Maliyekal also spelt as Maliyekkal and Malieakal, (as it is a Malayalam surname, when translated into English the spellings differ) is said to be one of the first families that believed in Lord Jesus Christ and received Holy Baptism in the Indian sub-continent during 52-53 A.D by St. Thomas (locally called as Mar Thoma Sleeha) , the very Apostle of Lord Jesus Christ.
According to Thomma Parvom, (the written document by Thomas Ramban in 1601 which is in use at the Church at Niranam. This Thomas Rambans is one of the descendatns of the first Brahmin convert to Christianity christened as Maliyekal Ramban Thomas by Apostle St. Thomas. The story was handed down from generation to generations until it was written down in 1601) the first visit of St. Thomas in Kerala lasted only for a few days. During this period the main converts were the Jews who were settled in Kerala those days. (There was a large Jewish community in Kochi at that time). It is mentioned that during his second visit, more than three thousand people received Baptism and became Christians. (The first local convert was a Brahmin, Vishnu Namboodiri Maliyakal, who became Thomas Maliyakal and ordained as a Ramban (Priest).) Among the 3000 were some 75 Brahmin families along with Jews, Kshatriyas (Rajahs), Nairs and Chettiars. One Jewish prince by name Kepha (Peter) who got converted, was later ordained as bishop when St. Thomas left for spreading the Gospel (Good News) to the other parts of Kerala and India. The seven and a half original churches (ezhara pallikal) started by St. Thomas were located at Malayattur (near Aluva), Palayur (Trichur), Koovakkayal (near Paravur), Kokkamangalam (South Pallipuram), Kollam, Niranam, Nilackel (in Pathanamthitta district) and in Tranvancore.
Kearlite Syrian Christians today trace their heritage from the Apostle Thomas. They belong to various denominations such as the Syro- Malabar Catholic Church, Syro- Malankara Catholic , Syrian Orthodox Church, Jabobite Syrian Church, Mar Thoma Church, St.Thomas Evangelical Church, Church of South India, and some other independent Churches.
In some earlier (1950s) Malayalam translations of the Holy Bible too, it is mentioned in the preface that one Maliyekal Vishnu Namboothiri of one of the then prominent illams (high caste families) in Kerala accepted Lord Jesus and received the Sacrament of baptism from Thoma Sleeha (St.Thomas) and was christened as Maliyekal Thoma and became a faithful disciple of St. Thomas and assisted him in his missionary activities.
excellent
ReplyDeleteGeeat
ReplyDeleteGreat! Who was this Maliekal Kunjivariti?
ReplyDeleteVishnu Namboodiri Maliyakal? In 1st century? Really? The Namboodiris came to Kerala in the 7th and 8th centuries.
ReplyDeleteThe Maliakkal family website claims Maliakkal, Thayil, Thoppil, Pattamukkil were the first "brahmin" families to be converted. This contradicts most other websites that mention Pakalomattom, Sankarapuri, Kalli and Kalikavu as the first families to be converted, followed by Manki, Madathalan, Plavunkal, Mattamuk, Manavasri, Pattamukil, Madathilen, Thayil, etc.
ReplyDeleteAccording to MM Ninan, St. Thomas converted several Vedic priests, perhaps they were Anthanar brahmins, certainly not Namboodiris who came much later, circa 7th/8th century. The better known "brahmin" families who got converted include "Pakalomattam, Shankarapuri, Kalli, and Kaaliyankavu in the north and Thayil, Pattamukkil, Manki, and Madathilen in the south."
ReplyDeletePius Malekandathil says "the debate on the apostolate of St.Thomas in Kerala revolves mainly around one issue only: When Nambuthiri Brahmins were not there in Kerala in the first century AD, how can it be true that St. Thomas preached the gospel in Kerala? ...the available sources [Sangham literature, etc.] speak of the presence of Brahmins in Kerala [in 1st century AD as well as 1st century BC] though they were not Nambuthiri Brahmins, who appeared only by 8th century AD. Probably some of these Brahmins [Vedic priests] got converted by St. Thomas, though the majority of converts included Jews, Greeks, and mostly local people."
