Syro-Malabar Rite

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 Sliva or Saint Thomas christian cross, the symbol of the Syro-Malabar Church.
, abbreviation=SMC, type = Catholic particular churches and liturgical rites, Self-governing church (''sui iuris'')
, main_classification = Eastern Catholic
, orientation = Eastern Christianity
(Syriac Christianity)
, scripture =
, polity = Episcopal polity
, governance=Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church, theology = East Syriac theology
, leader_title = Pope
, leader_name = Pope Francis, Francis
, leader_title1 = Major Archbishop
, leader_name1 = George Alencherry
, leader_title3 = Administration
, leader_name3 = Major Archiepiscopal Curia
, area = India and Nasrani Malayali diaspora
, founded_date = c. 50 AD (Saint Thomas Christianity, by tradition),
1662 (reunification with Catholic Church)
, branched_from = Saint Thomas Christians
, founder = Thomas the Apostle, Saint Thomas the Apostle by tradition
, founded_place = Malabar Coast, South India
, liturgy = East Syriac Rite – Liturgy of Addai and Mari, Liturgy of Mar Addai and Mar Mari
, language = Syriac language, Liturgical Syriac, Malayalam, Syro-Malabarica, English language, English, Tamil language, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and most other Indian languages
, members = 4.25 million worldwide, per 2016 ''Annuario Pontificio''
2.35 million in Kerala, per 2011 ''Kerala state census''
, ministers_type = Hierarchy of the Catholic Church, Clergy
, ministers =
, division_type = Parish in the Catholic Church, Parishes
, division = 3,224
, separated_from = Church of the East''Encyclopaedia of sects & religious doctrines'', Volume 4 By Charles George Herbermann page 1180,1181
, headquarters = Mount Saint Thomas,
Kakkanad, Kochi, India
, territory = India,
with diaspora in the U.S., Australia and Oceania, Europe, UK, Canada, and the Middle East
, separations = Chaldean Syrian Church (1870s)
, other_names = Syrian Catholics of Malabar, Syrian Catholic (SC),
''Malankare Kaldaya Suriyani Sabha''
''Pazhayakoor'' (colloquial name for members)
, website
syromalabarchurch.in
, website_title1=Official News Portal, website
syromalabarvision.com
footnotes =

The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church ( syr, ܥܸܕܬܵܐ ܩܵܬܘܿܠܝܼܩܝܼ ܕܡܲܠܲܒܵܪ ܣܘܼܪܝܵܝܵܐ) is an Eastern Catholic church based in Kerala, India. The Syro-Malabar Church is an autonomous (''sui iuris'') particular church in full communion with the pope and the worldwide Catholic Church, including the Latin Church and the 22 other Eastern Catholic churches, with self-governance under the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (CCEO). The Church is headed by the List of major archbishops of the Syro-Malabar Church, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar, currently George Alencherry. The Syro-Malabar Synod of Bishops canonically convoked and presided over by the Major Archbishop constitutes the supreme authority of the Church. The Curia (Catholic Church), Major Archiepiscopal Curia of the Church is based in Kakkanad, Kochi. ''Syro-Malabar'' is a prefix reflecting the church's use of the East Syriac Rite liturgy and origins in Malabar Coast, Malabar (modern Kerala). The name has been in usage in official Holy See, Vatican documents since the nineteenth century.

The Syro-Malabar Church is primarily based in India; with 5 metropolitan Eparchy, archeparchies and 10 suffragan eparchies in Kerala, there are 17 eparchies in other parts of India, and 4 eparchies outside India. It is the largest of the Saint Thomas Christians communities with a population of 2.35 million in Kerala as per the 2011 Kerala state census and 4.25 million worldwide as estimated in the 2016 ''Annuario Pontificio''. It is the third largest ''sui juris'' church in the Catholic Church communion and the second largest Eastern Catholic church after the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

The church traces its origins to the evangelistic activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century.George Menachery (1973) The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, , Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568; B.N.K. Press – (has some 70 lengthy articles by different experts on the origins, development, history, culture... of these Christians, with some 300 odd photographs).Leslie Brown, (1956) The Indian Christians of St. Thomas. An Account of the Ancient Syrian Church of Malabar, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1956, 1982 (repr.)Thomas Puthiakunnel, (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, ed. George Menachery, Vol. II., Trichur. The earliest recorded organised Christian presence in India dates to the 4th century, when Sasanian Empire, Persian missionaries of the East Syriac Rite tradition, members of what later became the Church of the East, established themselves in modern-day Kerala and Sri Lanka. The Church of the East shared communion within the Great Church until the Council of Ephesus in the 5th century, separating primarily over Chalcedonian Definition, differences in Christology and due to political reasons. The Syro-Malabar Church employs a variant of the East Syriac Rite, which dates back to 3rd century Edessa, Upper Mesopotamia.''Addai and Mari, Liturgy of''. Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Oxford University Press. 2005 As such it is a part of Syriac Christianity by liturgy and heritage.

