St. Mary's Jacobite Soonoro Cathedral, Angamaly
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St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Soonoro Cathedral, or Angamaly ''Cheriyapally'', is an ancient Jacobite Syrian church located in
Angamaly Angamaly () is a municipality in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. Angamaly is part of the Kochi metropolitan area and is located northeast of the Kochi city centre. As of the 2011 Indian census, the municipality has a population of 33 ...
. Founded in AD 409, Marth Mariam Church is one of the oldest church in Malankara Church founded in the early fifth century AD by the native St Thomas Christians in the name of Mother Mary. it is one of the most prominent and ancient
Syriac Orthodox The Syriac Orthodox Church (), also informally known as the Jacobite Church, is an Oriental Orthodox denomination that originates from the Church of Antioch. The church currently has around 4-5 million followers. The church upholds the Mia ...
churches in
Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...
. In the seventeenth century it was the residence of Archdeacon Thomas Parambil, who eventually got consecrated as bishop
Mar Thoma I Mar Thoma I, also known as Valiya Mar Thoma (Mar Thoma the Great) and Arkkadiyakkon Thoma (Archdeacon Thomas) in Malayalam, and referred to as Thomas de Campo in Portuguese, was the first native-born Metropolitan bishop of the Malankara Chur ...
following the
Coonan Cross Oath The Coonan Cross Oath (alternatively spelled Koonan Cross Oath), also known as the Great Oath of Bent Cross or Leaning Cross Oath, was taken on 3 January 1653, in Mattancherry, by a significant portion of the Saint Thomas Christian community ...
in 1653. It was initially the seat of the
Archdeacon An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in the Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion, St Thomas Christians, Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox churches and some other Christian denomina ...
and later the Marthoma methrans, the local heads of the
Malankara Church The Malankara Church, also known as Malankara Syrian Church, was the unified body of '' Puthankur'' Saint Thomas Christians who claim origins from the missions of Thomas the Apostle. This community, under the leadership of Thoma I, oppos ...
and hence held an important position in the church for several centuries.


History


Christianity in Angamaly

Tradition says that Apostle St. Thomas arrived India in AD 52 and sowed the seeds of the Gospel and about 400 Syrian families immigrated in AD 345 under the leadership of the merchant Knayi Thoma to a town named Mahathevar patnam, near
Muziris ''Muciṟi'' (, ), commonly anglicized as Muziris (, Malayalam, Old Malayalam: ''Muciṟi'' or ''Muciṟipaṭṭaṇam'', possibly identical with the medieval ''Muyiṟikkōṭŭ'') was an ancient harbour and urban centre on India's Malabar C ...
, the famous port of
Kodungalloor Kodungallur (; formerly also called as Cranganore (anglicised name), Portuguese: Cranganor; Mahodayapuram, Shingly, Vanchi, Muchiri, Muyirikkode, and Muziris) is a historically significant town situated on the banks of river Periyar on the M ...
. This was the first known centre of Christians in India. Jews who had engaged in trade with the coast of Malabar had inhabited the city much earlier and had rights to land and other privileges there. However Kodungalloor subsequently became less hospitable to Christians who took refuge in
Angamaly Angamaly () is a municipality in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. Angamaly is part of the Kochi metropolitan area and is located northeast of the Kochi city centre. As of the 2011 Indian census, the municipality has a population of 33 ...
. The local chieftain of "Mangattu", also referred to as "Mangattachan", graciously welcomed Christians into the area and granted them many privileges including the right to establish a church, a market and a town in 'Anke malee' (later Angamaly). The land for the Church in Angamaly was granted to the Syrian Christians next to his palace premises as a noble gesture. Thus the church was built with wood and thatched roofing in a location adjacent to the palace of the chieftain and in closer proximity to the palace. The number of Christians in Angamali swelled with further migrations, perhaps predominantly following the great flood in Periyar in 1341 that stilted the waters of the Muziris port. Later in 1523 the Muslim traders burnt down the Christian commercial establishments of Kodungallur and their church.