ReplyDeleteAs the colorful sailor and conspiracy theorist Capt. Ajit Vadakayil puts it, "When you meet a Syrian Christian in Kerala, you can be sure of one thing. He is soon gonna give you UNSOLICITED bull. That he is a Namboodiri convert, and the conversion was done by Saint Thomas way back in 52 AD. Just notice the look on his adivasi type face when he tells you this." Unfortunate but true. The fact is many Syrian Christians today are from backward Dravidian castes with no link to the original Thomasian brahmin converts. But that does not negate the fact of original brahmin (not Nambudiri) conversion. But the caste system did not exist in 1st century Kerala, at least not in the pernicious form prevalent in the rest of India. That was introduced by the racist Namboodiris in the 8th century with their sambandham marriages and ritual baths after being "polluted".
ReplyDeletePer Wikipedia, "untouchability in Kerala is not restricted to Hindus...Saint Thomas Syrian Christians also practiced the rules of untouchability. In the colonial period, many lower castes were converted to Christians by the European Missionaries but the new converts were not allowed to join the Syrian Christian community and they continued to be considered as untouchables even by the Syrian Christians. The rules of untouchability were severe, and they were very strictly enforced...an Ezhava must remain thirty-six paces off, and a Pulayan slave ninety-six steps distant...and a Parayan some distance farther still."
Syrian Christians are neither pure Nambudiri converts nor "backward Dravidian castes". Modern DNA analyses of dozens of Nasranis show that they have ~10% steppe DNA which indicates admixture from the 8th century aryan migrations into Kerala.
DeleteThis steppe admixture is only seen elsewhere in Nambudiris (naturally) and Nairs (due to sambandham).
Furthermore, the higher proportion of IVC-related to AASI-related DNA is similar to nairs, instead of having the inverse relationship when looking at the DNA of backwards castes such as Vishwakarmabrahmins and Malayarayans.
To top this off, a small fraction of Non-Knanaya nasranis have minor, but appreciable DNA from the levant.
KERALA'S NAMBUTHIRI CHRISTIANS
ReplyDeleteThe Syrian Christians of Kerala of Kerala originated from ancient Nambuthiri Christians converted by St.Thomas in 52 AD. St.Thomas preferred Nambuthiris because they were Savarnas who were the most respected among Keralites. Another reason was that as nobody was allowed to go near Nambuthiris the Christianity will be safe with Nambuthiri Christians.
As Nairs traditionally served Nambuthiris the Nairs obeyed Christian Nambuthiris also. So that the Christian Nambuthiris were also protected by Nairs.
Christian Nambuthiris also would have practised Sambandam with Shudra women.
BAPTISM OF NAMBUTHIRIS
St.Thomas baptized several Nambuthiri families such as Pakalomattom, Sankarapuri, Thayyil, Payyappilly, Kalli, Kaliyankal, and Pattamukku as Christians.
The first Bishop of Kodungaloor Syro-Malabar diocese Palliveetil Chandy and the founder of Orthodox-Jacobite church Marthoma church were from Pakalomattom Nambuthiri families.
ANCIENT SAVARNAS
Kerala was part of the the ancient Thamilakam. Though Tamil was commonly used in that period the Savarnas of Kerala preferred to talk in Malayalam or Sanskrit. As St.Thomas had mastered Sanskrit most of the conversations was in Sanskrit. Only Nambuthiris Nairs, Samantha Kshatrias and Christian Nambuthiris were considered as Savarnas in ancient Kerala.
OWNERS OF KERALA
According to the legends Lord Parashurama threw his axe from Gokarna in Karnataka to Kanyakumari. After this the coastal areas rose from the sea and thus coastal Karnataka were created.
Kerala was thus given to sixty four families of Nambuthiris who became the original owners of Kerala. St.Thomas might have converted atleast half of Nambuthiri population of Kerala. Thus the Nambuthiri Christians also descended from the Nambuthiris who received Kerala direct from Parashurama.