After the schism of 1552, a faction of the Church of the East came in communion with the Holy See of Rome (modern-day Chaldean Catholic Church) and the Church of the East collapsed due to internal struggles. Throughout the later half of the 16th century, the Malabar Church was under Chaldean Catholic jurisdiction. Through the Synod of Diamper of 1599, the Malabar Church was subjected directly under the authority of the Latin Catholic ''Padroado'' Patriarchate of the East Indies, Archbishopric of Goa and the Society of Jesus, Jesuits. After a half-century administration under the Goa Archdiocese, dissidents held the Coonan Cross Oath in 1653 as a protest. In response, Pope Alexander VII, with the help of Discalced Carmelites, Carmelite missionaries, by 1662, was able to reunite the majority of the dissidents with the Catholic Church. The Syro-Malabar Church descends from the Saint Thomas Christians who first aligned with the Catholic Church at Synod of Diamper in 1599 and those who reunited with the Holy See under the leadership of Parambil Chandy, Mar Palliveettil Chandy during the period between 1655 and 1663. During the 17th and 18th centuries the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cranganore, Archdiocese of Cranganore was under the Syro-Malabar, but it was later suppressed and integrated into the modern day Latin Archdiocese of Verapoly.

After over two centuries under the Latin Church's hegemony, in 1887, Pope Leo XIII fully separated the Syro-Malabar from the Latin Church (the Archdiocese of Verapoly remained as the jurisdiction for Latin Catholics). Leo XIII established two Apostolic Vicariates for Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur, Thrissur and Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanassery, Changanassery (originally named Kottayam), and in 1896, the Vicariate of Syro-Malabar Catholic Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam–Angamaly, Ernakulam was erected as well, under the guidance of indigenous Syro-Malabar bishops. In 1923, the Syro-Malabar hierarchy was organized and unified with Ernakulam as the Metropolitan See and Mar Augustine Kandathil as the first head and Archbishop of the Church. The Syro-Malabar Church in effect became an autonomous ''sui iuris'' Eastern church within the Catholic communion.

The Syro-Malabar are unique among Catholics in their inculturation with traditional Hindu customs through Saint Thomas Christian heritage. Scholar and theologian Placid J. Podipara, Placid Podipara describes the Saint Thomas Christian community as "Hindu in culture, Christianity, Christian in religion, and Eastern Christianity, Oriental in worship." The Church is predominantly of the Malayali ethnic group who speak Malayalam, although there are a minority of Tamils, Telugu people, Telugus, and North Indians from the various eparchies outside Kerala. Following emigration of its members, eparchy, eparchies have opened in other parts of India and in other countries to serve the diaspora living in the Western world. There are four eparchies outside of India, concentrated in English-speaking countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and United States. Saint Alphonsa is the Church's first canonized saint, followed by Kuriakose Elias Chavara, Saint Kuriakose Chavara, Euphrasia Eluvathingal, Saint Euphrasia, and Mariam Thresia Chiramel, Saint Mariam Thresia. It is one of the two Eastern Catholic churches in India, the other one being the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church which represents the faction of the Puthenkoor that returned to full communion with the Holy See of Rome in 1930.

History

Pre-Coonan Cross Oath

It is believed that the Saint Thomas Christians in Malabar came into contact with the Persian Church of the East in the middle of the 4th century. Saint Thomas Christians looked to Catholicos-Patriarch of the Church of the East for ecclesiastical authority. Although the bishops from the Middle East were the spiritual rulers of the Church, the general administration of the Church of Kerala was governed by the indigenous Archdeacon. The Archdeacon was the head of Saint Thomas Christians. Even when there were more than one foreign bishop, there was only one Archdeacon for the entire community.

The Church of the East Patriarch of the Church of the East, Patriarch Shemon VII Ishoyahb's unpopularity led to the schism of 1552, due to the patriarchal succession being hereditary, normally from uncle to nephew. Opponents appointed the monk Shimun VIII Yohannan Sulaqa as a rival patriarch. Sulaqa's subsequent consecration by Pope Julius III (1550–55) saw a permanent split in the Church of the East; and the reunion with Catholic Church resulted in the formation of the modern-day Chaldean Catholic Church of Iraq.
Thus, parallel to the "traditionalist" (often referred as Nestorian) Patriarchate of the East, the "Chaldean" Patriarchate in communion with Rome came into existence. Following the schism, both traditionalist and Chaldean factions began sending their bishops to Malabar. Abraham of Angamaly was one among them. He first came to India in 1556 from the traditionalist patriarchate. Deposed from his position in 1558, he was taken to Lisbon by the Portuguese, escaped at Mozambique and left for his mother church in Mesopotamia, entered into communion with the Chaldean patriarchate and Rome in 1565, received his episcopal ordination again from the Latin patriarch of Venice as arranged by the Pope Pius IV (1559–65) in Rome. Subsequently, Abraham of Angamaly, Abraham was appointed by Pope as Archbishop of Angamaly, with letters to the Archbishop of Goa and the Bishop of Cochin.