Angamaly's three churches

Following the fall of Christian Kodungallur, Angamaly came to be the foremost and most influential among the Saint Thomas Christian settlements, a fact that is apparent from the presence of three ancient churches in close vicinity. However, as noted by Melchior Carneiro, there was only one church back then in Angamali in 1550s and it was in the name of " Holy Virgin the Mother of Christ, the light and life". In 1564, the ''Cheriapally'' dedicated to St. Mary (of Assumption) was erected by Archdeacon George of Christ as the seat of the Archdeaconate and the older church or ''Valiyapally'' remained as the parish church for the local Christians. This incident is documented in King Keshava Rama Varma of
Cochin Kochi ( , ), formerly known as Cochin ( ), is a major port city along the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala. The city is also commonly referred to as Ernaku ...
's letter to
Pope Gregory XIII Pope Gregory XIII (, , born Ugo Boncompagni; 7 January 1502 – 10 April 1585) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 May 1572 to his death in April 1585. He is best known for commissioning and being the namesake ...
, written on 2 January 1576 to express his concern over the Roman Catholic missionaries' misconduct to the then Metropolitan Abraham:
The Archdeacon George, likewise Our subject, has recently erected a church under the title of the Assumption of Our Lady in August, for which he requests me to obtain from Your Holiness certain Indulgences, which if granted, I shall regard as a favour done to me.
Antonio de Gouvea Antonio de Gouvea, O.E.S.A. (1575 – 18 August 1628) was a diplomat in the service of Habsburg Spain, who served as ambassador (envoy) to Safavid Iran between 1602 and 1613. An Augustinian Portuguese missionary by origin, during his servic ...
, in his book '' Jornada do Arcebispo de Goa Dom Frey Aleixo de Meneses'' (1606), the travelogue of Alexis de Menezes the padroado Archbishop of Goa who convened the Synod of Diamper, gives an account of the churches in Angamaly: Following the Synod of Diamper and Coonan Cross Oath, the community underwent a schism into Syrian Catholic and Jacobite factions. The churches of Angamaly were eventually partitioned between the two groups.
Anquetil Du Perron Abraham Hyacinthe Anquetil-Duperron (7 December 173117 January 1805) was the first professional French Indologist. He conceived the institutional framework for the new profession. He inspired the founding of the École française d'Extrême-Ori ...
, who visited Malabar in the eighteenth century, gives the following list and description of churches in Angamaly in the country of the ''Velutha Thavali'' ruler: # Church of the Holy Virgin (''valiyapalli'' or Great Church) co-owned by Syrian Catholics and Jacobites. It had a chapel dedicated to Saint George in which both Syrian Catholics and Jacobites used to celebrate their liturgies one after the other. # Another church dedicated to Saint Hormisdas the Martyr. It is used exclusively by the Syrian Catholics. It was the Cathedral church of the diocese before its see was moved to Cranganore. # Another church which is also dedicated to the Holy Virgin. It is known locally as the ''Cheriyapally'' (Minor Church). It is the headquarters of Archdeacon Thoma I and it is used exclusively by the Syrian Jacobites. It is the present day St. Mary's Jacobite Soonoro Cathedral, Angamaly. He then mentions a fourth church in the country of the ''Velutha Thavali'', which is at Akaparambu and dedicated to Saint Gervasis, co-owned by Syrian Catholics and Jacobites.