Thus both Parasurama and St.Thomas were mentors of Christian Nambuthiri community of Kerala.
NAIRS
Nairs originally did not belong to Kerala but they were brought by Nambuthiris as servants and cultivators. Though considered as Shudras Nairs were also considered as Savarnas and held a position quite higher than indigenous Dravidians.
LITURGICAL LANGUAGE OF NAMBUTHIRI CHRISTIANS
Ancient mother tongue of Keralites also might have been Sanskrit though many talked Malayalam also. Nambuthiri Christians of Kerala would have wanted Sanskrit as their liturgical language. Some Nambuthiri Christians however would have preferred Malayalam instead.
St.Thomas had to preach in Sanskrit as the Nambuthiris preferred Sanskrit to Tamil.
But St.Thomas might have preferred Syriac language which was the liturgical language of Church of East of Persia and Church of Babylon founded by himself. It was because St.Thomas Christians of India should be able to converse with their fellow Christians of Persia and Syria. Hebrew was also might have been used extensively by the ancient Nambuthiri Christians of Kerala.
SEVEN AND HALF CHURCHES OF KERALA
ReplyDeleteSt.Thomas established Seven Churches in Kerala and a half church at Kanyakumari. It was because the Kanyakumari fellows always talked half Malayalam.
St.Thomas established Churches are at Kodungallur, Palayoor, Kottakkavu near Paravur, Kokkamangalam, Niranam, Nilackal alias Chayal, Kollam, and Thiruvithamcode Arappoli church.
Kodungaloor was the medieval Chera capital. Musiris near Kodungaloor was a important port of Chera dynasty.
Palayoor in Thrissur was one of the seven Churches established by St Thomas.
Kottakkavu was another place where St.Thomas built another church. Kottakkavu was located near North Paravur near Vembanad Kayal.
Kokkamangalam was a place on the western bank of Vembanad Kayal. Kokkamangalam was also known as Kokkothamangalam. At Kokkamangalam St.Thomas established another full Church.
At Niranam another church was established by St.Thomas. Nelkinda, the ancient Pandiyan capital existed near Niranam.
At Nilackal near Sabarimala at the Pathanamthittta district another Church was established by St Thomas.
The seventh full church was established by St.Thomas at Kollam.
At Arappoli near Thiruvithancode at the Kanyakumari district St.Thomas established a half church.
St.Thomas though a fisherman by birth was a trained architect who had built palaces for Indo-Parthian king Gondophares who ruled from his capital at Taxla.
St.Thomas was the founder of Savarna Christianity in Kerala. Savarna Christians of Kerala were mostly Nambuthiris.
ENCOUNTERS WITH TAMILS
St.Thomas had never met any Tamils or any Dravidians in Kerala. This is because the Dravidian Tamils who were considered as Shudras and Avarnas avoided coming near St.Thomas.
ST.THOMAS LEGEND AT MYLAPORE
ReplyDeleteAccount of Franciscan Friar Giovanni de' Marignolli of Forence who visited Chennai and in 1347 AD.
The third province of India is called Maabar, and the church of St.Thomas which he built with his own hands is there, besides another which he built by the agency of workmen. These he paid with certain very great stones which I have seen there, and with a log cut down on Adam's Mountin Seyllan, which he caused to be sawn up, and from its sawdust other trees were sown. Now that log, huge as it was, was cut down by two slaves of his and drawn to these aside by the saint's own girdle. When the log reached the sea he said to it, "Go now and tarry for us in the haven of the city of Mirapolis (Mylapore).
1 ."It arrived there accordingly, where upon the king of that place with his whole army endeavoured to draw it ashore, but ten thousand men were not able to make it stir.
Then St.Thomas the Apostle himself came on the ground, riding on an ass, wearing a shirt, a stole, and a mantle of peacock's feathers, and attended by those two slaves and by two great lions, just as he is painted, and called out
"Touch not the log, for it is mine! ""How," quoth the king,
"dost thou make it out to be thine?
