The Indian Orthodox Church (also known as the Malankara Orthodox Church, Orthodox Church of the East, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Orthodox Syrian Church of the East), is a prominent member of the Oriental Orthodox Church family. The Church traces its origins to St. Thomas the Apostle, who came to India in AD 52, established the Church and suffered martyrdom. The term Oriental Orthodoxy refers to the churches of Eastern Christian traditions that keep the faith of only the first three ecumenical councils of the undivided Church - the First Council of Nicaea, the First Council of Constantinople and the Council of Ephesus - and rejected the dogmatic definitions of the Council... Thomas was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. ... For other uses, see number 52. ...

H.H. Baselious Mathews II

The head of the Indian Orthodox Church is the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan whose seat is at Kottayam, Kerala, India. The Church has dioceses and churches in most parts of India as well as in the US, Canada, United Kingdom, Western Europe, Persian Gulf nations, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. The official title of the head of the Church is "the Catholicos of the East, Catholicos of the Apostolic throne of St. Thomas and the Malankara Metropolitan". Another section of the Indian Church (Jacobite Syrian Church) functions under the spiritual leadership of the Patriarch of Antioch. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Catholicos of the East is the title of the autonomous Primate of the East whose succession is that of St. ... Kottayam is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. ... ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations by or about: United States Wikinews has news related to this article: United States United States government CIA World Factbook Entry for United States House. ... Western Europe is distinguished from Eastern Europe by differences of history and culture rather than by geography. ... Map of the Persian Gulf. ... HH Mor Ignatios Zakka I Iwas The Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church, or sometimes called Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, an Orthodox church in Malankara (Kerala) is a branch and an integral part of the Syriac Orthodox Church with the Patriarch of Antioch, His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas...

The Church, though modern in its vision and outlook, keeps the traditional Orthodox faith and liturgy. It accepts the first three Ecumenical Synods. The liturgy now in use is the translation of the liturgy adopted from the Antiochian Church in the 17th century. However, the liturgical rites are uniquely Indian. Today the Church uses liturgy in Malayalam, Hindi, and English. In Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, an ecumenical council is a meeting of the bishops of the whole church convened to discuss and settle matters of Church doctrine and practice. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Malayalam (മലയാളം) is the major language of the state of Kerala, in southern India. ... Hindi (हिन्दी) is a language spoken mainly in North and Central India. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

The Indian Orthodox community inherited many aspects of Indian civilization and they are as any other member of any other community in India, in their customs, manners and life style.

The Church has a Theological Seminary at Kottayam, Kerala, which was established in 1815. Another seminary is situated in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The later was established fairly recently in the later part of the 20th century. The Battle of New Orleans 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Nāgpur (meaning City of the Snakes) is a city located near the geographical center of India, in the state of Maharashtra. ... Maharashtra (महाराष्ट्र) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the...

The Church takes an active role in various ecumenical activities at national and international levels. It is a member of the World Council of Churches. Famous theologians such as Mar Paulose Gregorious, Mar Geevarghese Osthathios, Rev. Fr.V.C. Samuel, and Rev. Dr. K.M. George, who contributed to the negotiations between the Oriental and Byzantine churches, belong to this church. The Indian Orthodox Church also participated in the Ecumenical council of Oriental Orthodox Churches held in Addis Ababa, in 1965. The World Council of Churches (WCC) is the principal international Christian ecumenical organization. ... // Events January-February January 4 - United States President Lyndon Johnson proclaims his Great Society during his State of the Union address. ...

History

During the later Old Testament times the Malabarian coast had trade relations with West Asia. These trade routes later enabled Christianity to reach Kerala, a state on the south western coast of India. Tradition states that the Apostle Thomas preached the Gospel to the locals (which included Jewish settlers in Kerala), baptised many, ordained some as bishops and founded seven churches. These churches remain the major Christian centres in Kerala. The Christians of this ancient tradition were and are known as either Nasranis or Syrian Christians. The Old Testament or the Hebrew Scriptures (also called the Hebrew Bible) constitutes the first major part of the Bible according to Christianity. ... A map showing Southwest Asia - The term Middle East is more often used to refer to both Southwest Asia and some North African countries Southwest Asia, or West Asia, is the southwestern part of Asia. ... Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament writings of his early followers. ... ... Thomas was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. ... The word Jew (Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity; and often a combination of these attributes. ... A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who, in certain Christian churches, holds a position of authority. ... A church building is a building used in Christian worship. ... The Nasrani people are an ethnic community from Kerala, South India, who follow the early Hebrew-Syriac Christian tradition. ... A Nasrani (also called as a Syrian - Malabar Christian) is a type of Christian from Kerala, South India who follows the earliest form of Christian-Jewish tradition of the early Christians. ...

