Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christian Church

Jacobite Syrian Christian Church (Malankara Syrian Church)
File:Nasrani cross.jpg Mar Thoma Sliba the symbol of the Malankara Syrian Church @ Kadamattom Church Patriarchal Emblem
Recognition	1st century to 5th century (with the Church of Antioch). from CE 496 to CE 1599 (with the Church of the East). from 1599 to 1653 (with the Latin Catholic Church ). from 1653 to 1665 Malankara Church. from 1665 to present (Malankara Syrian Church).
Primate	Syrian Patriarch of Antioch present Ignatius Aphrem II Supreme head of the Church. Catholicos of India present H.B Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I Head of the church in India.
Headquarters	Puthencruz, Kochi, India
Territory	India
Possessions	India, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and North America
Language	Malayalam, English, Hindi, Syriac
Members	2 Million
Website	jscnews.org Viswasasamrakshakan.org Jacobite Wedding As Jewish Christianity originated at Jerusalem, so gentile Christianity started at Antioch

The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, is an autonomous Oriental Orthodox Christian church. It is also known as the Malankara Syrian Church (Malayalam:മലങ്കര സുറിയാനി സഭ ) and is an integral part of the Syriac Orthodox Church and centered in Kerala, India. The Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, Ignatius Aphrem II, is its supreme head. It functions as an organized distinct Indian body within the Syriac Orthodox church with a provincial episcopal synod, under the authority of the Catholicos of India, presently Baselios Thomas I, who is ordained by the Patriarch of Antioch. It is a part of the Saint Thomas Christian community, which traces its origin to the evangelistic activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century.

Thomas Christians are popularly and traditionally called as Syrian Christians, a term associated with the Church of Antioch.The name Syrian came to refer to those Christians connected with the Church of Antioch at the very beginning of Christianity. It was referred to as the Syrian Church in the epistle of St. Ignatius (the third Patriarch of Antioch), to the Romans in AD 107. The Syrian Christian label was also attached to the churches in the East as far as India, which was submitted to the ecclesiastical authority of the Church of Antioch in the ancient capital of Roman Syria.

The Saint Thomas Christians remain in communion with the Church of Antioch until 5th century CE. It is believed that Malabar Church was in communion with the Church of the East from CE 496 to CE 1599. There after the Christians of St Thomas had been influenced by many belief streams at different points of time. These influences have later resulted in serious rifts and in the breaking down of the monolithic apostolic church to different fragments under different faith stream. They were organised as a Church in the 8th century, served by foreign bishops and with a hereditary local chief called Arkadiyokon or Archdeacon. In the 16th century the overtures of the Portuguese padroado to bring the Saint Thomas Christians into the Latin RiteCatholicism led to the first of several rifts in the community and the establishment of Latin Catholic and Malankara Church factions.Since that time further splits have occurred, and the Saint Thomas Christians are now divided into several Eastern Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, and independent bodies, each with their own liturgies and traditions.

In the 16th century the Portuguese Jesuits attempted to subject the community fully into the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. Resentment of these measures led the community to a swearing never to submit to the Portuguese in the famous Coonan Cross Oath event in 1653. Later many deflected back to the Roman Catholic faith. The part of the St.Thomas church that followed Parambil Thomas Kathanar aka Mar Thoma I is known as the Malankara Church.

After the request of Malankara Church, Gregorios Abdul Jaleel of Jerusalem, established first Archdeacon for Malankara Church.The Malankara synod convened by the Mar Dionysius at Mavelikkara on 16 January 1836, accepted the supremacy of the Church of Antioch. They also stated that only bishops permitted by the Patriarch, had the authority over the Malankara Church. Over time, however, relations soured between the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs and the local hierarchy, particularly after Patriarch Ignatius Peter IV (reigned 1872—1894) demanded registered deeds for the transfer of properties. In 1912, ex-Patriarch Ignatius Abded Mshiho II, who was 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 sitting Patriarch, Ignatius Abded Aloho II, who opposed that consecration, became the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church or Syriac Orthodox Church of Malankara. The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is currently functioning independent from both this church and Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch. In 2002, Supreme Court appointed a Judge (Justice Malimat) to organize the Malankara Association to elect and select their Malankara Metropolitan. However, Malankara people under the leadership of Baselios Thomas I gathered at Puthencruz at the same time and proclaimed Baselios Thomas as Catholicos of Malankara with the permission of the Patriarch of Antioch. Later, he went to Lebanon and met with the Patriarch of Antioch to have apostolic blessings affirming his state as Catholicos of Malankara. Attempts by church leaders and two Supreme Court decisions were unable to resolve the contention, and the two churches operate independently today.

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 80,000 members globally. The members of the Church are known as Nazaranis.

Name

The legal name of the autonomous body of the Syriac Orthodox Church in India is the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church. It is also known as the Malankara Syrian Church. The local Episcopal synod is led by the Catholicos of India . The Catholicos is ordained by and accountable to the Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church. The Patriarch holds both temporal and spiritual control where the Catholicate has jurisdiction, however restricts exercising temporal power due to the nature of affairs and independent history of the church. However, the Indian section or its bishops including its local head has absolutely no say or voting rights in the selection of the Patriarch of Antoich.