"So the Apostle loosing the cord where with he was girt, ordered his slaves to tie it to the log and draw it ashore. And this being accomplished with the greatest ease, the king was converted, and bestowed upon the saint as much land as he could ride round upon his ass. So during the day-time he used to goon building his churches in the city, but at night he retired to a distance of three Italian miles, where there were numberless peacocks.
2...and thus being shot in the side with an arrow such as is called frictia, (so that his wound was like that in the side of Christ into which he had thrust his hand), he lay there before his oratory from the hour of complines, continuing throughout the night to preach, whilst all his blessed blood was welling from his side; and in the morning he gave up his soul to God. The priests gathered up the earth with which his blood had mingled, and buried it with him. By means of this I experienced a distinct miracle twice over in my own person,which I shall relate elsewhere
1 . Standing miracles are, however, to be seen there, in respect both of the opening of the sea, and of the peacocks
2 . Moreover whatever quantity of that earth be removed from the grave oneday, just as much is replaced spontaneously against the next. And when this earth is taken in a potion it cures diseases, and in this manner open miracles are wrought both among Christians and among Tartars and Pagans
3 .That king also gave St.Thomas a perpetual grant of the public steelyard for pepper and all aromatic spices,and no one dares take this privilege from the Christiansbut at the peril of death
4. I spent fourdays there; there is an excellent pearl fishery at the place.
CHURCHES BUILT BY ST.THOMAS
ReplyDeleteMarignolli says that the Church built by St.Thomas with his own hands was there at Maabar. St.Thomas had built another Church at Mabar with the help of workmen. For the workmen he paid with great precious stones. Maabar is the Arabic name for Pandyan kingdom and Tamilnadu in general.
MIRACLE OF LOG AT SRILANKA
St.Thomas caused a log cut down at Adam's Mountain(peak) Seyllan(Srilanka) and got it to be sawn up. From its sawdust were sown to germinate other trees.
This big log which was cut down by two slaves of St.Thomas.The log was tied with the girdle(belt) of St.Thomas and was drawn to seashore by his two slaves.
When the log of wood reached the Seashore St.Thomas told it to go and wait for them in the haven(harbour) of the city of Mirapolis(Mylapore).
The log floated all the way through sea from Adams peak and reached Madras and was floating at the sea.
Then the king of Madras with his whole army and endeavoured to draw the log ashore. But ten thousand men could not draw it to shore.
ST.THOMAS ATTIRE
Then St.Thomas the Apostle came to the place wearing a shirt, a stole(a long loose robe) and a mantle(a sleeveless cloak) of peacock feathers. He was accompanied by his two slaves and by two great lions. There was a painting in the church depicting him with a peacock feather cloak, riding an ass and accompanied by his two slaves and two lions.
Nestorians usually are iconoclastic who avoided using idols or Pictures. But Marignolli says that he saw a pictue of St.Thomas.
Then St.Thomas called out that the log was his and not to touch it. The king queried How was it his.
The apostle loosened the cord he had tied around his waist and ordered his slaves to rie it to the log and draw it ashore.
The slaves drew the log to the shore without much effort.
The king was converted and bestowed upon the saint as much land as he could ride round upon his ass.
During the day time St.Thomas built his churches in the City. But at night he retired to a place where there were numerous peacocks which was three Italian miles (1.852 km/Roman mile) away.
Thus St.Thomas built two churches at St.Thomas Mount. He built many Churches in the Madras city during the day time.In the night time he rested at Mylapore where there used to be numerous Peacocks.
MARTYRDOM OF ST.THOMAS
ReplyDeleteSt.Thomas was shot with an arrow called Frictia on his side.By this his wound resembled the left flank wound of Jesus Christ into whist he had thrust his hand. He lay there after his complines(evening prayer) preaching throughout night while his blessed blood was welling by his side. In the morning St.Thomas gave up his soul to God. The priests gathered the earth sodden with his blood and buried it with him.
Because of this John of Marignolli experienced a miracle twice over his own person.
Miracles of opening of the sea and Peacocks were seen there.