The Indian Church was related to the Church of the East in the early centuries, and this church sent "East Syrian" bishops to India. The head of the Eastern church was the "Catholicos of the East" in the lineage of Apostle Thomas. In 431 AD, the Council of Ephesus condemned the teachings of Nestor, who was the Patriarch of Constantinople. A section of the Church of the East rejected the decisions of the Council of Ephesus and accepted the Nestorian teaching. In 544 AD, Mar Theodosius, the Patriarch of Alexandria ordained Mar Jacob Baradaeus as a general bishop. In 559 AD, Mar Jacob Baradaeus visited the east and consecrated a Catholicos for the non-Chalcedonians who accepted the Council of Ephesus and rejected the Council of Chalcedon. Events June - Council of Ephesus: Nestorianism is rejected, the Nicene creed is declared to be complete. ... The Council of Ephesus was held in Ephesus, Asia Minor in 431 under Emperor Theodosius II, grandson of Theodosius the Great. ... The Patriarch of Constantinople is the Ecumenical Patriarch, the first among equals in the Eastern Orthodox communion. ... Events Belisarius is sent back to Italy to once more fight the Ostrogoths who have been making reconquests in the area. ... The Patriarch of Alexandria is the bishop of Alexandria, Egypt. ... Events The Bulgars invade and raid Byzantine territory, but are driven back near Constantinople by Belisarius. ... The term Oriental Orthodoxy refers to the churches of Eastern Christian traditions that keeps the faith of only the first three ecumenical councils of the undivided Church - the councils of Nicea, Constantinople and Ephesus. ...

The Portuguese who colonized India in 1498 tried to convert the St. Thomas Christians to Roman Catholicism. By 1599 they succeeded in forcibly converting some to the Roman Catholic Church. But in 1653, a section of St. Thomas Christians revolted and resolved against accepting foreign authority. The party that sought to preserve the Church's freedom appealed to several Eastern Christian Centres for help in restoring its episcopal succession. The Antiochene Church responded and sent to India a Bishop, Metropolitan Mar Gregorios of Jerusalem who came to India in 1665. The Archdeacon who had been declared in the meantime to be Metropolitan Mar Thoma by the laying on of hands by twelve Presbyters was now confirmed by him in his episcopal rank, and both of them worked together to organize the church on firm footing. Mar Thoma I was followed in succession by a series of Prelates with the same name till 1816 when the last of them namely Mar Thoma IX came to the scene, but was soon replaced by Mar Dionysius II. Events Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama visits Quelimane and Moçambique in southeastern Africa. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Events Swedish King Sigismund III Vasa is replaced by his brother Charles IX of Sweden. ... Events February 2 - New Amsterdam (later renamed New York City) is incorporated. ... Events March 4 - Start of the Second Anglo-Dutch War March 6 - Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society begins publication March 16 - Bucharest allows Jews to settle in the city in exchange of annual tax of 16 guilders June 3 - The Duke of York defeats the Dutch Fleet off the... 1816 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Later in the 19th century, exposure to the doctrines of the Anglican Church inspired a reform movement led by Abraham Malpan. This was largely unsuccessful and ended in schism with the reformers founding the Mar Thoma Church. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Anglican Communion is a world-wide organisation of Anglican Churches. ... The Mar Thoma Church (also known as The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church) is a schismatic branch of the pre-16th century undivided Syrian Orthodox Church, and got its current identity in 1889, even though it was born much earlier. ...

In 1912, the Catholicate of the East was revived in India with the co-operation of Mar Abdul Messiah, the Senior Patriarch of Antioch, Mar Dionysius VI, the Metropolitan of the Indian Church,and the Bishops of the Church. The ceremony was held at St. Mary's Church, Niranam on 15 September 1912; Niranam Church is one of the seven Churches founded by Apostle Thomas. 1912 is a leap year starting on Monday. ... Niranam is a small village in Southern part of Kerala in India. ... September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years). ... 1912 is a leap year starting on Monday. ...