In 2000, a Holy Synod ruled that the name of the church in English should be the "'Syriac Orthodox Church". It had been, and often still is today, called the "Syrian Orthodox Church". The church in India uses the current legal name and inclusion of the term "Jacobite" as a way of distinguish themselves from the other faction known as the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (Indian Orthodox Church) or Methran Kakshi as well as to prevent the transference of churches to the other in legal disputes.

Historically, the Syrian Christians of India were organized as a body known as the Syrian Church. When the faith, traditions, and practice of the Syriac Orthodox Church were integrated it became the Orthodox Syrian Church in keeping with how the phrase would be said in the grammar of Malayalam. Afterwards, the name was known as Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, a direct English transliteration/translation of the phrase Malankaralayulla Orthodox Suriyani Sabha. However, when some leadership, including the "Catholicose" at the time and several laypeople of this body broke away from the Syriac Orthodox Church resulting in the fracture of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Malankara, the remaining leadership and faithful reorganized under the name that was traditionally used as an insult for the global Syriac Orthodox Church, the word Jacobite.

Due to its keeping with Cyrillian phrasing of the nature of Christ, the Syriac Church of Antioch and the Coptic Church of Alexandria rejected the Council of Chalcedon and was branded as heretics by the churches of Rome and Constantinople. In this first division of the Christian Church, these two former patriarchates and their churches were persecuted resulting in the near elimination of the Syriac Orthodox Church. It, however, continued to remain and survived due to the instrumental efforts of Jacob Baradaeus. Thus, the church was called Jacob-ites by other Chalcedonian churches to insinuate that the church was new body that formed under Jacob Baradaeus rather than then direct continuation of the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate of Antioch.

The Semitic approach of evening and morning are used to mark the observations of fasting and prayer and the preparation for the Eucharist. However, the Malayalam Calendar was used to make the more recent religious events such establishment dates of churches, houses and gravestones until recently. Now that practice has virtually ceased in favor of the standard Western, Gregorian calendar.

File:Malankara Syrian Church Sunday School Text Book.jpg

Malankara Syrian Church Sunday School Text Book

Headquarters

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 Catholicate 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 and JSC News, the official media of the church 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

Saint Thomas Christian's - Divisions- History

See

Main article: Saint Thomas Christian Churches

See The Church of the Syrian Christians in India

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

Thomas the Apostle is credited by tradition for founding the Indian Church in 52 AD. 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. 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 Antiochene Syrian Patriarch responded and sent metropolitan Mar Gregorios of Jerusalem to India in 1665. He regularized Marthoma I as the bishop and worked together with him to organize the Church.

Faith and Traditions

The Jacobite Syrian Church accepts only three Ecumenical Synods namely Nicea (A.D.325), Constantinople (A.D. 381) and Ephesus (A. D. 431) as the universal Synods and hence retain the purity as per the Early Christian Standards. . The Church meticulously observe all faith declaration of the Nicean Creed. The western church at a later stage appended a statement to this creed attributing the Holy Ghost to be originating from Son also, Filioque which we do not accept. The Church was totally merged with the divine element and became one Monophysite.The church believes that Jesus Christ is one Person out of two natures namely human and divine. He is perfect man and perfect God. But Western Church had wrongly construed us Monophysites. This was an unfortunate error that creeped into the Werstern Church History. But this anomaly was removed as a result of the deliberations at Vienna under the auspices of Pro-Orienete'.The faith of Oriental Orthodoxy like Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian and Indian Church are in line with the beliefs of Syrian Churches. The Holy church assiduously teach its members that the Church is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostholic enshrined with all elements of full-fledged Church and it paves way for salvation and that it is the duty of each member to obey the directions of the Church. The sacramental rites such as Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Confession, Priestly Orders, Matrimony and Sacrament to sick are held sacred and the members have ardent belief in their efficacy. Among those the first three rites are not only given together but are most important and each member has to partake in these without fail.

A simplified diagram of the various branches of Christianity. The purple line shows the Oriental Orthodox Church (also sometimes referred to as the Jacobite Church or the West Syrian Church).

File:Mamodisa kalthotti.jpg

Baptismal Font used in Syrian Church

Baptism

The Syrian Church believes in infant baptism. Hot and cold water mixed together is used for baptism.

Eucharist

The Eucharist is believed to represent the Body and Blood of Christ. But we do not accept the 'transubstatiation' of the Roman Catholic Church , whereby the bread and wine transmuted into the very Body and Blood of Christ. Leavened bread and wine are used in the Eucharist and given to the believers as the sacred Body and Blood.The departed souls are remembered in prayers and Holy Eucharist is conducted in their memory. There is another practice of annually celebrating the day of demise of any person at his house with prayer and offering of incense at the tomb.

Holy Bible

The Holy Bible is revered as the word of God. Every Sunday and other sacred days, Bible is invariably read. During the sacramental rites and common prayers the Bible is read by the priest and as a mark of reverence candles are lit and held on either sides. The traditions of the church that have been handed down by the early church fathers are revered fervently and observed strictly as per the Bible. The Holy Bible and the Traditions of the Church are esteemed as the criteria of the Church's faith.

Bible in Syriac tradition

Syriac Orthodox Churches use the Peshitta (Syriac: simple, common) as its Bible. The Old Testament books of this Bible were translated from Greek to Syriac between the late 1st century to the early 3rd century AD.

The Old Testament of the Peshitta was translated from the Hebrew, probably in the 2nd century. The New Testament of the Peshitta, which originally excluded certain disputed books, had become the standard by the early 5th century, replacing two early Syriac versions of the gospels.