Whatever quantity of the earth removed from the grave oneday the same amount is replaced spontaneously next day. When this earth is taken as a potion it cures diseases. Because of this miraculous power the earth is taken by Christians and among Tartars (Muslims) and Pagans(Hindus).
That king also gave St.Thomas a perpetual grant of the public steelyard for pepper and all aromatic spices,and no one dares take this privilege from the Christiansbut at the peril of death.
Marignolli spent fourdays there. There was an excellent pearl fishery at the place.
By pearl fishery Marignolli means Tuticorin but it is 600 km away.
Other possibility is that St.Thomas tomb was at Kayalpattinam a seaport at pearl fishery coast. Peacocks are found there too.
TWO MARTYRDOMS
According to Acts of Thomas St.Thomas was executed at a hill called Calamina (Kala-Minar in Jaghatu)in the Ghazni province of Afghanistan by a Indo-Greek king Misdeus in 46 AD. Under the orders from King Misdeus four soldiers stabbed him with spears. After that St.Thomas's body was interred in a Royal sepulchre.
But after one year when Misdeus opened the tomb of St.Thomas he found no body. Misdeus was told that the disciples of St.Thomas stole his body and had taken it to Edessa. Unless by a remote chance that St.Thomas survived the injuries and was rescued by his disciples his second martyrdom at Chennai at 72 AD is not possible.
DEPICTION OF ST THOMAS
ReplyDeleteAfter the arrival of Portuguese St.Thomas is depicted in the western style holding a Crozier.
The earlier Indian depiction of St.Thomas wearing a Shirt, Stole and a mantle made of Peacock feather and also riding an ass, accompanied by two Slaves and two Lions and such depiction is not seen in any Portuguese Church.
There is no depiction of St Thomas with Peacocks in any Church now.
SRILANKAN VISIT
St.Thomas bringing logs from Adams peak to Chennai is a little known legend to Srilankans.
MULTIPLE CHURCHES
Marignolli's account states St.Thomas built many Churches at Chennai. But the exact locations of these churches is not known.
SLAVES
Acts of Thomas says that he was sold by Jesus himself as a slave to Indian merchant Abban.
St.Thomas himself owning two slaves unique to Mylapore kegend. These two slaves names are not known. There is no information regarding conversion of these slaves.
These Tamil slaves perhaps were never converted by St.Thomas as St.Thomas preferred to convert higher classes of people only.
KINGS AND BRAHMINS
St.Thomas preferred to convert Kings and Brahmins and Jews. Indo-Parthian king and his family was Baptised by St.Thomas in 46 AD. Similarly Indo-Greek King Misdeus's family was also had been converted by St.Thomas.
The Chennai King also was converted but his name is not Known.
There is no indication he ever talked Tamil or other Dravidian languages. St.Thomas could have preached in Aramaic, Hebrew and Sanskrit.
St.Thomas might have mastered Sanskrit enabling him to convert Nambuthiris (The ancient Brahmins of Tamilaham were Andhanar, Vedhiar and Parpanar).The ancient Liturgical language of Indian Christians could be most likely Sanskrit.
However most of the St.Thomas christians (Nestorians) were centred at Seleucia Ctesiphon, capital of Sassanian Persia. With the arrival of Nestorian Christians from Persia after 486 AD St.Thomas Christians of Chennai and Kodungaloor might have accepted Syriac as their Liturgical language.
Dravidian people of ancient Kerala and Tamilnadu however knew neither Hebrew nor Sanskrit and could not understand the preachings of St.Thomas.
Though St.Thomas was a fisherman from Galilee he had mastered Architecture and Palace building according to Acts of Thomas. St.Thomas was also called Didymus (Twin of Jesus) possibly his physical resemblance to Jesus Christ.
FISHERMEN APOSTLES
The fishermen Apostles from Sea of Galilee were
1. St. Andrew
2. St. Peter
3. St.James and
4. St. John who were brothers
5. St.Thomas
6. St. Bartholomew
Other apostles were Tax collectors and traders.