Despite several schisms, the Indian Orthodox Church remains a stronghold of Oriental Orthodoxy in The Subcontinent. Composite satellite image of the Indian subcontinent Map of South Asia. ...

Important pilgrim centres

• The Catholicate Aramana
• Parumala Seminary
• Pazhaya Semimary (Orthodox Theological Seminary)
• Niranam Valiyapally (St.Mary's Church)
• Pampakuda Cheriapally (St.Thomas Church)
• Vallikkattu Dayara
• St.Thomas Dayara
• Mar Kuriakose Dayara, Pampady
• Relics of Julius Mar Alvares, St. Marys Orthodox Church, Panjim, Goa http://www.juliusmaralvares.info.

Saints

• Parumala Thirumeni (Mar Gregorious)
• Mar Dionysius VI of Vattasseril
• Baselious Geevarghese II
• Paulose Mar Athanasios I
• Kuriakose Mar Gregorious

Saint Gregorios of Parumala is popularly known as ‘Parumala Thirumeni’. Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Gregorios of the Malankara Orthodox Church who passed away on November 2nd 1902 became the first declared saint from Malankara (Kerala, India) naturally to be called, ‘Parumala Thirumeni’. He shines in the cloud of witnesses as a... [[1]] The third Catholicos, His Holiness Moran Mar Baselious Geevarghese II, succeeded the Second Catholicos in 1929. ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ...

Past Catholicoi

Since the revival of Catholicate in India.

• Moran Mar Baselios Paulose I
• Moran Mar Baselios Geevarghese I
• Moran Mar Baselios Augen I
• Moran Mar Baselios Geevarghese II
• Moran Mar Baselios Mathews I

[[1]] The third Catholicos, His Holiness Moran Mar Baselious Geevarghese II, succeeded the Second Catholicos in 1929. ...

Dioceses and Churches

• Holy See of the East
• Kottayam Central
• Niranam
• Kandanad East
• Kandanad West
• Malabar
• Chengannur
• Mavelikkara
• Kunnamkulam
• Batheri
• Kochi
• Angamali
• Trissur
• Thiruvanathapuram
• Kollam
• America
• Canada
• Europe
• Delhi
• Chennai
• Kolkata

The Catholicos of the East is the title of the autonomous Primate of the East whose succession is that of St. ... Niranam is a small village in Southern part of Kerala in India. ... Bekal Fort Beach Malabar is a region along the southwest coast of the Indian peninsula, which forms the northern part of present-day Kerala state. ... mavelikara the birth place of Sri: RAJA RAVIVARMA the famous artist who created number of wounderful paintings. ... Kunnamkulam Kunnamkulam is a town in Thrissur, famous for knick-knacks and printing industry. ... Location of Kochi city in Ernakulam district Kochi (formerly known as Cochin) is the largest (pop. ... Kollam, formerly known as Quilon, is a city in Kerala which is also the headquarters of a district by the same name. ... ... World map showing location of Europe When considered a continent, Europe is the worlds second smallest continent in terms of area, with an area of 10,600,000 km² (4,140,625 square miles), making it larger than Australia only. ... This article deals with the city of Delhi. ... Chennai (சென்னை in Tamil), formerly known as Madras, is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and is Indias fourth largest city. ... Kolkata (Bangla: কলকাতা, Hindi: कोलकता), is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal and was capital of British India until 1912. ...

Internal links

• Saint Thomas Christians

St. ...

External links

• The website of the Malankara Orthodox Church
• The website of Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam
• The website of St. Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kalmeshwar, Nagpur, India
• The official website of the Diocese of the United States
• The Lineage of Catholicos of the East
• The Orthodox Herald: Biweekly online publication
• The Young Herald
• Little Herald
• Website of the Indian Orthodox Church
• The Indian Orthodox TV
• Informative website about the Indian Orthodox Church
• Malankara Deepam: A biweekly news publication in Malayalam
• St Gregoriose Orthodox Church: The San Francisco division of the Malankara Orthodox Church
• Niranam St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church : Niranam Valiyapally
• St. Gregorios Orthodox Syrian Church, Tampa

This article is part of the Eastern Christianity Portal - Learn more about Eastern Christianity