In 1597, Abraham of Angamaly died. The Catholic Padroado, Portuguese padroado Archbishop of Goa, Aleixo de Menezes, downgraded the Angamaly Archdiocese into a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, Archdiocese of Goa and appointed the Society of Jesus, Jesuit Francisco Ros as Bishop of Angamaly. Menezes held the Synod of Diamper in 1599 to bring the Saint Thomas Christians under the complete authority of the Latin Church.

Coonan Cross Oath

The oppressive rule of the Portuguese padroado eventually led to a revolt in 1653, known as the Coonan Cross Oath. The Thomas Christians including their native priests assembled in the church of Our Lady at Mattancherry near Cochin, formally stood before a crucifix and lighted candles and solemnly swore an oath upon the Gospel that they never again accept another European prelate.Eugene Cardinal Tisserant, "Eastern Christianity in India" The exact wording used in Coonan Cross Oath is disputed. 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 Latin Catholics.

Post-Coonan Cross Oath

After the Coonan Cross Oath, the leaders of Saint Thomas Christians assembled at Edappally, where four senior priests Anjilimoottil Itty Thommen Kathanar of Kallisseri, Palliveettil Mar Chandy, Palliveettil Chandy Kathanar of Kuravilangad, Kadavil Chandy Kathanar of Kaduthuruthy and Vengoor Geevarghese Kathanar of Angamaly were appointed as advisors of the Archdeacon and on 22 May 1653 Archdeacon Thoma was proclaimed as bishop by the laying on of hands of twelve priests. After the consecration of Thoma I, The information about this consecration was then communicated to all the churches. The vast majority of churches accepted Thoma I as their bishop. At this point of time, Portuguese authorities requested direct intervention of Rome and hence Pope sent Carmelite Missionaries in two groups from the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Propagation of the Faith to Malabar headed by Fr. Sebastiani and Fr. Hyacinth. Fr. Sebastiani arrived first in 1655 and began to speak directly with the Thoma I. Fr. Sebastiani, with the help of Portuguese, gained the support of many, especially with the support of Palliveettil Mar Chandy, Palliveettil Chandy, Kadavil Chandy Kathanar and Vengoor Geevarghese Kathanar. These were the three of the four counselors of Thoma I, who had defected with Francisco Garcia Mendes, Archbishop of Kodungallur, Cranganore, before the arrival of Sebastaini, according to Jesuit reports.

The Carmelite missionaries succeeded in convincing a group of St.Thomas Christians that the consecration of Archdeacon as bishop was not legitimate and Thoma I started losing his followers. In the meantime, Sebastiani returned to Rome and was ordained as bishop by Pope on 15 December 1659. Between 1661 and 1662, out of the 116 churches, the Carmelites claimed eighty-four churches, leaving the native archdeacon Thoma I with thirty-two churches. The eighty-four churches and their congregations were the body from which the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church has descended. The other thirty-two churches and their congregations represented the nucleus from which the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church (Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church), the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the Malabar Independent Syrian Church, the Mar Thoma Syrian Church, Marthoma Syrian Church, and the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church have originated. However, in 1663, with the conquest of Cochin by the Netherlands, Dutch, the control of the Portuguese on the Malabar coast was lost. The Dutch declared that all the Portuguese missionaries had to leave Kerala. Before leaving Kerala, on 1 February 1663 Sebastiani consecrated Palliveettil Chandy as the Metran of the Thomas Christians who adhered to the Church of Rome.

Thoma I, meanwhile sent requests to various Oriental Churches to receive canonical consecration as bishop. In 1665 Gregorios Abdal Jaleel, a bishop sent by the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, arrived in India. The independent group under the leadership of Thoma I which resisted the authority of the Portuguese padroado welcomed him.Thekkedath, History of Christianity in India" Abdal Jaleel consecrated Thoma I canonically as a bishop and regularised his episcopal succession. This led to the first lasting formal schism in the Saint Thomas Christian community. Thereafter, the faction affiliated with the Catholic Church under Bishop Palliveettil Chandy came to be known as ''Pazhayakuttukar'' (or "Old Allegiance"), and the branch affiliated with Thoma I came to be known as ''Puthenkūttukār'' (or "New Allegiance"). They were also known as ''Jacobite Syrians'' and they organized themselves as independent ''Malankara Church''. The visits of prelates from the Syriac Orthodox Church, Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch continued since then and this led to gradual replacement of the East Syriac Rite liturgy with the West Syriac Rite and the Malankara Church, Puthenkūttukār affiliated to the Miaphysitism, Miaphysite Christology of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox Communion.