St.Thomas is revered by St. Thomas Christians of Kerala while St.Bartholomew is referred by Konkani christians of Mangalore and Goa both Brahmin converts from Nambuthiri and GSB communities respectively. Coastal people prefer St.Andrew.
FROM DRAVIDIAN VIEWPOINT
ReplyDelete1.Kerala was not created by Parashurama. Kerala had been homeland of Dravidians from time immemorial. Onam festival celebrated for the past 3800 years after Dravidian king Mahabali was killed by Upendra brother of Aryan king Indra.
2.Kerala was ruled by Tamil Villavar kings from time immemorial. Villavar were supported by Villavar, Malayar and Vanavar clans. Ancient Keralites used Tamil and Pali languages.
3. Christianity, St.Thomas or Nambuthiris were not known to Sangam era Tamils.
4. Sangam age Tamils of Kerala were Jains but Buddhism and Dravidian religeon were also practiced.
5. Sangam age Brahmins were called Anthanar, Parpanar and Vediar who were often drawn from Dravidian communities.
6.Tulu-Nepali invaders such as Nairs, Nambuthiris and Samantha Kshatria appeared in Kerala after Tulu Alupa dynasty prince Banapperumal with the help of Arabs occupied Malabar in 1120 AD.
7.Christianity was not a known religeon to Later Chera Villavar dynasty kings who ruled from Kodungaloor between 800 AD to 1102 AD and Cherai Villavar dynasty which ruled from Kollam between 1102 AD to 1333 AD.
8.The matrilineal Tulu-Nepali kings became rulers of Kerala after the Turkish invasion of Malik Kafur in 1311 AD. With this Nepali clans from Ahichatra such as Nairs and Nambuthiris dominated Kerala after 1333 AD.
9.Until 1339 AD only only few hundred foreign blooded Persian Nestorians called Malabar Suriyani Nasranis existed. Nestorians did not believe Jesus was God and called him a humanbeing. Nestorians refused to accept Mary as "Mother of God" who called her "Mother of Jesus". Nestorian Syrian christians worshipped "Eli" alias "Alaha" as God.
10.The Nestorian Syrian Mapillai Christians were headed by Kurdiah Nestorian Bishops send from Mosul in Iraq.
11. At 1339 AD Villarvettom who ruled from Chendamangalam and his subjects embraced Nestorian Christianity increasing Christian population to 30000.
12.After 1498 AD Portuguese intermixed with Villarvettom Tamils Nestorian Christians to create a 200,000 numbered Portuguese Mestizo community who were Roman Catholics. Only after 1498 AD Kerala Christians accepted Jesus as God and Mary as "Mother of God".
13. Pope encouraged the use of Latin Catholic Liturgy translated into Syriac in the Roman Catholic churches. The Vernacular language of Villarvettom Tamils Malayalam-Tamil was not allowed in the churches.
14. Some of the Portuguese Mestizo Syrian Roman Catholic Tamil community joined the Turkish Western Syriac Jacobite-Orthodox sect and their priests started wearing costume Jacobite priests of Turkey.
15. Most of the Portuguese Mestizo Roman Catholic community was under Kodungaloor Latin Diocese between 1661 AD to 1838 AD where both Latin rite priests and Syriac rite priests existed. Syriac rite priests also used Latin liturgy translated to Syriac. Syriac language was never understood by Villarvettom Portuguese Mestizo Syrian Tamils.
16. Until 1830 AD used Dravidian tongue Malayalam-Tamil alias Malayanma. But after 1830 AD the Syrian Christians abandoned their ancestral language and adopted "Nepali Malayalam" written with Tulu script which had been used by only Nairs and Nambuthiris.
17. Only after British left in 1956 AD a Syrian Christian Bishop who had been educated at Kandy Latin Catholic seminary in Srilanka started the use of Malayalam Liturgy in Roman Catholic churches.
KODUNGALOOR LATIN DIOCESE
ReplyDeleteKodungalur Latin Diocese was established in 1601 AD with Francis Roz as first Bishop. Portuguese facing opposition from Nestorian priests Portuguese appointed Parambil Chandy who was a Chaldean Catholic as Bishop of Latin Diocese of Kodungaloor 1663 AD.