Saint Mary and Saints

St.Mary is the perpetual virgin and mother of God who is esteemed as the first among the saints. Intercessory prayers are offered in the names of the Saints, Churches are built in their venerated memory and their relies are honored and their memories are celebrated. Immaculate Conception of St. Mary is not accepted in the Syrian Church.

Lent

The Church teaches that observing lent, refraining from rich food is good for the spiritual awakening. The Church observes every Wednesday and Friday as day of lent. Also there are five lent annually such as 50 days lent before Easter, the lent of Apostles the lent in the name of St.Mary, the lent before Christmas and the 3 day lent (Nineweh).

Apostolic Benediction and succession

The church believes that it receives Apostolic Benediction and succession through the Patriarchs seated on the throne of St.Peter at Antioch and the Patriarchs are the successors of St. Peter. The Apostolic laying on the hands is regarded to be absolutely essential for the Order of Priesthood. Those priest who have received such ordination only have the authority to perform liturgy and give sacraments.

confession

The church teaches the priest to be the designate of Christ and as such he is empowered to forgive sins. The believers make secret confession before the priest forgives the sins in the name of Christ. The Church asserts the need for marriage to those priests who are Vicars of Parishes. But the bishops are unmarried and must adhere to celibacy. The Priests are not allowed to remarry. The Church also preaches that matrimony is sacred and marriage relation is undissolvable.

Holy Oil

The sick people are anointed with sacred oil for recuperation and atonement of sins. Basically this sacrament has been conceived for the healing of the sick, but it is now generally misunderstood and observed as the last sacrament.

The Major Feasts

The church expects its members to observe Sunday and sacred days as holy and to refrain from routine engagements. Traditionally there are nine such sacred days a year and they are Christmas, Baptisam of Jesus, His entry into the Church, Gabriel's Announcement to St. Mary of the impending birth of the saviour, Ascension, Transfiguration, Feast of Cross, the ascension of St. Mary the mother of God and remembrance of St. Peter & St. Paul. In addition to these, other important occasions are St.Thomas day. Passover, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Resurrection during Passion Week.

Worship

The Syrian Christians do not worship idols or photos of any kind. However the pictures of Jesus, St. Mary and other Saints are displayed in the Churches and houses . Stand facing east ward during prayer is the common practice in churches as well as in houses.. The monks in the monasteries usually pray seven times and the laity usually twice a day in the morning and the evening. It is also specified that only the canonical prayers should be used in the public worship.

Prayer

Syriac Orthodox clergy and some devout laity follow a regimen of seven prayers a day, in accordance with Psalm 119. According to the Syriac Tradition, an ecclesiastical day starts at sunset:

• Evening or Ramsho prayer (Vespers)
• Night prayer or Sootoro prayer (Compline)
• Midnight or Lilyo prayer (Matins)
• Morning or Saphro prayer (Prime or Lauds, 6 a.m.)
• Third Hour or tloth sho`in prayer (Terce, 9 a.m.)
• Sixth Hour or sheth sho`in prayer (Sext, noon)
• Ninth Hour or tsha` sho'in prayer (None, 3 p.m.)

Belief

The church believes in the second coming of Jesus and in the last judgment when the righteous would be rewarded with eternal heavenly tranquility and the wicked will be banished to perpetual hell.

Monasticism

The Syriac Orthodox Church enriched by ancient monasteries. From the beginning of the 4th century, many famous monasteries were founded throughout the lands under the jurisdiction of the Antiochian see, that is to say in Syria, Mesopotamia, on the southern coast of Palestine, in the Syrian desert, in Gozarto (Mount Edessa), at Mount Izala, which surveys Nisibis and Tur-Abdin, and in Qardu and Al-Faf close to Mosul. They became centres of learning and of the virtuous life; thousands of monks and nuns withdrew into them from the worldly life in their quest for the Kingdom of God.The First Monastery of Malankara Church was built by the Patriarchal delegate Mor Yulius Elias Qoro over the tomb of the Patriarch Ignatius Elias III on manjanikara

Catholicos of India

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. 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/Maphrian

The word is a transliteration of the Greek καθολικός, pl. καθολικοί, meaning concerning the whole, universal or general. It was a title that existed in the Roman Empire where Government representative who was in charge of a large area was called ‘Catholicos’. The Churches later started to use this term for their Chief Bishops.

‘Maphriyono’ (Maphrian) is derived from the Syriac word 'afri', "to make fruitful’, or "one who gives fecundity". This title be used exclusively for the head of the Syriac Orthodox Church in the East. From the mid 13th century onwards, a few occupants of the Maphrianate were referred also as ‘Catholicos’, but the title never came into extensive usage.

In the 20th century when this office of the Maphrianate under the See of Antioch was established in India, the chief of the local church assumed the title ‘Catholicos’. It is this title that is being used in India today, whilst the title Maphrian is no longer used. Both the titles have the same meaning in the Syriac Orthodox Context.