Ecclesiastical history


The Seat of the Archdeacons

Archdeacon An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in the Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion, St Thomas Christians, Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox churches and some other Christian denomina ...
s of Pakalomattom family including Giwargis of Christ (George of Christ), Archdeacon John, Giwargis of the Cross (Archdeacon George of the Cross) and Parambil Thoma used the Angamaly Cheriyapally as their administrative headquarters. George of Christ was appointed as the Archdeacon in 1562 by
Chaldean Chaldean (also Chaldaean or Chaldee) may refer to: Language * an old name for the Aramaic language, particularly Biblical Aramaic. See Chaldean Catholic Church#Terminology, Chaldean misnomer * Suret, a modern Aramaic language spoken by Chaldean C ...
archbishop
Joseph Sulaqa Mar Joseph Sulaqa (), also known as ''Yousep d'Bēth Bello'' (), was one of the last East Syriac Rite, East Syriac bishops to Malabar Coast, Malabar. He was shortly followed by Abraham Methran, Mar Abraham; both reached in Malabar after the arrival ...
. George of Christ built this church following his election as the bishop of Palur in the diocesan assembly. This church is adorned by beautiful mural paintings, chandeliers and wooden carvings. In 1566, Chaldean Patriarch
Abdisho IV Maron Mar Abdisho IV Maron () was the second Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, from 1555 to 1570. Abdisho, whose name is spelled in many different ways in Latin characters (''Abdisu'', ''Abd-Jesu'', ''Hebed-Jesu'', ''Abdissi'', ''Audishu'') m ...
gave his accent to the election and appointed George of Christ as the bishop of Palur and
coadjutor The term "coadjutor" (literally "co-assister" in Latin) is a title qualifier indicating that the holder shares the office with another person, with powers equal to the other in all but formal order of precedence. These include: * Coadjutor bishop ...
of the
Archdiocese of Angamaly The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Angamaly was an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Malabar, India. It came into existence as a Catholic continuation of the Ecclesiastical Province of India of the Church of the East fol ...
to ensure a successor to Metropolitan Abraham. However, the succession plan failed due to the death of the Archdeacon. Givargis of Christ and Parambil Thoma were entombed in this Church.


Synod of Diamper

The whole parish defied the decrees of the
Synod of Diamper The Synod of Diamper (Udayamperoor Synod) (), held at Udayamperoor (known as Diamper in non-vernacular sources) in June 1599, was a diocesan synod, or council, that created rules and regulations for the ancient Saint Thomas Christians (also ...
in 1599 and firmly stood with the
Archdeacon An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in the Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion, St Thomas Christians, Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox churches and some other Christian denomina ...
in resisting the
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 gra ...
. The Catholic historian Bernard Thoma Alencherry records that the Syrian Christians in Mangad, Kochi, Purakad, and Thekkumkur who were loyal to Archdeacon George of Cross were threatened by local kings and Petty chieftains to attend the
Synod of Diamper The Synod of Diamper (Udayamperoor Synod) (), held at Udayamperoor (known as Diamper in non-vernacular sources) in June 1599, was a diocesan synod, or council, that created rules and regulations for the ancient Saint Thomas Christians (also ...
in 1599, as commanded by the Portuguese. The Raja of Cochin decreed that all assets of Syrian churches which abstain from the
Synod of Diamper The Synod of Diamper (Udayamperoor Synod) (), held at Udayamperoor (known as Diamper in non-vernacular sources) in June 1599, was a diocesan synod, or council, that created rules and regulations for the ancient Saint Thomas Christians (also ...
on 20 June 1599 will be confiscated. The Angamaly Church defied the command and boycotted the Synod unanimously; All the eighteen priests of the church abstained from the Synod. The militant Portuguese bishop through threats and offers of military and monetary support to the local king and chieftains managed to create a schism among Saint Thomas Christians and created a substantial Catholic presence in Angamaly.