The ''Syrian Catholics of Malabar, Pazhayakuttukar'' faction continued with the Catholic Communion and preserved the traditional East Syriac (Persian) liturgy and Dyophysitism, Dyophysite Christology. They were also known as ''Romo-Syrians'' or ''Syrian Catholics''. They also used the title ''Malankara Church'' initially. Following the death of Palliveettil Chandy in 1687, the Syrian Catholics of the Malabar coast came under the parallel double jurisdiction of Vicariate Apostolic of Malabar under Roman Catholic Carmelites and Archdiocese of Cranganore under the Padroado. Thus many priests and laymen attempted to persuade the Pope to restore their Chaldean Catholic rite and hierarchy of the local church, and for the appointment of bishops from local priests. To represent their position, Kerala's Syrian Catholics Mar Joseph Kariattil, Joseph Kariattil and Paremmakkal Thomma Kathanar went to Rome in 1778. While they were in Europe, Kariatty Joseph Kathanar was installed in Portugal as the Archbishop of Kodungalloor Archdiocese. While journeying home, they stayed in Goa where Kariattil died before he could formally take charge. Before he died, Kariattil appointed Kathanar as the Administrator of Kodungalloor Archdiocese after him. The new administrator ran the affairs of the church, establishing his headquarters at Angamaly. In 1790, the headquarters of the Archdiocese was shifted to Vadayar, dodging the invasion of Tippu Sultan. In the last four years of his life, Thomma Kathanar managed church administration from his own parish, Ramapuram, Kottayam, Ramapuram.

''Angamaly Padiyola'', a declaration of the ''Syrian Catholics of Malabar, Pazhayakūr'' gave the history of Saint Thomas Christians up to 1787 and advocated for the appointment of a native bishop that adhered to the local traditions.

Latin Catholic Carmelite clergy from Europe served as bishops, and the Church along with the Latin Catholics was under the Apostolic Vicariate of Malabar (modern-day Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Verapoly). In 1887, the Holy See established two Apostolic Vicariates, Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur, Thrissur and Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanassery, Kottayam (later Changanassery) under the guidance of indigenous Syro-Malabar bishops, and named the Church as "The Syro-Malabar Church" to distinguish them from the Latins. The Holy See re-organized the Apostolic Vicariates in 1896 into three Apostolic Vicariates (Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur, Thrissur, Syro-Malabar Catholic Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly, Ernakulam, and Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanassery, Changanassery). A fourth Apostolic Vicariate (Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Kottayam, Kottayam) was established in 1911 for Knanaya Catholics.

Restoration of the Syro-Malabar hierarchy

In 1923, Pope Pius XI (1922–39) set up a full-fledged Syro-Malabar hierarchy with Syro-Malabar Catholic Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly, Ernakulam-Angamaly as the Metropolis (religious jurisdiction), Metropolitan See and Augustine Kandathil as the first Major archbishop, Head and Archbishop of the Church. In 1992, Pope John Paul II (1978–05) raised the Syro-Malabar Church to Major archiepiscopal church, Major Archepiscopal rank and appointed Antony Padiyara, Cardinal Antony Padiyara of Ernakulam as the first Major Archbishop. The Syro-Malabar Church shares the same liturgy with the Chaldean Catholic Church based in Iraq and the independent Assyrian Church of the East based in Iraq (including its archdiocese the Chaldean Syrian Church, Chaldean Syrian Church of India). The Syro-Malabar Church is the third-largest particular church (''sui juris'') in the Catholic Church (after the Latin Catholic Church, Latin Church and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church).

The Catholic Saint Thomas Christians (''Pazhayakūttukār'') came to be known as the Syro Malabar Catholics from 1932 onwards to differentiate them from the Syro-Malankara Catholics in Kerala. The Indian East Syriac Rite, East Syriac Catholic hierarchy was restored on 21 December 1923 with Mar Augustine Kandathil, Augustine Kandathil as the first Metropolitan bishop, Metropolitan and Head of the Church with the name Syro-Malabar.

Faith and communion of Syro-Malabarians

The Saint Thomas Christians received their bishops from the Church of the East/Chaldean Church until the end of the sixteenth century, when it was stopped by the Portuguese Latin authorities in 1597, after the death of Metropolitan Archbishop Abraham of Angamaly.

Liturgy

As per the East Syriac Rite, East Syriac tradition, ''liturgical day'' of the Syro-Malabar Church starts at sunset (6 pm). Also the worshiper has to face the East while worshiping. This is not followed after Latinization.

According to the East Syriac (Edessan or Persian) tradition, the following are the seven times of prayer:

* Ramsha () or ''the Evening Liturgy'' (6 pm)
* Suba-a () or ''the Supper Liturgy'' (9 pm)
* Lelya () or ''the Night Liturgy'' (12 am)
* Qala d-Shahra ( ) or ''the Vigil Liturgy'' (3 am)
* Sapra () or ''the Morning Liturgy'' (6 am)
* Quta'a () or ''the Third Hour Liturgy'' (9 am)
* Endana () or ''the Noon Liturgy'' (12 pm)

The Holy Mass, which is called Holy Qurbana in East Syriac Aramaic and means "Eucharist", is celebrated in its solemn form on Sundays and special occasions. During the celebration of the Qurbana, priests and deacons put on elaborate vestments which are unique to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.