Origins and development of the Catholicate in India

As the political rivalries were great between the Roman and Persian Empires, the Persian Church thought it wise to create a local leader, since the Zoroastrian rulers of Persia were strongly suspicious of any contacts between their Persian Christian minority, and the Christians in the enemy Roman Empire. In the 4th century, the bishop of the Persian capital of Seleucia, Mar Papa, had been declared the first Catholicos of the Church of the East. Mar Issac, bishop of Seleucia, became the first royally recognized Catholicos, empowered to exercise authority over the Church's Persian jurisdictions excluding India. In the 5th century, as part of the Nestorian schism, the Persian Christians separated from the Christians of the Roman Empire. In the 16th century, another split occurred, with the Nestorian branch becoming known as the Assyrian Church of the East, and another branch joining into communion with Rome, to become the Chaldean Catholic Church. The Assyrian Christians sought to better establish themselves by claiming that the Apostle Thomas not only evangelized their territories and ordained presbyters, but gave authority to specific successors to govern the Church. This teaching contradicted the teachings of Nicaea. To maintain Orthodoxy, patriarchs continued to ordain local Orthodox Maphriyono, who assumed the title Catholicos centuries later.

Public consecration of Thomas Mar Dionysius as Baselios Thomas I, Catholicos of India of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church (seated) by the Patriarch of Antioch, H. H. Ignatious Zakka I Iwas, and the universal episcopal synod. 31 July 2002, Damascus

A reconciliation movement gathered momentum in the 1950s and culminated in the consecration of Mar Augen I by the bishop's Synod presided over by the Patriarch Ignatius Jacob III, canonically establishing the Catholicate as the spiritual and temporal head of the Church in India (1964) under the authority of the Patriarch of Antioch. The camps later split again in 1975 with the Patriarch Ignatius Jacob III excommunicating the Catholicos Mor Augen I after renewed efforts to from an autocephalous and national church. Mor Augen I in turn excommunicated the Patriarch, favoring autocephaly and "Thomasine" hierarchical succession.

The office of the Catholicate favoring the Patriarch's supremacy was continued with the consecration of Mor Baselios Paulose II by Patriarch Jacob III in 1975. After Mor Baselios Paulose II's demise in 1996 the office remained vacant for several years to accommodate reconciliation attempts, which were unsuccessful.

In 2002 Baselios Thomas I was consecrated by Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas to be the local head of the Malankara Archdiocese of Syriac Orthodox Church. His Beatitiude's official title was made Catholicos of India. due to the region of his jurisdiction. He functions at an ecclesiastical rank second only to the Patriarch, having the privilege to preside over the consecration of new patriarchs. The Catholicos is welcomed brotherly alongside the Patriarch at ecclesiastical and ecumenical functions, and hosted the Patriarch during a state visit to India in 2005.

This Catholicate is headquartered at Puthencruz, Kerala, India. The Catholicos of India presides over the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christian Association

Catholicos Baselios Thomas I

Catholicos Baselios Thomas I(Mal: ആബൂന് മോര് ബസേലിയോസ് തോമസ്‌ പ്രഥമന് കാതോലിക്ക ബാവ, b: July 22, 1929) is the current 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 by Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch and All the Eastfor Syrian Jacobite Christians in India.Her ceremony held at Damascus, Syria.The position had remained vacant between 1996 (date of death of Catholicos Baselios Paulose II) and 2002.

Lineage of Catholicos of India

• 1. Baselios Paulose II (1975–1996)
  • Vacant from 1996 to 2002
• 2. Baselios Thomas I (2002–present)

Gregorios Abdul Jaleel

Saints of the Church

• Ignatius Elias III - Pathriach Of Antioch (Entombed in Manjanikkara Dayara at omallur)
• Mor Baselios Yeldo - Catholicos of Persia (Entombed in Kothamangalam Cheria Pally)
• Parumala Thirumeni (Geevarghese Mor Gregorious, Entombed in Parumala Church)
• Paulose Mar Athanasius - Methropolitian of Jacobite Syrian Church (entombed in Aluva Thrikkunnathu Seminary )
• Mor Koorilos Paulose - Malankara Metropolitan (Entombed in Panampady Church)
• St.Kooorilos Yuyakkim - Reesh-Episcopa of Malankara (Entombed in Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Church )
• St.Osthatheos Sleeba - Apostolic delegate of the Holy See to India ( Entombed in Arthat St.Mary's Simhasana church, Kunnamkulam )
• Baselios Sakralla III of Aleppo - Maphryono (entombed at Morth Mariam Cathedral,Kandanad)
• Gregorios Abdul Jaleel - Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan of Jerusalem (entombed at St. Thomas Church North Paravur)

Dioceses

The Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church has the following dioceses

Manarcad Marthamariam Cathedral, Manarcad Church

Bethel Suloko Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church, Perumbavoor, Kerala

Archdioceses (Autonomous)

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 Malabar
   5. Region of USA, Canada and Europe
2. Malankara Archdiocese of North America & Canada
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

1. Kollam Diocese
2. Thumpamon Diocese
3. Niranam Diocese
4. Kottayam Diocese
5. Idukki Diocese
6. Kandanad Diocese
7. Kochi Diocese
8. Angamaly(Largest Diocese)
   1. Angamaly Region
   2. Perumbavoor Region
   3. Kothamangalam Region
   4. Highrange Region
   5. Muvattupuzha Region
   6. Pallikkara Region
9. Thrissur Diocese
10. Kozhikode Diocese
11. Malabar Diocese

Dioceses in Rest of India

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

Dioceses in Outside India (Autonomous)

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

Other Dioceses (Autonomous)

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

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

Present Synod

The Synod of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church comprises:

