Palliveettil Chandy also known as Parambil Chandy (''Alexander de Campo'' in
Portuguese
Portuguese may refer to:
* anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal
** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods
** Portuguese language, a Romance language
*** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language
** Portu ...
) was a bishop of the Catholic Saint Thomas Christians. He is also the first known native Indian bishop. He was the bishop of the
East Syriac Rite
The East Syriac Rite or East Syrian Rite, also called the Edessan Rite, Assyrian Rite, Persian Rite, Chaldean Rite, Nestorian Rite, Babylonian Rite or Syro-Oriental Rite, is an Eastern Christian liturgical rite that employs the Divine Liturgy ...
(Chaldaean) faction (also known as the ''Palayakūttukar'', or "Old Allegiance") after the
Coonan Cross Oath
The Coonan Cross Oath ( mal, കൂനൻ കുരിശ് സത്യം, Kūnan Kuriśŭ Satiaṁ), also known as the Great Oath of Bent Cross, the Leaning Cross Oath or the Oath of the Slanting Cross, taken on 3 January 1653 in Mattanch ...
in 1653. This faction returned to full communion with the
Holy See
The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of R ...
of Rome, it would later become known as the modern-day
Eastern Catholic
The Eastern Catholic Churches or Oriental Catholic Churches, also called the Eastern-Rite Catholic Churches, Eastern Rite Catholicism, or simply the Eastern Churches, are 23 Eastern Christian autonomous (''sui iuris'') particular churches of ...
Syro-Malabar Church
lat, Ecclesia Syrorum-Malabarensium mal, മലബാറിലെ സുറിയാനി സഭ
, native_name_lang=, image = St. Thomas' Cross (Chennai, St. Thomas Mount).jpg
, caption = The Mar Thoma Nasrani Sl ...
Portuguese Padroado
The ''Padroado'' (, "patronage") was an arrangement between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Portugal and later the Portuguese Republic, through a series of concordats by which the Holy See delegated the administration of the local churches and g ...
and
Thoma I
Mar Thoma I, also known as Valiya Mar Thoma (''Mar Thoma the Great'') and Arkkadiyokkon Thoma (''Archdeacon Thomas'') in Malayalam and Thomas de Campo in Portuguese was the first native-born, popularly-selected Metropolitan bishop of the 17th ...
, who was the then leader of the '' Puthenkūttukar''. At first Palliveettil Chandy was the Counsellor of Thoma I. He had an instrumental role in the bishopric ascention of Archdeacon Parambil Thoma as Bishop
Thoma I
Mar Thoma I, also known as Valiya Mar Thoma (''Mar Thoma the Great'') and Arkkadiyokkon Thoma (''Archdeacon Thomas'') in Malayalam and Thomas de Campo in Portuguese was the first native-born, popularly-selected Metropolitan bishop of the 17th ...
. Mathew N. M. ''History of the Marthoma Church'', Vol. I. Page 183. According to Portuguese and Jesuit reports, Chandy had defected with Thomas deCampo (Archdeacon Parambil Thoma), against Francis Garcia, the Archbishop of Cranganore.
There was a plan to appoint Archdeacon Giwargis of Christ, by
Abraham of Angamaly
Abraham of Angamaly ( syr, ܐܒܪܗܡ ܡܛܪܢ, died 1597) (Mar Abraham) was the last East Syrian bishop of the See of Angamaly, who entered into communion with Rome in 1565 and who was the last link in Angamaly from the long line of the bishop ...
(1568–1597) as Metropolitan of India. Thus Giwargis should have become, according to the plans of Abraham, supported by the
, the first indigenous Chaldaean Metropolitan of the St Thomas Christians. However, from the last letter of Abraham, where he requests the Pope to confirm the archdeacon's election as Bishop of Palayur and his successor, is dated 13 January 1584, while from another letter of the same Abraham we learn that the consecration of the archdeacon failed because of the latter’s death.