After this Syriac rite churches claimed to be of Syro Malabar church. But Parambil Chandy himself was a Chaldean catholic who used Latin Liturgy.
After Parambil Chandy Portuguese Jesuit Bishops of Kodungaloor continued to to reign over Thrissur, and Angamaly areas.
At Palayoor a factory to process spices existed in the Portuguese and Dutch periods. Palayoor Church had been built by Portuguese.
ORTHODOX CHURCH
The other faction of Portuguese Mestizo catholic Christians was led by Archdeacon Marthoma. In 1665 AD an Orthodox Bishop of Jerusalem ocalled Mar Abdal Jaleel came to India and elevated archdeacon Marthoma as Bishop under a new church Orthodox or Jacobite Church established by Jacob Bardeus in 543 AD. Though the founder Bishop Jacob wore tattered robe Bardeus(tattered cloth stitched) was added to him. But the laterday Orthodox priests were known for their opulent robes.
The Roman Catholics of the 40 churches still thought that they were Catholics. Gradually only realised that they have gone to a completely different Syrian church.
MIGRATION OF SYRIAN CHRISTIANS TO HILLS
During the Portuguese and Dutch era coastal Mestizo communities were encouraged to cultivate pepper at the Westernghats.
This resulted the migration of Roman Catholics from Kodungaloor and Kochi to Angamali, Kuruvilangad and Kottayam. Similar migration of Roman Catholics of Kollam to Pathanamthitta occurred.
FINAL REJECTION OF NESTORIANISM
The Portuguese Roman Catholics underwent a schism of their church in 1663 AD and thereby creating Latin Catholics, Syro-Malabar with roots from Chaldean Catholics and Malankara Orthodox sects. Because of Portuguese efforts all sects rejected Nestorian Syriac Christianity and its heresy in the laterdays. A Nestorian Bishop called Mar Gabriel arrived in Malabar in 1708 AD. Neither Malankara church nor Catholics accepted him. Finally he came to Kottayam Cheria palli under Malankara Orthodox church. He died and was buried there. His burial place was later demolished under the orders of Orhodox Bishop Marthoma in 1730 AD and those stones were used as stepping stones to the parish building . Desecration of the grave of the last Nestorian priest Mar Gabriel also marked the end of Nestorianism in India.
CARMELITES CORRECTING NESTORIAN HERESY
In 1775 AD a Syriac priest of Malayatoor who used Raza Qurbana which was considered heretical by the Carmelite priests of Varapuzha was dragged out of procession, handcuffed, taken to Varapuzha and was chained to a cot. This incidence clearly indicates that only Syriac translation of Roman mass was used in the churches in 1775 AD and not Nestorian Raza Qurbana.
BRITISH HINDERING CATHOLICS
British hindered the local European Catholic Bishops. Syrian Catholic priest Kariattil Mar Ouseph from Alangad sailed to Portugal and was appointed as Bishop of Kodungaloor's Latin diocese in 1785 AD at Lisbon.But Kariattil Mar Ouseph was also a Latin priest who had graduated from Carmelite Propaganda college of Rome. Kariattil Mar Ouseph had written a book called "Noticias do Reino do Malabar" in Portuguese language in 1780. After this the Latin Jesuits Diocese of Kodungaloor with Jurisdiction at Angamaly continued to have European Latin Catholic Bishops until 1838 AD. Kodungaloor Archdiocese merged with Varapuzha Latin Diocese in 1838 AD
Some rebellious Syriac rite priests from Cherthala established a rival monastery called Carmelites of Mary Immaculate at Mannanam in 1831 AD but under Latin Carmelites of Varapuzha.
The Syro Malabar churches started identifying themselves as separate from Latin churches after 1838 AD.
Can I know where was Vishnu Namboodhiri Maliyakal's Place.
ReplyDeleteMay be Niranam in kuttanadu.
DeleteVery informative. Congrats 🎉
ReplyDelete