Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Church
Encyclopedia
Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Church is located at Mulanthuruthy
in Ernakulam district
of Kerala
.This church is among the ancient and famous churches of the Malankara Church
and a pilgrimage center of Syrian Christians
. It is the home parish of Saint Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala who was a Syrian Orthodox religious leader and later canonized by both the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church and Indian Orthodox Church
.
This church is believed to be built between AD 1100 and 1125. Kunnassery Kunchakko Tharakan who was the minister of the king of Kaduthuruthy was instrumental in building this church.The noteworthy feature of this church is a relic of St Thomas
, which was brought from Mosul
. The Patriarch of Jerusalem, Mar Gregorius Yuhanon resided at this church from 1751 till he entered into eternal rest on 10 July 1773. His grave can be seen on the northern side of the church.
The church is famous for its historical importance. Mulanthuruthy church was the venue of the famous Mulanthuruthy Synod in 1876 convened by the Holy patriarch of Antioch Peter III.Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Yakoob III visited this church, during 1964. The present Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas
have visited the Church twice, during 1982 and 2000.
The altar of the church is a reminiscent of the Altar
of the first Christian Church of the Syrian Orthodox Church at Jerusalem. That is why, the Church is called as the 2nd Jerusalem.
This church is also the home parish of the famous bishops of the Malankara Church
known popularly as Kattumangattu Bavamar, the lone saint of the Malankara Church,Metropolitan Kochuparambil Paulose Mor Koorilose. Qasheesho Shrambikkal Pallathittayil Gheevarghese, the spiritual master of Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala was laid to rest in this church on 23 December 1863.
The church is already attracting pilgrims from the different part of the world. The murals and the tombs of different bishops are attractions for the spiritual and religious tourists. This church is situated just 32 km away from Cochin International Airport
The authority of the church remains a matter of dispute between the two Orthodox factions since it is the home parish of all the Syrian Christians
living in the adjoining areas.
, a little village in the former Princely State of Cochin, in the early centuries of the Christian era, is obscure. Geologists are of the view that when the western part of Mulanthuruthy, was not yet formed by the mud and sand brought down by the periyar, the waves of the Arabian Sea
washed the shore of this village . At that time, this village was a “Thuruthu” (Island
) surrounded by “Mula” trees (Bamboo
) and the name “Mulanthuruthy” was derived from that. Gradually, the sea receded surrendering large areas, now known as, Ernakulam
, mattancherry
, Vypeen etc. Christianity
flurished in this village, immediately after the arrival of St. Thomas. This has remained a centre of Christian culture ever since.
. The East Syrian (Persian), Byzantine
, Armenian
, Georgian
, Maronite liturgies also belong to the same liturgical family. In the first half of the fifth century, the Antiochene Church adopted the anaphora of Jerusalem, known under the name of St James, the brother of Our Lord.
in the 19th Century. This Synod represents inauguration of an official relationship of a section of the Orthodox with the patriarch of the West Syrian Church. This Synod was called and Presided over by Patriarch Peter IV of the West Syrian Church. 103 churches of the Orthodox presented there but the churches followed Athanasius did not participate saying that this Patriarch has no right. So the Synod was the meeting exclusively that of the Dionysian party.
The Synod
decided to adhere closely, with the West Syrian doctrinal, liturgical and Church disciplinary norms. And resolved a registered deed to be executed in this regard and presented to the Patriarch declaring the official adherence of this Indian section with the Patriarch accepting his jurisdictional claims. But unfortunately this registered deed was not executed and given to the Patriarch although the patriarch expected that would take place soon. Knowing that he was deceived thoroughly by Dionysius V he reacted as he desired. He consecrated 6 bishops of his own accord himself without the consent of the church or of Dionysius V, taking from each of them registered deed, to ensure and strengthen but also over their dioceses.
Indeed it was these new bishops formally and systematically not only West Syrianized their dioceses but also stabilized the jurisdictional claims of the Patriarch thereafter. Dionysius V was ignored by the Patriarch seeing that he was a threat and was against his plans regard to the Indian Church. Thus patriarch Peter organizing an independent hierarchy of his own in the Dionysian followers he left to Syria
.
2. The church administration became like that of the West Syrian Church.
3. The Patriarchal supremacy, was enforced upon the Orthodox of India.
4. The patriarch did not desire to strengthen Dionysius V, whom had invited him to India. But tried to weaken him and to degrade his status as Malankara Metropolitan.