Restoration of East Syriac liturgy

East Syriac Rite, East Syriac liturgy has three Anaphora (liturgy), anaphorae: those of Holy Qurbana of Addai and Mari, the Holy Apostles (Saints Mar Addai and Mar Saint Mari, Mari), Hallowing of Theodore of Mopsuestia, Mar Theodore Mpašqana, and Hallowing of Nestorius, Mar Nestorius. The first is the most popularly and extensively used. The second is used (except when the third is ordered) from Advent to Palm Sunday. The third was traditionally used on the Epiphany (Christian), Epiphany and the feasts of St. John the Baptist and of the Greek Doctors, both of which occur in Epiphany-tide on the Wednesday of the Rogation of the Ninevites, and on Maundy Thursday. The same pro-anaphoral part (Liturgy of the Word) serves for all three.

In the second half of the 20th century, there was a movement for better understanding of the liturgical rites. A restored Eucharistic liturgy, drawing on the original East Syriac sources, was approved by Pope Pius XII in 1957, and for the first time on the feast of Thomas the Apostle, St. Thomas on 3 July 1962 the vernacular, Malayalam, was introduced for the celebration of the Syro-Malabar Qurbana. Currently they celebrate the Divine Liturgy of Addai and Mari and the Anaphora of Theodre in mostly Malayalam, with Syriac and English influences.

Besides the Anaphora of Mar Addai and Mar Mari being used currently in Syro-Malabar liturgy, there are two more anaphorae known as Anaphora of Theodore and Anaphora of Mar Nestorius, Anaphora of Nestorius. That the Anaphora of Theodore which was withdrawn from use after the Synod of Diamper (a large number of churches used it up to 1896) is being used again in the Syro-Malabar Church after 415 years is indeed an important historical reality. In a way the Syro-Malabar church rejected the Synod of Diamper. Pope Pius XII during the process of restoration of the Syro-Malabar Qurbana in 1957 had requested the restoration of the Anaphorae of Theodore and Nestorius. The draft of the Anaphora of Theodore was restored after meticulous study by the Central Liturgical Committee, Liturgical Research Centre, various sub-committees, and the eparchial liturgical commissions. Many changes befitting to the times have been made in the prayers, maintaining maximum fidelity to the original text of the Second Anaphora. It was this text so prepared that was sent to Rome for the recognition of the Apostolic See in accordance with the decision of the Syro-Malabar Synod. The Congregation for the Eastern Churches gave its approval for using this anaphora on an experimental basis for three years on 15 December 2012.

After almost 420 years, the Anaphora of Nestorius is restored in the Syro-Malabar Church. The aftermath of the so-called Synod of Diamper was that any texts related to Nestorius were systematically burnt by the Jesuits, who represented and ruled the Latin Church of India in 1599. In a way, the SyroMalabar church rejected the Synod of Diamber (Udayamperoor) by restoring the Anaphora of Theodore and Anaphora of Nestorius.

Liturgical latinisation was furthered in 1896 by Wladyslaw Michal Zaleski, Ladislaus Zaleski, the Apostolic Delegate to India, who requested permission to translate the Roman Pontifical into Syriac language, Syriac. This was the choice of some Malabar prelates, who chose it over the East Syriac Rite and West Syriac Rite pontificals. A large number of Syro-Malabarians had schismed and joined with Assyrians at that time and various delayed the approval of this translation, until in 1934 Pope Pius XI stated that latinization was to no longer be encouraged. He initiated a process of liturgical reform that sought to restore the oriental nature of the Latinized Syro-Malabar rite. A restored Eucharistic liturgy, drawing on the original East Syriac sources, was approved by Pius XII in 1957 and introduced in 1962.

The church uses one of several Bible translations into Malayalam.

Liturgical calendar

The Syro-Malabar Church has its own liturgical year, structured around eight liturgical seasons:

# ''Subara, Suvara'' (Annunciation)
# ''Epiphany season, Denha'' (Epiphany)
# ''Sawma Rabba'' (Great Lent)
# ''Qyamta'' (Resurrection of the Lord)
# ''Season of Apostles, Slīhe'' (Season of Apostles)
# ''Season of Summer (liturgy), Qaita'' (Summer)
# Elijah-Cross-Moses (''Elijah-Sliba-Muse'')
# Dedication of the Church (''Qudas-Edta'')

Syro-Malabar hierarchy

List of ecclesiastical Heads

* Palliveettil Chandy, Palliveettil Mar Chandy (AD 1663)
* Kariattil Iousep, Kariattil Mar Iousep (AD 1783)
* Augustine Kandathil, Mar Augustine Kandathil (AD 1923)
* Mar Antony Padiyara (1992–1997)
* Mar Varkey Vithayathil (1997–2011)
* Mar George Alencherry (2011–present)

Syro-Malabar major archiepiscopal curia

The curia of the Syro-Malabar Church began to function in March 1993 at the archbishop's house of Ernakulam-Angamaly. Later, on 27 May 1995, it was shifted to new premises at Mount St. Thomas near Kakkanad, Kochi, India, Kochi. The newly constructed curial building was opened on 3 July 1998.

