Abraham Mar Thoma XVII Metropolitan (30 October 1879 – 1 September 1947) was the Metropolitan of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church from 1944–1947. He was called Maret Kochu Thirumeni by his people. Among the bishops of

Malankara Churches The Malankara Church, also known as ''Puthenkur'' and more popularly as Jacobite Syrians, is the historic unified body of West Syriac Saint Thomas Christian denominations which claim ultimate origins from the missions of Thomas the Apostl ...

Including Mar Thoma Church, Abraham Mar Thoma was the first to earn a Doctoral degree.

Early life

Ninan was the son of Abraham. He married Mariamma, eldest daughter of Oommachen, Karikattu. Eraviperoor. Mariamma's mother was from Chemmarapallil, Puthupally, Kottayam. Bishop Abraham was born on 30 October 1879, was the only son of Ninan and Mariamma. He had two elder sisters. His parents called him Kochavarachen. His school record shows his name as M. N. Abraham (Maret Ninan Abraham).

Education

He was not a bright student. Many times he failed in his school final and degree examinations. That helped him in later years to encourage the students who failed in their examinations and showed them the path to success.

Ordination

M. N. Abraham and M. P. Pothen (Philipose), Velliyampallil, Mallappally, were the first Indians with university degrees to be ordained as deacons in the Mar Thoma Church. Titus II Mar Thoma ordained them on 30 April 1912. On 5 December 1914, at his native place Eraviperoor, Deacon Abraham, and Deacon Pothen were ordained as priests. Abraham was appointed as Kayamkulam divisional secretary.

Politics

The Metropolitan was a staunch nationalist who stood for the people's democratic rights. He resisted the undemocratic and dictatorial actions of Dewan Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer and was instrumental in getting a resolution passed by the Sabha Council (church council) condemning Sir C. P.'s move to proclaim Travancore as an independent state.Mar Thoma Sabha Directory (1999), pp. 26–27.

References

Bibliography

English * Juhanon Marthoma Metropolitan. (1952). ''Christianity in India and a Brief History of the Marthoma Syrian Church''. Pub: K.M. Cherian. * Zac Varghese Dr. & Mathew A. Kallumpram. (2003). ''Glimpses of Mar Thoma Church History''. London, England. . * Zac Varghese Dr. & Mathew A. Kallumpram. ''Metropolitan Abraham Mar Thoma.'' "Light of Life", Vol. 3, Issue 11, September 2004. Malayalam. * Eapen, Prof. Dr. K. V. (2001). ''Malankara Marthoma Suryani Sabha Charitram'' (History of Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church). Pub: Kallettu, Muttambalam, Kottayam. * Mar Thoma Voluntary Evangelistic Association, (1998). Abraham Mar Thoma * Mathew, N. M. ''Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram'' (History of the Marthoma Church), Volume I (2006), Volume II (2007), Volume III (2008). Pub. E.J. Institute, Thiruvalla. * Varghese, (1950) ''Dr. Abraham Mar Thoma Metropolitan''. * Daniel, K. N. ''Dr. Abraham Marthoma Metropolitan – Biography''. V.V. Press, Kollam. 1948.

External links

http://marthomasyrianchurch.orghttp://marthoma.inMar Thoma Sunday School, Kuwait
at kuwaitmarthoma.com
Pallipad Mar Thoma
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thoma, Abraham Mar 1879 births 1949 deaths Christian clergy from Kerala Metropolitans of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church People from Alappuzha district Saint Thomas Christians