1. Catholicose Baselios Thomas I- Metropolitan Trustee and Angamaly Diocese
2. Kuriakose Mor Severios Edavazhikal- Knanaya Archbishop and Chingavanam Region
3. Abraham Mor Severious- Angamaly Region of Angamaly Diocese
4. Thomas Mor Timotheos- Kottayam Diocese
5. Joseph Mor Gregorios- Synod Secretary and Kochi Diocese
6. Mathews Mor Ivanios- Kandanad Diocese
7. Geevarghese Mor Dionysius- Simhasana Churches (Pampady)
8. Kuriakose Mor Dioscorus- Simhasana Churches (Malecruz)
9. Geevarghese Mor Athanasios- Simhasana Churches (Manjinikkara)
10. Kuriakose Mor Theophilos- Seminary Resident Bishop
11. Yuhanon Mor Militos- Thumbamon Diocese
12. Mathews Mor Theodosius- Kollam Diocese
13. Mathews Mor Aphrem- Perumbavoor Region of Angamaly Diocese
14. Pathros Mor Osthathios- Bangalore Diocese
15. Geevarghese Mor Coorilose- Niranam Diocese
16. Yeldho Mor Theethose- Malankara Archdiocese of America
17. Kuriakose Mor Eusabios- Kothamangalam Region of Angamaly Diocese
18. Markose Mor Chrisostamos- Evangelist Association Of East
19. Elias Mor Athanasios- Thrissur Diocese
20. Kuriakose Mor Gregorios Knanaya Kalliserry Region
21. Yaqu'b Mor Anthonios- Honavar Mission
22. Zacharias Mor Philoxenos- Idukki
23. Paulose Mor Irenious- Kozhikode
24. Kuriakose Mor Ivanious Knanaya Malabar Region
25. Ayub Mor Silvanious Knanaya Diaspora Region
26. Geevarghese Mor Barnabas- Niranam Diocese Assistant Metropolitan
27. Issac Osthathios- Mylapore Diocese
28. Kuriakose Mor Julios- Highrange Region of Angamaly Diocese
29. Thomas Mor Alexandros- Bombay
30. Zacharias Mor Polycarpus- Malabar
31. Mathews Mor Thimothios- Malankara Affairs Secretary of Patriarch
32. Matthews Mor Anthimos- Muvattupuzha Region of Angamaly Diocese

Pilgrim Sites

Tomb churches

Tomb Churches
Name	Known As	Notes	Links
St Ignatiaus Dayara, Manjanikkara	Manjinikkara Pally	Tomb of: Ignatius Elias III,Yacoub Mor Julius,Mor Yulios Elias Qoro,Joseph Benyamin Mor Osthatheos,Kuriakose Mor Julius Destination of World's largest Pilgrimage on foot	Manjinikkara Dayara
Marthoman Cheriyapally, Kothamangalam	Kothamangalam Chriapally	Tomb of: St Yeldho Mor Baselious	cheriapally
St Thomas Jacobite Syrian Church, North Paravoor	Paravoor Pally	Tomb of: St Abdul Jaleel Mor Gregorios	Paravoor Pally
St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Simhasana Church, Kunnamkulam	Bava Pally	Tomb of: St Sleeba Mor OsthathiousPaulose Mor Severios	Bava Pally
Thrikkunnathu St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Church, Aluva	Seminary Pally	Tomb of: Kadavil Paulose Mor Athanasius, Vayaliparambil Geevarghese Mor Gregorios , St Paulose Mor Athanasius	Thrikkunnathu Jacobite Church
St.Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church, Panampady	Panampady Church	Tomb of: St Paulose Mor Koorilose, Michael Mor Divansious	panampady Pally
St.Mary’s Cathedral of Kandanad	Kandanad Marth Mariam Church	Tomb of: Mar Thoma IV	Kandanad Pally
Marthoman Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Mulanthuruthy	Mulanthuruthy pally	Tomb of: St Yuyakkim Mor Koorilos, Yuhanan Mor Gregorius, Hidayatulla Mor Ivanius	Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Cathedral
St George Jacobite Syrian Church, Malecruz	Malecruz Dayaro	Tomb of: Baselios Paulose II	Malecruz Dayaro
St. Peter's & St. Paul's Jacobite Syrian Church, Kolenchery	Kolenchery Pally	Tomb of: Mar Thoma VII	Kandanad Diocese
St. George Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Kadamattom	Kadamattom Pally	Tomb of: Mar Thoma IX	Kadamattom pally
St George Jacobite Syrian Simhasa Church, Perumpilly	Perumpally pally	Tomb of: Gheevarghese Mor Gregorios (Perumpilly Thirumeni)	Perumpally Pally
Mor Aphrem church at the St. John's Dayro, Chingavanam	Chingavanam Dayaro	Tomb of: Abraham Mor Clemis	Knanaya Valiyapally
Kottayam St. Mary’s Knanaya Valiya Pally	Kottayam Valiya Pally	Tomb of: Geevarghese Mor Severios	Kottayam Valiyapally
St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Sonoro Cathedral Church, Angamaly	Angamaly Cathedral	Tomb of: Mar Thoma I, Geevarghese Mor Kurillos Ambattu,	Angamaly Cathedral
St. Mary’s Simhasana Cathedral Church, Pampady	Panampady Pally	Tomb of: Yuhanon Mor Philoxenos	Kabharadakkam
St Peter's and St Paul's Cathedral, Meenangadi	Meenangadi Cathedral	Tomb of: Samuel Mor Philaxinos	Malabar Diocese
St. Mary's Bethlehem Simhasana church at Thrikkothamangalam	Bethlehem Church	Tomb of: Yakub Mor Thimotheos,	Thrikkothamangalam Church
Michael Mor Dionysius Dayro, Adoor	Adoor Dayaro	Tomb of: Kuriakose Mor Koorilos	Koorilose Thirumeni
St. Antony's Cathedral, Jeppu, Mangalore (Karnataka)	Jeppu Cathedral	Tomb of: Geevarghese Mor Polycarpus	Honavar Mission
Malankara Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary,Udayagiri Mulanthuruthy	Vettickal Seminary MSOT Seminary	Tomb of: Thomas Mor Theophilos	MSOT Seminary
St. Mary's church at Pangada	Pangada Pally	Tomb of: Markose Mor Koorilos	Kottayam diocese
Kyomtho Seminary and St Gregorios Centre, Thiruvankulam	Kyomtho Seminary	Tomb of: Thomas Mor Osthatheos	Kyomtho Seminary
St Peter's and St Paul's Jacobite Syrian Church, Kadungamangalam	Kadungamangalam Pally	Tomb of: Shemvun Mor Dionysius	Kadungamangalam Pally
Mor Ignathios Jacobite Syrian Church, Cheria Vappalasserry	Cheria Vappalasserry Pally	Tomb of: Kadavil Dr Paulose Mor Athanasiaus 2nd	Cheriyavappilaserry