5. By rescinding the royal proclamation in favour of Athanasius, by calling the Synod of Mulanthuruthy and enacting resolutions therein, by consecrating bishops and dividing the Church as dioceses, etc. the patriarch made it clear that he, indeed, was the head of the Orthodox in India.
Mulanthuruthy
Mulanthuruthy, also spelt Mulamthuruthy, is a small town in Ernakulam District of Kerala. It is about 21 km south-east of Ernakulam and 8 km east of Tripunithura....
in Ernakulam district
Ernakulam district
-Economy:Agriculture constitutes the most important segment of the district’s economy and it is the biggest source of employment. Of the geographical 235319 hectares, crops are grown in 0 hectares. Coconut is the principal crop followed by rubber, paddy, and tapioca...
of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
.This church is among the ancient and famous churches of the Malankara Church
Malankara Church
The Malankara Church is the church of the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, India, with particular emphasis on the part of the community that joined Archdeacon Mar Thoma in swearing to resist the authority of the Portuguese Padroado in 1653...
and a pilgrimage center of Syrian Christians
Syrian Malabar Nasrani
The Syrian Malabar Nasrani people, also known as Saint Thomas Christians, "'Nasrani Mappila'" and Nasranis, are an ethnoreligious group from Kerala, India, adhering to the various churches of the Saint Thomas Christian tradition...
. It is the home parish of Saint Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala who was a Syrian Orthodox religious leader and later canonized by both the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church and Indian Orthodox Church
Indian Orthodox Church
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, also known as the Indian Orthodox Church, is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church centred in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the churches of India's Saint Thomas Christian community, which traces its origins to the evangelical activity of Thomas...
.
This church is believed to be built between AD 1100 and 1125. Kunnassery Kunchakko Tharakan who was the minister of the king of Kaduthuruthy was instrumental in building this church.The noteworthy feature of this church is a relic of St Thomas
Thomas the Apostle
Thomas the Apostle, also called Doubting Thomas or Didymus was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is best known for questioning Jesus' resurrection when first told of it, then proclaiming "My Lord and my God" on seeing Jesus in . He was perhaps the only Apostle who went outside the Roman...
, which was brought from Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
. The Patriarch of Jerusalem, Mar Gregorius Yuhanon resided at this church from 1751 till he entered into eternal rest on 10 July 1773. His grave can be seen on the northern side of the church.
The church is famous for its historical importance. Mulanthuruthy church was the venue of the famous Mulanthuruthy Synod in 1876 convened by the Holy patriarch of Antioch Peter III.Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Yakoob III visited this church, during 1964. The present Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas
Ignatius Zakka I Iwas
Ignatius Zakka I Iwas is the 122nd reigning Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and as such, Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. Also known by his traditional episcopal name, Severios, he was enthroned as patriarch on 14 September 1980 in St. George's...
have visited the Church twice, during 1982 and 2000.
The altar of the church is a reminiscent of the Altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
of the first Christian Church of the Syrian Orthodox Church at Jerusalem. That is why, the Church is called as the 2nd Jerusalem.
This church is also the home parish of the famous bishops of the Malankara Church
Malankara Church
The Malankara Church is the church of the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, India, with particular emphasis on the part of the community that joined Archdeacon Mar Thoma in swearing to resist the authority of the Portuguese Padroado in 1653...
known popularly as Kattumangattu Bavamar, the lone saint of the Malankara Church,Metropolitan Kochuparambil Paulose Mor Koorilose. Qasheesho Shrambikkal Pallathittayil Gheevarghese, the spiritual master of Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala was laid to rest in this church on 23 December 1863.
The church is already attracting pilgrims from the different part of the world. The murals and the tombs of different bishops are attractions for the spiritual and religious tourists. This church is situated just 32 km away from Cochin International Airport
Cochin International Airport
Cochin International Airport is an international airport located in Nedumbassery, a suburb on the outskirts of the city of Kochi about northeast of downtown Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. It is the busiest and largest airport in the state of Kerala...
The authority of the church remains a matter of dispute between the two Orthodox factions since it is the home parish of all the Syrian Christians
Syrian Malabar Nasrani
The Syrian Malabar Nasrani people, also known as Saint Thomas Christians, "'Nasrani Mappila'" and Nasranis, are an ethnoreligious group from Kerala, India, adhering to the various churches of the Saint Thomas Christian tradition...
living in the adjoining areas.