The administration of the Syro-Malabar Church has executive and judicial roles. The major archbishop, officials, various commissions, committees, and the permanent synod form the executive part. The permanent synod and other offices are formed in accordance with the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (CCEO). The officials include the chancellor, vice-chancellor, and other officers. Various commissions are appointed by the major archbishop: Liturgy, Pastoral Care of the Migrant and Evangelisation, Particular Law, Catechism, Ecumenism, Catholic Doctrine, Clergy and Institutes of Consecrated Life, and Societies of Apostolic Life. The members of the commissions are ordinarily bishops, but include priests. For judicial activities there is the major archiepiscopal ordinary tribunal formed in accordance with CCEO which has a statutes and sufficient personnel, with a president as its head. At present, Rev. Dr. Jose Chiramel is the president. The Major archiepiscopal curia functions in the curial building in Kerala, India.
They have prepared the particular law for their Church and promulgated it part by part in Synodal News, the official Bulletin of this Church. There are statutes for the permanent synod and for the superior and ordinary tribunals. CCEO c. 122 § 2 is specific in the particular law, that the term of the office shall be five years and the same person shall not be appointed for more than two terms consecutively.Francis Eluvathingal, Syro-Malabar Church Since the Eastern Code

Provinces, (Arch)Eparchies and other jurisdictions

There are 35 eparchies (dioceses). Five of them are Archeparchies (of major archbishop) at present, all in southern India: Ernakulam-Angamaly, Changanacherry, Trichur, Tellicherry, and Kottayam.

These have another 13 suffragan eparchies: Bhadravathi, Belthangady, Irinjalakuda, Kanjirapally, Kothamangalam, Idukki, Mananthavady, Mandya, Palai, Palghat, Ramanathapuram, Thamarassery, and Thuckalay within the canonical territory of the Major Archiepiscopal Church.

There are 13 further eparchies outside the canonical territory of which Adilabad, Bijnor, Chanda, Gorakhpur, Jagdalpur, Kalyan, Rajkot, Sagar, Satna, Faridabad, Hosur, Shamsabad, and Ujjain in India are with exclusive jurisdiction. The St. Thomas Eparchy of Chicago in the United States, St. Thomas the Apostle Eparchy of Melbourne in Australia, Eparchy of Great Britain, and Eparchy of Mississauga, Canada enjoy personal jurisdiction.
Syro Malabar Church: An Overview.

Proper Ecclesiastical provinces

Most believers of this church are organized under five metropolitan archeparchies (archdioceses), all in Kerala, and their suffragan eparchies.

* Syro-Malabar Catholic Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly, Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly
***Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Idukki, Eparchy of Idukki
***Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kothamangalam, Eparchy of Kothamangalam
** Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanassery, Metropolitan Archeparchy of Changanassery
***Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kanjirappally, Eparchy of Kanjirappally
***Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Palai, Eparchy of Palai
***Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Thuckalay, Eparchy of Thuckalay
** Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Kottayam, Metropolitan Archeparchy of Kottayam (Exclusively for the Knanaya Catholic faithful)
** Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Tellicherry, Metropolitan Archeparchy of Tellicherry
***Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Belthangady, Eparchy of Belthangady
***Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Bhadravathi, Eparchy of Bhadravathi
***Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Mananthavady, Eparchy of Mananthavady
***Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Mandya, Eparchy of Mandya
***Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Thamarassery, Eparchy of Thamarassery
** Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur, Metropolitan Archeparchy of Thrissur
***Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Irinjalakuda, Eparchy of Irinjalakuda
***Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palghat, Eparchy of Palghat
***Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Ramanathapuram, Eparchy of Ramanathapuram

Eparchies beyond Kerala with exclusive jurisdictions

* Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Bijnor, Eparchy of Bijnor
* Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Gorakhpur, Eparchy of Gorakhpur
* Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Sagar, Eparchy of Sagar
* Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Satna, Eparchy of Satna
* Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Ujjain, Eparchy of Ujjain
* Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Rajkot, Eparchy of Rajkot
* Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Adilabad, Eparchy of Adilabad
* Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Chanda, Eparchy of Chanda
* Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Jagdalpur, Eparchy of Jagdalpur

Exempt jurisdictions

* Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kalyan, Eparchy of Kalyan, serves Mumbai and western Maharashtra
* Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Faridabad, Eparchy of Faridabad, near Delhi, also serves Haryana, (Indian) Punjab, India, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), Jammu and Kashmir and parts of Uttar Pradesh
* Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Hosur, Eparchy of Hosur, in Tamil Nadu, established October 2017
* Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Shamshabad, Eparchy of Shamshabad, includes the entire country of India not included in existing eparchies, established October 2017