Global Pilgrim Centres

Global Pilgrim Centres
Name	Known As	Notes	Links
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Manarcad	Manarcad Pally	Global Marian Pilgrim Centre Place of origin of Ettunombu Largest Church festival in Kerala	Manarcad Pally
St George Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Karingachira	Karingachira Pally	Global Georgian Pilgrim Centre Thamukku perunnal	website 1 website 2
Marthasmooni Jacobite Syrian Church, Peroor	Peroor Pally	Global Marthasmooni Pilgrim Centre	Peroor Pally
St Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Church, Kattachira	Kattachira Pally	Global Marian Pilgrim Centre Tear from St Mary's Photo	Kattachira pally
Rajadhiraja St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Piravom	Rajakkalude Pally Piravom Valiyapally	Global Holy Kings Pilgrim Centre Said to be the first Christian Church in the world Established by the Three Kings to worship Infant Jesus	Piravom Pally
St Thomas Jacobite Syrian Chappel, Malecruz Pallikkara	Malecruz pally	Global Marthoman Pilgrim Centre 800 year old chappel famous for smallpox cures	Pallikkara Church

Pilgrim Centres

Pilgrim Centres
Name	Known As	Diocese	Notes	Links
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Valiyapally, Thamarachal	Thamarachal ValiyaPally Second Manarcad	Angamaly Diocese (Angamaly Region)	Largest Ettunombu celebration after Manarcad Holy Sonoro of St Mary installed	Thamarachal Valiyapally
Akaparambu Mor Sabor Mor Apfroth Cathedral	Akaparambu Pally	Angamaly Diocese (Angamaly Region)	established by Mor Sabor and Mor Apfroth in the 9th century Only church in Malankara named after Mor Sabor and Mor Apfroth
St Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Nercha Cathedral, Rakkad	Nercha Pally	Angamaly Diocese (Muvattupuzha Region)	Established by the patriarchal delegate Mor Ivanios Hidayatulla as an offering
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Kundara	Kundara Puthenpally Manarcad of South	Kollam Diocese	Ettunombu festival is famous Holy Sonoro of St Mary installed
Puthupally St. George Patriarchal Church	Puthupally Puthenpally	Kottayam Diocese	Georgian Pilgrim Centre
St Kuriakose Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Maneed	Maneed Pally Second Manjinikkara	Kandanad Diocese	Starting Point of Famous Manjinikkara Pilgrimage	Maneed Pally
St Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Church, Meenangadi	Meenangadi Sonooro Pally Manarcad of Malabar Samajam Pally Meenangadi	Evangelistic Association Of The East	Holy Sonoro of St Mary and Relics of Patriarch H.H Ignatius Elias III installed.	Meenangadi Sonoro Pally
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Valiyapally, Thuruthiply	Thuruthiply Valiyapally Little Manarcad	Angamaly Diocese (Perumbavoor Region)	Ettunombu festival is famous Holy Sonoro of St Mary installed	Thuruthiply Valiyapally
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Valiyapally,Kothamangalam	Kothamangalam Valiyapally	Angamaly Diocese (Kothamangalam Region)	Parent Parish of al churches in Idukki and Muvattupuzha Districts Holy Sonoro of St Mary installed	Kothamangalam Valiyapally
St Kuriakose Sahada Chappel, Thengode	Thengode chappel	Angamaly Diocese (Angamaly Region)	Miraclulous growth of Jasmine garlands during fest
St Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Church, Cheengery	Cheengery Pally	Malabar Diocese	Largest fest of St Yeldho Mor Baselios in Malabar	Cheengeri Pally
Mor Baselious Jacobite Syrian Church, Cheeyumbam	Cheeyumbam Pally	Malabar Diocese	On foot Pilgrimage from churches in Malabar on fest of St Yeldho Mor Baselios
St. Gregorious Patriarchal Church, Parumala	Parumala Patriarchal Pally	Niranam Diocese	Gregorian Pilgrim Centre. Holy Relic of St George installed	Niranam diocese
St George Jacobite Syrian Chappel, Vattal	Vattal Kurishu Palli	Kozhikode Diocese	Georgian Pilgrim Centre
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church, Velamcode	Velamcode Pally	Kozhikode Diocese	Largest Ettunombu celebration in Kozhikode Holy Sonoro of St Mary installed
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church, Kallumedu	Kallumedu Pally Manarcad of highrange	Idukki Diocese	Assumption festival is famous Holy Sonoro of St Mary installed
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church, Sultan Bathery	Sultan Bathery Valiyapally	Malabar Diocese	Holy Sonoro of St Mary installed
St Mary's Knanaya Syrian Valiyapally, Kalliserry	Kalliserry Valiyapally Manarcad of Kananaya	Knanaya Archdiocese (Kalliserry Region)	Tomb of: Anjilimoottil Itty Thommen Kathanar Holy Sonoro of St Mary installed
St Kuriakose Jacobite Syrian Church, Puthoor	Puthoor Pally	Kollam Diocese	Holy Relic of St Kuriakose installed
St George Jacobite Syrian Church, Ponpally	Ponpally Pally	Kottayam Diocese	Holy Relic of St George installed	Ponpally Pally
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church, Kannara	Kannara Pally Manarcad of North	Thrissur Diocese	Holy Sonoro of St Mary installed