Palliveettil Chandy had an instrumental role in claiming eighty-four churches onto the Catholic side after the
Coonan Cross Oath
The Coonan Cross Oath ( mal, കൂനൻ കുരിശ് സത്യം, Kūnan Kuriśŭ Satiaṁ), also known as the Great Oath of Bent Cross, the Leaning Cross Oath or the Oath of the Slanting Cross, taken on 3 January 1653 in Mattanch ...
. After his death from 1678 till 1783 there were no native Bishops in the Catholic faction known as ''Pazhayakūr'' of the Saint Thomas Christians. His cousin
Parambil Thoma
Mar Thoma I, also known as Valiya Mar Thoma (''Mar Thoma the Great'') and Arkkadiyokkon Thoma (''Archdeacon Thomas'') in Malayalam and Thomas de Campo in Portuguese was the first native-born, popularly-selected Metropolitan bishop of the 17t ...
, was elevated as a bishop by 12 priests following the Coonan Cross Oath in 1653. In 1665 Gregorios Abdul Jaleel, said to be a delegate of the Patriarch of Antioch (of the Syriac Orthodox Church), regularized the consecration of Thoma who would form the West Syriac oriented '' Malankara Church Puthenkūr''.
Introduction
Historically
Saint Thomas Christians
The Saint Thomas Christians, also called Syrian Christians of India, ''Marthoma Suriyani Nasrani'', ''Malankara Nasrani'', or ''Nasrani Mappila'', are an ethno-religious community of Indian Christians in the state of Kerala ( Malabar region ...
were part of
East Syriac
The East Syriac Rite or East Syrian Rite, also called the Edessan Rite, Assyrian Rite, Persian Rite, Chaldean Rite, Nestorian Rite, Babylonian Rite or Syro-Oriental Rite, is an Eastern Christian liturgical rite that employs the Divine Liturgy ...
Patriarchate
Patriarchate ( grc, πατριαρχεῖον, ''patriarcheîon'') is an ecclesiological term in Christianity, designating the office and jurisdiction of an ecclesiastical patriarch.
According to Christian tradition three patriarchates were est ...
with the arrival of Metropolitan Mar Joseph Sulaqa and patriarchal delegate Mar Elias in AD 1554. Historically, the title of the head of the Church of Saint Thomas was the 'Metropolitan and the Gate of India'. Ancient documents vouches this.
After the Synod of Diamper in 1599, the Church of
Saint Thomas Christians
The Saint Thomas Christians, also called Syrian Christians of India, ''Marthoma Suriyani Nasrani'', ''Malankara Nasrani'', or ''Nasrani Mappila'', are an ethno-religious community of Indian Christians in the state of Kerala ( Malabar region ...
became subjected to Latin Church Bishops. The Latin missionaries broke the historic connection of Thomas Christians with the
Patriarch of Babylon
The highest-ranking bishops in Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, the Catholic Church (above major archbishop and primate), the Hussite Church, Church of the East, and some Independent Catholic Churches are termed patriarchs (and in certai ...
and downgraded the ancient Church of Christians of Saint Thomas into a mere suffragan of the archdiocese of Goa of the Latin Church. Later, the Metropolitanate was reinstated and the Archdiocese of Angamaly was renamed as Archdiocese of Kodungalloor and its seat moved to Kodungalloor with Latin Prelates.
Even though the Thomas Christians were subjected to Latin Church prelates in the hierarchy, the community consolidated under the leadership of the Archdeacons as a separate rite with its own liturgy and traditions. The Missionaries began to impose Latinisations in their rite of worship and tried to eliminate the authority and status of the Archdeaconate and thereby dishonour the status of their ancient Church of Malabar. The community secretly tried to get prelates from the Patriarchate of the Chaldeans and the Patriarchate of the Assyrians.