= Outside India

=
* Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Mississauga, Eparchy of Mississauga, for Canada
* Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Melbourne, Eparchy of Melbourne, for Australia and New Zealand
* St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Chicago, Eparchy of Chicago, for the USA
* Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Great Britain, Eparchy of Great Britain in Preston, Lancashire, Preston, England for England, Wales & Scotland

Syro-Malabar Religious Congregations

The Religious Congregations are divided in the Eastern Catholic Church Law (Code of Canons of the Oriental Churches – CCEO) as Monasteries, Hermitages, Orders, Congregations, Societies of Common Life in the Manner of Religious, Secular Institutes, and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Active are:
* Carmelites of Mary Immaculate
* Congregation of the Mother of Carmel
* Little Flower Congregation
* Franciscan Clarist Congregation
* Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament
* Missionary Society of Saint Thomas the Apostle
* Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (Adoration Congregation)
* Sisters of the Destitute (S.D.)
* Vincentian Congregation
* Nazareth Sisters

Syro-Malabar Basilicas

* Basilica of St. Mary, Champakulam, Archdiocese of Changanacherry
* St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Cathedral Basilica, Ernakulam, Archdiocese of Eranakulam-Angamaly
*St. George Syro-Malabar Basilica, Angamaly, Archdiocese of Eranakulam-Angamaly
*Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours, Thrissur, Archdiocese of Thrissur

Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal churches

* St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church Kuravilangad, St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Archdeacon Church Kuravilangad, Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai, Eparchy of Palai
* Kaduthuruthy Valiya Palli, St. Mary's Knanaya Forane Church, Kaduthuruthy (Valiya palli), Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Kottayam, Kottayam Archdiocese
* Holy Cross Forane Church Nadavayal, Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Mananthavady, Eparchy of Manathavady
* St. Mary's Forane Church Kudamaloor, Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanassery, Archeparchy of Changanassery
* St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Palayoor, St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church Palayoor, Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur, Archeparchy of Thrissur
* St. Sebastian Church Thazhekad, Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Irinjalakuda, Eparchy of Irinjalakuda
* St. Mary's Church (Akkarappally) Kanjirappally, Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kanjirappally, Eparchy of Kanjirappally
*St. Mary's Forane Church (Arakuzhapalli) Arakuzha, Moovatupuzha, Syro malabar eparchy of Kothamagalm

Statistics

According to the 2016 Annuario Pontificio pontifical yearbook, there were about 4,189,349 members in the Syro-Malabar Church.

List of prominent Syro-Malabar Catholics

Prominent Syro-Malabar leaders

* Kadavil Chandy, Syriacist, poet, and church leader.
* Mar Joseph Kariattil, Joseph Kariattil – the first Indian native Metropolitan Archbishop
* Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar, administrator of the Archdiocese of Cranganore, Archdiocese of Cranganore-Angamaly and author of ''Varthamanappusthakam'', the first travelogue in an Indian language.
* Thachil Matthoo Tharakan, a prominent lay leader and Minister of Travancore
* Nidhiry Mani Kathanar, founder of ''Deepika (newspaper), Deepika'', the first Malayalam daily.
* Kudakkachira Anthoni Kathanar, 19th-century proponent of Syro-Malabar identity and traditions
* Palackal Thoma, scholar and founder of C.M.I.
* Placid J. Podipara, prominent Saint Thomas Christian historian
* Mar Joseph Powathil, Joseph Powathil, Archbishop of Changanacherry and proponent of Syro-Malabar identity and traditions
*Emmanuel Thelly, orientalist and Syriacist, author of several books including a Syriac lexicon
* Thomas Koonammakkal, Koonammakkal Thomas, expert in Syro-Malabar history and Suriyani Malayalam

Saints, Blesseds, Venerables and Servants of God

Saints

*Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception – religious sister of FCC congregation
*Kuriakose Elias Chavara – priest and one of the founding members of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, CMI
*Euphrasia Eluvathingal – religious sister of Congregation of Mother of Carmel, CMC congregation
*Mariam Thresia Chiramel– religious sister and founder of Holy Family congregation

Beatified people

*Thevarparampil Kunjachan, Augustine Thevarparambil (Kunjachan) – priest
*Rani Maria Vattalil, Rani Maria (1954–1995) – religious sister of FCC congregation

Venerables

*Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly, Payyappilly Varghese Kathanar – priest and founder of Sisters of the Destitute (1876–1929)
*Mar Thomas Kurialachery, Thomas Kurialachery – first bishop of Archeparchy of Changanassery (1872–1925)
*Kadalikkattil Mathai Kathanar – priest (1872–1935)
*Joseph Vithayathil – priest and co-founder of Holy Family congregation (1865–1964)
*Augustine John Ukken – priest and Congregation of Sisters of Charity (CSC) (1880–1956)