After Coonan Cross Oath

After the
Coonan Cross Oath The Coonan Cross Oath (alternatively spelled Koonan Cross Oath), also known as the Great Oath of Bent Cross or Leaning Cross Oath, was taken on 3 January 1653, in Mattancherry, by a significant portion of the Saint Thomas Christian community ...
of 1653, a delegate of the
Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch The Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East ( Syriac: ܦܛܪܝܪܟܐ ܕܐܢܛܝܘܟܝܐ ܘܕܟܠܗ̇ ܡܕܢܚܐ ''Paṭriarḵo ḏ-Anṭiuḵia waḏ-kuloh madnho'') is the Bishop of Antioch, and head of the Syriac Orthodox Church ...
,
Gregorios Abdal Jaleel Mor Gregorios Abdal Jaleel Bawa (died 27 April 1681) was the Syriac Orthodox Bishop of Jerusalem, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem from 1664 until his death in 1681. He is chiefly remembered for his 1665 mission to India, by which he establ ...
an archbishop of
Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...
, arrived in Malabar. In 1665 he regularized the consecration of
Thoma I Mar Thoma I, also known as Valiya Mar Thoma (Mar Thoma the Great) and Arkkadiyakkon Thoma (Archdeacon Thomas) in Malayalam, and referred to as Thomas de Campo in Portuguese, was the first native-born Metropolitan bishop of the Malankara Church ...
as the first Metropolitan Bishop of Malankara. At first during his reign Thoma I was assisted by Angamaly Vengoor Gevarghese Kathanar, Kadavil Chandy Kathanar, Parambil Chandy, and Anjimootil Itty Thoman Kathanar, who lead the Coonan Cross Oath in 1653. After the
Synod of Diamper The Synod of Diamper (Udayamperoor Synod) (), held at Udayamperoor (known as Diamper in non-vernacular sources) in June 1599, was a diocesan synod, or council, that created rules and regulations for the ancient Saint Thomas Christians (also ...
and
Coonan Cross Oath The Coonan Cross Oath (alternatively spelled Koonan Cross Oath), also known as the Great Oath of Bent Cross or Leaning Cross Oath, was taken on 3 January 1653, in Mattancherry, by a significant portion of the Saint Thomas Christian community ...
, which lead to the schism among the
Saint 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 ...
, the Angamaly Cheriyapally came under the control of the Jacobite faction, who were known by then as the ''Puthenkoor''. 84 out of the 116 total churches, including the Angamaly ''Valiyapalli'', located next to the St Marys Cheriyapally Church, came under Syrian Catholic governance. However,
Thoma I Mar Thoma I, also known as Valiya Mar Thoma (Mar Thoma the Great) and Arkkadiyakkon Thoma (Archdeacon Thomas) in Malayalam, and referred to as Thomas de Campo in Portuguese, was the first native-born Metropolitan bishop of the Malankara Church ...
maintained his seat at Angamaly Cheriyapally. The 32 churches that remained with Archdeacon Parambil Thomas, continued to be administered by him from Angamaly. He was buried in this church in 1670. For many centuries this church and the Akaparambu Church ( Mar Sabor and Mar Afroth) were a united parish and was administered by one council as is evident in the record of a general body meeting of 16-8-1069 (Malayalam Era).


Estrangelo Bible

In 1808 an ancient Bible written during the headship of Dionysius the Great at the Angamaly church was presented to the Anglican missionary Rev.
Claudius Buchanan Claudius Buchanan FRSE (12 March 1765 – 9 February 1815) was a Scottish theologian, an ordained minister of the Church of England, and an evangelical missionary for the Church Missionary Society. He served as Vice Provost of the College of Ca ...
; This Bible is now preserved in the archives of the
Cambridge University Library Cambridge University Library is the main research library of the University of Cambridge. It is the largest of over 100 libraries Libraries of the University of Cambridge, within the university. The library is a major scholarly resource for me ...
. This Syriac Bible might have been brought to India by Fathers from the Holy See of Antioch as in its appendix you can see intercessory prayers to St. Mary and Mar Severios. This Estrangelo Bible written in East Syriac might have been from the Persian Catholicate of the Syrian Orthodox Church.Pearson Hugh, M.A.; ''Memoirs of the life and writings of the Rev. Claudius Buchanan, D.D.'' Published 1817. Benjamin & Thomas Kite, Philadelphia p 320-321


Gallery

File:St. Mary's Soonoro Cathedral.jpg, Angamaly Church File:Altar room Angamaly Syrian Church.jpg, Altar room of Angamaly Syrian Church. File:George of Christ Archdeacon.2.jpg, Mural Painting of Giwargis of Christ. File:Last Judgement (St Mary's, Angamaly).jpg, Mural Painting of Last Judgement above the northern entrance. File:Hell Scene (St Mary's, Angamaly).jpg, Mural depicting hell above the southern entrance.


References


Sources

* * * *


External links

*
Jacobite Syrian Christian Church on Facebook

Jacobite Syrian Christian Church

Online Community and News Site of Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church
*
Indian Christianity

Malankara Syriac Orthodox Resources

Malankara Jacobite Syriac Christian Network
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Mary's Jacobite Soonoro Cathedral, Angamaly Syriac Orthodox churches in India Soonoro churches in Kerala 1564 establishments in India Churches in Angamaly Ancient churches of the Saint Thomas Christians (pre-1606)