The missionaries used their political power to prevent Thomas Christians from contacting with any Oriental Churches and they even arrested and deported Ahatalla, a bishop of West Syriac Rite arrived in Mailappore. Thomas Christians rose up and revolted against the Portuguese in AD 1653 and consecrated (invalidly) the Archdeacon
Parambil Thoma
Mar Thoma I, also known as Valiya Mar Thoma (''Mar Thoma the Great'') and Arkkadiyokkon Thoma (''Archdeacon Thomas'') in Malayalam and Thomas de Campo in Portuguese was the first native-born, popularly-selected Metropolitan bishop of the 17t ...
as the Bishop of Thomas Christians. This revolt was nearly complete and that changed the politics.
A protest took place in 1653 with the
Coonan Cross Oath
The Coonan Cross Oath ( mal, കൂനൻ കുരിശ് സത്യം, Kūnan Kuriśŭ Satiaṁ), also known as the Great Oath of Bent Cross, the Leaning Cross Oath or the Oath of the Slanting Cross, taken on 3 January 1653 in Mattanch ...
. Under the leadership of Archdeacon Thomas, the Thomas Christians publicly took an oath that they would not obey the Jesuit bishops. There are various versions about the wording of oath, one version being that the oath was directed against the Portuguese, another that it was directed against Jesuits, yet another version that it was directed against the authority of the Church of Rome However after this oath, Saint Thomas Christans elevated Archdeacon Thomas to Metropolitan by the laying on of hands by twelve kattanars and he took the title
Mar Thoma I
Mar Thoma I, also known as Valiya Mar Thoma (''Mar Thoma the Great'') and Arkkadiyokkon Thoma (''Archdeacon Thomas'') in Malayalam and Thomas de Campo in Portuguese was the first native-born, popularly-selected Metropolitan bishop of the 17t ...
At this point of time, Rome intervened and Carmelite Missionaries were sent to win the Thomas Christians back. Carmelites could convince the majority that the local church needs bishops and the consecration of the Archdeacon Thomas was claimed to be invalid as the consecration was conducted not by any bishop, but by twelve priests. Many leaders of the community rejoined the missionaries and later, due to political reasons, Portuguese Missionaries had to leave the country and they consecrated Palliveettil Chandy kathanaar as the Bishop for the Catholic
Thomas Christians
The Saint Thomas Christians, also called Syrian Christians of India, ''Marthoma Suriyani Nasrani'', ''Malankara Nasrani'', or ''Nasrani Mappila'', are an Ethnoreligious group, ethno-religious community of Indian Christians in the state of Ker ...
on 1 February 1663. This resulted in the first split in the history of Thomas Christians. Thus, Mar Thoma I and Mar Chandy from the same family (Pakalomattom) became rival bishops in Thomas Christians community and both of them designated themselves as ‘Metran of All India’, and ‘Gate of India’. However, Mar Chandy could convince a good number of people in his favor, because the Mar Thoma I was consecrated by priests whereas he was consecrated by an authoritative bishop. The faction affiliated with the Catholic Church under Palliveettil Chandy, referred themselves as ''Pazhayakuttukar'' , or "Old Allegiance", and called the branch affiliated with
Thoma I
Mar Thoma I, also known as Valiya Mar Thoma (''Mar Thoma the Great'') and Arkkadiyokkon Thoma (''Archdeacon Thomas'') in Malayalam and Thomas de Campo in Portuguese was the first native-born, popularly-selected Metropolitan bishop of the 17th ...
as ''Puthankuttukar'', or "New Allegiance". Later Thoma I, received canonical consecration from
Gregorios Abdal Jaleel
Mor Gregorios Abdal Jaleel Bawa (died 27 April 1681) was the Syriac Orthodox Bishop of Jerusalem from 1664 until his death in 1681. He is chiefly remembered for his 1665 mission to India, by which he established ties between the Malankara Church ...
, a bishop sent by the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, and there by ''Puthenkūr faction'' entered in spiritual relation with the Syriac Orthodox Church, a miaphysiteWest Syriac Church.
