent church |
| Classification | Christian |
| Orientation | Syriac |
| Theology | Miaphysite |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Metropolitan | Cyril Baselios I |
| Region | Kerala |
| Language | |
| Liturgy | West Syriac Rite |
| Founder | Abraham Koorilos I |
| Origin | 1772 |
| Separated from | Malankara Church |
| Congregations | 15 Parishes and 5 Chapels |
| Members | 5,000 |
| Ministers | 10–15 |
| Hospitals | 1 |
| Primary schools | 3 |
| Secondary schools | 1 |
| Other names | Thozhyur Sabha Anjoor Church |
| Official website | misc |
TheMalabar Independent Syrian Church (MISC), also known as theThozhiyur Church, is a Christian church centred inKerala,India. It is one of the churches of theSaint Thomas Christian community, which traces its origins to the evangelical activity ofThomas the Apostle in the 1st century.
This group split off from the main body of India'sMalankara Church in 1772 and was confirmed as an independent church with its current name after a high court verdict in 1862.[1][2] Although the church is independent, the church's doctrines and traditions are similar to theOriental Orthodox, adhering to theWest Syriac Rite and consistently using westernSyriac andMalayalam during theHoly Qurbono (Qurbono Qadisho). The Eucharistic Celebration is popularly known as Holy Qurbana due to the historical influence of theChurch of the East.
The church has about 5,000 members.[citation needed]
The Saint Thomas Christians trace their origins toThomas the Apostle, who according to traditionproselytized in India in the 1st century. By the 7th century they were part of theChurch of the East, centred in Persia.[3] The entire community remained united until the 17th century, when disputes with thePortuguesepadroado in India led to theCoonan Cross Oath of 1653 and the division of the Saint Thomas Christians intoSyro-Malabar Church and independent branches.[4][5] The independent branch, known as theMalankara Church, forged a relationship with theSyriac Orthodox Church of Antioch.[6]
However, relations between the Syriac Orthodox hierarchy and the native clergy were sometimes strained. In 1772 Bishop Gregorios, a representative of the Syriac Orthodox hierarchy from the Middle East, had grown dissatisfied with how the MetropolitanDionysius I had treated him. Against Dionysius' wishes, Gregorios consecrated as bishop a leading dissenter, the monk Kattumangatt Kurien, in a secret but canonically legitimate ceremony. The new bishop took the name Cyril (Koorilos), and he was designated Gregorios' sole heir.[7]
Cyril claimed authority over the parishes ofCochin, and initially received the support of theRaja of Cochin. However, Dionysus saw him as a threat to his power, and in 1774 he appealed to the Raja and to theBritish authorities in India to suppress the rival bishop.[7][8] Cyril left forThozhiyoor, Kerala outside their jurisdiction, and established what would become an independent church.[9] This was the first of several groups to split from theMalankara Church.[8]
Cyril's church was always small, but maintained stability by attracting devoted priests and emphasizing regularity in the ecclesiastical order. In 1794 Cyril consecrated his brother Geevarghese as bishop; Geevarghese succeeded Cyril as Cyril II in 1802, and the succession has proceeded unbroken since.[7]
As a result of an 1862 court case, theMadras High Court confirmed the Thozhiyur church was an independent Malankara church, and it has subsequently been known as the Malabar Independent Syrian Church.[9]
The Malabar Independent Syrian Church is a member of theChristian Conference of Asia, theNational Council of Churches in India, and theKerala Council of Churches. The Malabar Independent Syrian Church maintains good relations with the other Malankara churches. Despite its small size, it has had a significant impact on the history of the Saint Thomas Christian community. On several occasions Thoziyur bishops have stepped in to consecrate bishops for the other churches when the episcopal succession, and therefore the churches themselves, were in danger.[7] Philoxenos II Kidangan (1811–1829) of the Thozhiyur Church consecrated three successive bishops in the unified Malankara Church:Dionysius II on 22 March 1816,Dionysius III on 19 October 1817, andDionysius IV on 27 August 1825.[10]
In 1894 Athanasius and Koorilose V consecrated Titus I Mar Thoma for the Reformed Syrians, later known as theMalankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. On subsequent occasions when the Thozhiyur Metropolitan has died without consecrating a successor, the Metropolitan and bishops of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church had performed the consecration. Thozhiyur bishops have taken part in all Mar Thoma episcopal ordinations up to the present.
Ecumenical links have also developed with theAnglican churches.Joseph Mar Koorilose IX was the first metropolitan of the church to travel abroad. In 1989, he met theArchbishop of Canterbury,Robert Runcie in England. During this visit, Koorilose IX expressed willingness to celebrate theEucharist withChurch of England congregations. In 1991, he visited England again as an official guest for the installation ofGeorge Carey as the Archbishop of Canterbury. During both visits Koorilose IX celebrated the Eucharist during Anglican services, sometimes alongside Church of England bishops.[11][12]
As a result of the efforts of Koorilose IX and Church of England priest Peter Hawkins, a charitable support group to provide financial help to the Malabar Independent Syrian Church was founded in the UK.[13] In recognition of his services to the Thozhiyur Church, Koorilose IX consecrated Very Revd Hawkins asChorepiscopa.[11]
In 1998 and 2008, Thozhiyur Church metropolitans were ecumenical observers at theLambeth Conference of Anglican bishops.[14] In 2001, bishopSam Mathew of theMadhya Kerala Diocese of theChurch of South India was aco-consecrator for the bishopric consecration ofCyril Baselios I.[11] In 2003, Baselios I went to the UK as an official guest for the installation ofRowan Williams as the Archbishop of Canterbury.[11] In July 2006 Koorilose IX and Baselios I participated as co-consecrators for the bishopric consecrations of Paul Hunt and John Fenwick as bishops of theFree Church of England.[15][14]
The metropolitans of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church:
15 parishes and 5 chapels are under Malabar Independent Syrian Church.[16]
The following are works inMalayalam:
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