Other Prominent Churches

Other Prominent Churches
Name	Known As	Diocese	Notes	Links
St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Kuruppumpady	Kuruppumpady Pally	Angamaly Diocese (Perumbavoor Region)	Largest Parish in Kerala with 5000 families Holy Sonoro of St Mary installed	Kuruppumpady Cathedral
St Stephen's Bes Ania Jacobite Syrian Valiyapally, Chelad	Chelad ValiyaPally	Angamaly Diocese (Kothamangalam Region)	Holy Relic of Jacob Burdana installed Parish with most number of chappels in Malankara	Chelad Valiyapally

Pilgrimages on Foot

Seminary
Name	Destination	Approximate Date	Averange Participants	Origin	Notes
Manjinikkara Theerthayatra	St Ignatiaus Dayara, Manjanikkara	February first week (5 days)	1 million	St Kuriakose Cathedral, Maneed	Asia's largest pilgrimage on foot Tomb of St Ignatius Elias III
Kothamangalam Theerthayatra	Marthoman Cheriyapally, Kothamangalam	October 2	2 lakh	-	Largest single day Pilgrimage in Kerala Tomb of St Baselios Yeldho
Vadakkan Paravur Theerthayatra	St Thomas Jacobite Syrian Church, North Paravoor	April 27	1 lakh	-	Tomb of St Gregorios Abdul Jaleel
Kunnamkulam Theerthayatra	St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Simhasana Church, Kunnamkulam	March 20-21	75,000	St Mary's Church, Vadavucode	Tomb of St Osthathious Sleeba
Aluva Theerthayatra	Thrikkunnathu St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Church, Aluva	January 25	50,000	St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Akaparambu	Tomb of St Athanasius Paulose
Malecruz Theerthayatra	St George Jacobite Syrian Church, Malecruz	August 31	50,000	St Mary's Valiyapally, Cherai	Tomb of Baselios Paulose II
Kandanad Theerthayatra	St.Mary’s Cathedral of Kandanad	October 21	30,000	Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Cathedral	Tomb of St Baselios Shakralla
Mulanthuruthy Theerthayatra	Marthoman Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Mulanthuruthy	September 1	30,000	Kandanad St.Mary’s Cathedral	Tomb of St Koorilos Yuyakim
Panampady Theerthayatra	St.Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church, Panampady	14 December (St Koorilos Paulose) & January 17 (Mor Dionysius Mikhayel)	20,000 for both		Tombs of St Koorilos Paulose & Mor Dionysius Mikhayel
Perumpilly Theerthayatra	St George Jacobite Syrian Simhasa Church, Perumpilly	February 21	20,000	Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Cathedral	Tomb of Perumpilly Gregorios Geevarghese
Cheeyambam Theerthayatra	Mor Baselios JSO Church, Cheeyambam, Pulapally	October 2	10,000	-	Tomb of Relics of St Baselios Yeldho
Mookkancheril Ramban Theerthayatra	St.Mary's Royal Metropolitian Church, Nadamel	July 20	5,000	Kyomtha Seminary	Tomb of Mookkancheril Ramban

Spiritual Institutions

Seminary

Seminary
Name	Address	Known as	Links
Malankara Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary	Udayagiri, Mulanthuruthy, Ernakulam	M.S.O.T Seminary	Seminary Website
Kyomtha Seminary	Thiruvankulam, Thripunitura, Ernakulam	Kyomtha Seminary	About Seminary
Thrikkunnathu Seminary	Aluva	Thrikkunnathu Seminary
St Ignatiaus Seminary	Manjinikkara, Pathanamthitta	Manjinikkara Seminary	Dayara Website

Dayaras

Dayaras
Name	Address	Known as	Links
St Ignatiaus Dayara, Manjanikkara	Manjinikkara, Pathanamthitta	Manjinikkara Pally	Manjinikkara Dayara
St George Dayaro, Malecruz	Malecruz, Puthencruz, Ernakulam	Malecruz Dayara	Malecruz Dayara
St John's Dayaro, Piramadom	Piramadom, Muvattupuzha	Piramadom Dayara
St George Dayaro, Pathirichal	Chelad, Kothamangalam	Pathirichal Dayara
Chooramudi Dayaro	Chooramudi, Perumbavoor	Chooramudi Dayara