Early life and ordination
He belonged to the Palliveettil house of Pakalomattam family at
Muttuchira
Muttuchira is a village in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala, India.
Demographics
As of the 2001 India census, Muttuchira had a population of 14,303 with 7,022 males and 7,281 females.
It is a quiet farming village with rubber plantat ...
. The Palliveettil building of Parambrem Kara existed there till two centuries back. Palliveettil Kuriakose married into Kudukkasserry and the son born to the couple later became the Bishop. "Alexander De Campo" is a Portuguese designation translated as "Alexander of the field" originating from "''Parambil Chandy''" in vernacular
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 2 ...
. He was Vicar of Kuravilangad Parish and later had Kuravilangad as his headquarters.
He was a native of Muttuchira parish, in the present central Kerala. As a priest his original name was Father Parambil Chandy. He was consecrated Titular Bishop of Megara in Achala and
Vicar Apostolic
A vicar (; Latin: ''vicarius'') is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior (compare "vicarious" in the sense of "at second hand"). Linguistically, ''vicar'' is cognate with the English pre ...
and Administrator of the Archbishopric of
Cranganore
Kodungallur (; also Cranganore, Portuguese: Cranganor; formerly known as Mahodayapuram, Shingly, Vanchi, Muchiri, Muyirikkode, and Muziris) is a historically significant town situated on the banks of river Periyar on the Malabar Coast in Thr ...
on 31 January 1663, at
Kaduthuruthy
Kaduthuruthy is a town in Kottayam District in the state of Kerala, India.
Geography
Kaduturuthy has an average elevation of . Its name derives from ''Kadal thuruth'', meaning near to the beach as it is believed that several centuries ago, ...
. He celebrated his first pontifical mass at Muttuchira Church.J. P. M. van der Ploeg,The Christians of St. Thomas in South India and their Syriac manuscripts page 30 His appointment followed representations for the appointment of native Indians as bishops following the split in the church on account of the
Coonan Cross Oath
The Coonan Cross Oath ( mal, കൂനൻ കുരിശ് സത്യം, Kūnan Kuriśŭ Satiaṁ), also known as the Great Oath of Bent Cross, the Leaning Cross Oath or the Oath of the Slanting Cross, taken on 3 January 1653 in Mattanch ...
. His official title was Metropolitan and Gate of All India.
Later years and death
In 1674, Palliveetil Chandy requested Rome to elect a coadjutor and proposed his nephew, Mathew Kunnel for the position. Carmelites arrived in India in 1676, with special Dutch passports (as Dutch wouldn't allow any other European to work in their areas) and they were asked by Rome to elect an Indian. They elected Raphael Figueredo in 1677, who was not a Roman Syrian Catholic but born as an Indian in the sense that he was a half caste Portuguese. This election shook the confidence Roman faction had in Carmelites and quarrels started to arise. Palliveettil Chandy died in 1687 and was buried at Kuravilangad.
List of Syro-Malabar Catholics
Notable Syro-Malabar Catholics include: Religious and spiritual
* Parambil Chandy Malpan (Malpan 1663–87)
* Joseph Kariattil (Appointed in 1782)
* Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar (Appointed in 1786)
* Abraham Pandari (Poulose) (Appointed in 1798) ...
*
Timeline of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
This is a timeline of the history of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in India.
Ancient Era
*AD 52 - Arrival of Thomas the Apostle, Saint Thomas the Apostle in Muziris (near Kodungalloor) in Thrissur district of Kerala;Christianity in India
*
Saint Thomas Christians
The Saint Thomas Christians, also called Syrian Christians of India, ''Marthoma Suriyani Nasrani'', ''Malankara Nasrani'', or ''Nasrani Mappila'', are an ethno-religious community of Indian Christians in the state of Kerala ( Malabar region ...
External links
Mar Chandy Parambil * St Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India - Edited by George Menachery (1998).
* History of Christianity in India - Mundadan, A. Mathias (1984).