Servants of God

*Tommiyachan Poothathil, (1871–1943)
*Mary Celine Payyappilly (1906–1993)
*Joseph C. Panjikaran (1888–1949)
*Antony Thachuparambil (1894–1963)
*Mathew Kavukattu (1904–1969)
*Maria Celine Kannanaikal (1931–1957)
*Thommachen Puthenparampil
* Canisius Thekkekara (1914–1998)
*Mary Francesca de Chantal (1880–1972)
*Varkey Kattarath
*Joseph Kandathil

Candidates for canonization

* Fr. Emilian Vettath CMI

See also

* Liturgical calendar of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
* Sisters of the Destitute
* Carmelites of Mary Immaculate
* Congregation of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
* All India Catholic Union
* Catholic Church in India

Notes

References

References and bibliography

* Joseph Simon Assemani, ASSEMANI, Bibliotheca Orientalis (Rome, 1719–28); DE SOUZA.
* Orientale Conquistado (2 vols., Indian reprint, Examiner Press, Bombay).
* .
* Fr. tr. De Glen, Histoire Orientale etc. (Brussels, 1609); DU JARRIC.
* .
*
*
*

(Postscript)
http://kandathil.org/kandathil/kandathil.pdf (PDF)].
* Menachery G (1973
The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India
Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, , Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568; B.N.K. Press  – (has some 70 lengthy articles by different experts on the origins, development, history, culture ... of these Christians, with some 300 odd photographs). Vol. 1, 1982. Vol. 3, 2010.
* Mundadan, A. Mathias. (1984) ''History of Christianity in India'', vol. 1, Bangalore, India: Church History Association of India.
* Placid J. Podipara, Podipara, Placid J. (1970) "The Thomas Christians". London: Darton, Longman and Tidd, 1970. (is a readable and exhaustive study of the St. Thomas Christians.)
* Philip, E. M. (1908) The Indian Christians of St. Thomas (1908; Changanassery: Mor Adai Study Center, 2002).
* Aprem Mooken, Aprem, Mar. (1977) The Chaldaean Syrian Church in India. Trichur, Kerala, India: Mar Narsai, 1977.
* George Menachery, Menachery, George (2000) Kodungallur – The Cradle of Christianity in India, Thrissur: Marthoma Pontifical Shrine.
* Menachery, George & Snaitang, Dr. Oberland (2012)"India's Christian Heritage". The Church History Association of India, Dharmaram College, Bangalore.
* Acts of St. Thomas (Syriac) MA. Bevan, London, 1897
*
* Michael Geddes, (1694) A Short History of the Church of Malabar together with the Synod of Diamper, London. Ed. Prof. George Menachery in the Nazranies i.e. The Indian Church History Classics I, 1998.
* Bosco Puthur, Puthur, B. (ed.) (2002): The Life and Nature of the St Thomas Christian Church in the Pre-Diamper Period (Cochi, Kerala).
* T.K Velu Pillai, (1940) "The Travancore State Manual"; 4 volumes; Trivandrum
* Menachery G (ed); (1998) "The Indian Church History Classics", Vol. I, ''The Nazranies'', Ollur, 1998. .
* Menachery, George. Glimpses of Nazraney Heritage.SARAS 2005 Ollur.
* Joseph J. Palackal, Palackal, Joseph J. Syriac Chant Traditions in South India. PhD, Ethnomusicology, City University of New York, 2005.
* Joseph, T. K. The Malabar Christians and Their Ancient Documents. Trivandrum, India, 1929.
* Leslie Brown, (1956) ''The Indian Christians of St. Thomas. An Account of the Ancient Syrian Church of Malabar'', Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1956, 1982 (repr.)
* Thomas P. J; (1932) "Roman Trade Centres in Malabar", Kerala Society Papers II.
* Marco Polo.(1298) LATHAM, R. (TRANSL.) "The Travels" Penguin Classics 1958
* Bjorn Landstrom (1964) "The Quest for India", Double day English Edition, Stockholm.
* Francis Eluvathingal (ed), Syro-Malabar Church Since the Eastern Code, Mary Matha Publications, Trichur, 2003.
* Francis Eluvathingal, "Patriarchal and Major Archiepiscopal Curia in the Eastern Catholic Legilations based on CCEO Canons 114–125" ORISI, Kottayam, 2009.
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External links

Syro-Malabar ChurchArchdiocese of ThrissurArchdiocese of KottayamArchdiocese of ChanganacherryArchdiocese of Ernakulam-AngamalyArchdiocese of TellicherryThe website for Synod of DiamperIndian Christianity : Books by Geddes, Mackenzie, Medlycott, &c.The Chennai Mission

Syro malabar mission in Chennai

Syro Malabar Church in AustraliaNazraney HeritageSyro Malabar Church in QatarSyro Malabar MatrimonyArticle on the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church by Ronald Roberson on the CNEWA web siteFathima Matha Church, East Hill, Kozhikode

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Syro-Malabar Catholic Church,
1st-century establishments in India
Churches in India