Convents

Convents
Name	Address	Known as	Links
St Mary's Convent	Puthencruz Ernakulam	Puthencruz Convent
St Mary's Convent	Udayagiri, Mulanthuruthy, Ernakulam	Seminary Convent	Seminary Website
St Mary's Convent	Mount Sinai, Kothamangalam	Mount Sinai Convent
St Thomas Convent	Keezhillam, Perumbavoor, Ernakulam	Keezhillam Convent	Retreat Centre

Retreat Centres

Retreat Centres
Name	Address	Known as	Links
St Thomas Retreat Centre	Keezhillam, Perumbavoor, Ernakulam	Keezhillam Dyana Kendram	About Retreat Centre
Mor Gregorioan Retreat Centre	Thoothootty, Kottayam	Thoottootty Dyana Kendram	Retreat Centre Website
St Paul's Mission Retreat Centre	Pattimattom, Ernakukulam	Mission Dyana Kendram	Mission Website

Office Bearers

Office Bearers
Post	Name	Term	Notes
Catholicos and Metropolitan Trustee	H B Baselios Thomas Ist Catholicose	2002-	Became Metropolitan Trustee in 1997 and Catholiocse in 2002
Synod Secretary	H G Joseph Mor Gregorios	2012-2017	Holding the post since 2002
Priest Trustee	V Rev Mathai Poovanthara Cor Episcopa	2012-2017
Lay Trustee	Thambu George Thukalan	2012-2017	Held the post of Lay Secretary from 2002-2012
Lay Secretary	George Mathew Thekkethala	2012-2017	Held the post of Lay Trustee from 2002-2012

Spiritual Organisation

Spiritual Organisation Office Bearers
Organisation	President	Vice President	General Secretary	Secretary	Treasurer	Link
Malankara Jacobite Syrian Sundayschool Association (MJSSA)	H G Mathews Mor Aphrem	V Rev Saju Cheruvillil Cor Episcopa	Chev M J Markose	Baby Varghese	K K Mathew	[4]
Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Youth Association (JSOYA)	H G Zacharias Mor Polycarpous	Rev Fr Eldhose Kakkadan	Biju Skariya	Shinil Thuruthummel	Cinol V Saju	[5]
Mor Gregorios Jacobite Students' Movement (MGJSM)	H G Kuriakose Mor Theophilos	Rev Fr George Vayaliparambil	Rev Fr Tijo Markose	Shinil Thuruthummel	Akhil Peediayakkan	[6]
Marthamariyam Vanitha Samajam	H G Mathews Mor Anthimos
Elder's Forum	H G Abraham Mor Severious

Publications

Publications
Publication	Chief Editor	General Manager	Publisher	Notes
Viswasasamrakshakan	Bibby Abraham Kadavumbhagom	T V Mathai	P V John Punnamattom	Highest circulating Christian Monthly Magazine with over 25000 copies sold
Athmadeepam				Publication of Sunday School Association (MJSSA)
Udayatharam				Publication of St Thomas Retreat Centre

Educational Institutions

Medical

1. St Gregorios Medical College, Chelad, Kothamangalam

Dental Colleges

1. St Gregorios Dental College, Chelad, Kothamangalam
2. Mar Baselios Dental College, Kothamangalam

Nursing Colleges

1. Mar Baselious Nursingl College, Kothamangalam
2. St Mary's Nursing College, Manarcad

Engineering Colleges

1. Mar Athanasius College of Engineering, Kothamangalam
2. Mar Baselious Institute of Technology and Science, Kothamangalam
3. Baselios Thomas I Catholicose College of Engineering and Technology

Trainning Colleges

1. St.Gregorios Teachers’ Training College, Meenangadi
2. The Patriarch Ignatius Zakka-Ist Training College, Malecruz
3. Mar Baselios College of Teacher Education Kothamangalam

Arts, Science and Commerce Colleges

1. Mar Athanasius College, Kothamangalam
2. Union Christian College, Aluva[7]
3. Baselios Poulose II Catholicos College, Piravom
4. Baselios Poulose Second College, Piramadom
5. Holy Cross College of Management and Technology
6. St. Thomas Arts & Science College, Puthencruz
7. St Mary's College, Manarcad
8. St Mary's College, Thuruthiply
9. Mar Elias College, KottapadySt Kuriakose College of Management and Science, Kuruppumpady
10. Mar Gregorios Abdul Jaleel Arts and Science College, North Paravur
11. Mar Baselios College, Adimaly

See also

• Catholicos
• List of Patriarchs of Antioch – to 518
• List of Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs of Antioch – list from 518
  • Catholicos of the East
  • Catholicos of India
  • Maphrian

Related

• List of Orthodox Churches
• Saint Thomas Christians
• Manarcad church
• Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
• Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
• Malankara Church
• Throne of St. Thomas
• Marthoma Metrans

References

• Holy Mass of the Jacobite Syrian Church

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

• Part 1
• Part 2

External links

• Jacobite Syrian Christian Church on Facebook
• Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
• Online Community and News Site of Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church
• News Site Of Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church
• Indian Christianity
• Malankara Syriac Orthodox Resources
• Malankara Jacobite Syriac Christian Network
• Nazranies/Thomas Christians/Syrian Christians