Mulanthuruthy
The history of MulanthuruthyMulanthuruthy
Mulanthuruthy, also spelt Mulamthuruthy, is a small town in Ernakulam District of Kerala. It is about 21 km south-east of Ernakulam and 8 km east of Tripunithura....
, a little village in the former Princely State of Cochin, in the early centuries of the Christian era, is obscure. Geologists are of the view that when the western part of Mulanthuruthy, was not yet formed by the mud and sand brought down by the periyar, the waves of the Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
washed the shore of this village . At that time, this village was a “Thuruthu” (Island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
) surrounded by “Mula” trees (Bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
) and the name “Mulanthuruthy” was derived from that. Gradually, the sea receded surrendering large areas, now known as, Ernakulam
Ernakulam
Ernakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
, mattancherry
Mattancherry
Mattancherry is the western part of city of Kochi, India. It is said that the name Mattancherry is drawn from "Ancherry Mattam", a Namboodiri illam which then the foreign traders pronounced it as Matt-Ancherry, gradually became Mattancherry. It is about 9 km from Ernakulam town. There are...
, Vypeen etc. Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
flurished in this village, immediately after the arrival of St. Thomas. This has remained a centre of Christian culture ever since.
Liturgy
The church uses the Syrian Orthodox Liturgy, which belongs to the Antiochene liturgical traditionAntiochene Rite
Antiochene Rite designates the family of liturgies originally used in the Patriarchate of Antioch.-Liturgies in the Antiochene Rite:The family of liturgies include the Apostolic Constitutions; then that of St. James in Greek, the Syriac Liturgy of St. James, and the other Syriac Anaphoras. The line...
. The East Syrian (Persian), Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
, Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
, Georgian
Georgian people
The Georgians are an ethnic group that have originated in Georgia, where they constitute a majority of the population. Large Georgian communities are also present throughout Russia, European Union, United States, and South America....
, Maronite liturgies also belong to the same liturgical family. In the first half of the fifth century, the Antiochene Church adopted the anaphora of Jerusalem, known under the name of St James, the brother of Our Lord.
Synod of Mulanthuruthy
The Synod of Mulanthuruthy was an important milestone in the history of St.Thomas ChristiansSyrian Malabar Nasrani
The Syrian Malabar Nasrani people, also known as Saint Thomas Christians, "'Nasrani Mappila'" and Nasranis, are an ethnoreligious group from Kerala, India, adhering to the various churches of the Saint Thomas Christian tradition...
in the 19th Century. This Synod represents inauguration of an official relationship of a section of the Orthodox with the patriarch of the West Syrian Church. This Synod was called and Presided over by Patriarch Peter IV of the West Syrian Church. 103 churches of the Orthodox presented there but the churches followed Athanasius did not participate saying that this Patriarch has no right. So the Synod was the meeting exclusively that of the Dionysian party.
The Synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
decided to adhere closely, with the West Syrian doctrinal, liturgical and Church disciplinary norms. And resolved a registered deed to be executed in this regard and presented to the Patriarch declaring the official adherence of this Indian section with the Patriarch accepting his jurisdictional claims. But unfortunately this registered deed was not executed and given to the Patriarch although the patriarch expected that would take place soon. Knowing that he was deceived thoroughly by Dionysius V he reacted as he desired. He consecrated 6 bishops of his own accord himself without the consent of the church or of Dionysius V, taking from each of them registered deed, to ensure and strengthen but also over their dioceses.
Indeed it was these new bishops formally and systematically not only West Syrianized their dioceses but also stabilized the jurisdictional claims of the Patriarch thereafter. Dionysius V was ignored by the Patriarch seeing that he was a threat and was against his plans regard to the Indian Church. Thus patriarch Peter organizing an independent hierarchy of his own in the Dionysian followers he left to Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
.
Impact
1. The faith, liturgy, episcopacy, church polity, church disciplines etc. of the Orthodox of India were became or were carried away to that of the West Syrian Church.2. The church administration became like that of the West Syrian Church.
3. The Patriarchal supremacy, was enforced upon the Orthodox of India.
4. The patriarch did not desire to strengthen Dionysius V, whom had invited him to India. But tried to weaken him and to degrade his status as Malankara Metropolitan.
5. By rescinding the royal proclamation in favour of Athanasius, by calling the Synod of Mulanthuruthy and enacting resolutions therein, by consecrating bishops and dividing the Church as dioceses, etc. the patriarch made it clear that he, indeed, was the head of the Orthodox in India.