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Saint Thomas Anglicans

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki


Saint Thomas Anglicans
Total population
152,000
Regions with significant populations
Kerala, India; with immigrant congregations in Europe, North America and Australia
Languages
Malayalam, English
Religion
Anglicanism
Related ethnic groups
Malayalis, Cochin Jews[1]
Part of a series on
Christianity in India
Christianity in India
Part of a series on
Saint Thomas Christians
Saint Thomas Christian cross
History
Saint Thomas · Thomas of Cana · Mar Sabor and Mar Proth · Tharisapalli plates · Synod of Diamper · Coonan Cross Oath
Religion
Crosses · Denominations · Churches · Syriac language · Music
Prominent persons
Abraham Malpan · Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar · Kayamkulam Philipose Ramban · Kuriakose Elias Chavara · Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly · Mar Thoma I · Saint Alphonsa · Sadhu Kochoonju Upadesi · Kariattil Mar Ousep · Geevarghese Dionysius of Vattasseril · Geevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala · Geevarghese Ivanios · Euphrasia Eluvathingal · Thoma of Villarvattom
Culture
Margamkali · Parichamuttukali · Cuisine · Suriyani Malayalam
Anglican Communion
File:Compassrose Flag.svg
Part of a series on Anglicanism
Organisation
Theology
Liturgy and worship
Other topics

Saint Thomas Anglicans (aka Anglican Syrian Christians or CSI Syrian Christians) are the Saint Thomas Christian members of the Church of South India; the autonomous South Indian province of the Anglican Communion. They are among the several different ecclesiastical communities that splintered out of the once undivided Saint Thomas Christians; an ancient Christian community whose origins goes back to the first century missionary activities of Saint Thomas the Apostle, in the present day South Indian state of Kerala. The Apostle, as legend has it, arrived in Malankara (derived from Maliankara near Muziris) in AD 52.[2][3][4]

Origins

In November 1795, a treaty of perpetual friendship and tributary alliance was signed between the Rajah of Travancore and the East India Company. The treaty was again modified in 1805, which established British paramountcy over Travancore.[5][6] The beginning of the relationship between the Anglican Church Mission Society and the ancient Malankara Church could be traced to the Rev R H Kerr and the Rev Claudius Buchanan, who paid visits to the Malabar Syrians in 1806, during the episcopate of Mar Dionysius I.[7][8] The missionaries found the Malabar Syrian Christians in poor and depressed conditions. This is clear in the words of the Syrian Metropolitan Mar Dionysius I, in his interview with Claudius Buchanan, recorded in Dr. Buchanan's famous book “Christian Researches in Asia”; in which Mar Dionysius I says, “you have come to visit a declining church”.[9][10][11]

In 1810, Colonel John Munro, a man with deep Christian convictions became the British Resident of Travancore, an office he held for the next 10 years. Col Munro persuaded the Rani of Travancore, with whom he was in very good terms to donate land in Kottayam as well as the money and timber, in-order to build the Orthodox Pazhaya Seminary (founded 1815) for the Malankara Church.[12][13][14][15] He also petitioned the Anglican Church Missionary Society to send missionaries on a Help Mission, to educate and train the clergy of the Malankara Church.[12][13][14][16] In the coming years, several pious Christian men like Benjamin Bailey, Joseph Fenn and Henry Baker (Sr) arrived in Kottayam and worked at the Pazhaya Seminary and among the Malankara Syrians. The missionaries took charge of the college as it early Principals for training the younger Malankara Church clergy and worked on the translation of the Holy Bible to the native language Malayalam.[17][18][7]

However the cordial relations between the missionaries and the Malankara Syrians did not last very long. The younger missionaries who arrived later were uncompromising evangelists who insisted on major reforms to the Malankara Jacobite Church, which the changed Jacobite leadership didn't want. The discord and rifts eventually led to the 1836 Malankara Jacobite Synod of Mavelikkara, in which the Jacobite Syrian Community under Mar Dionysios IV, decided to keep all their Syriac ecclesiastical traditions and be subject to the authority of the Syriac Patriarch of Antioch.[19][20][21] Inevitably, the missionaries and the Malankara Jacobites parted ways and the missionaries continued their work on their own. Nevertheless, the two decades of their association and involvement left a profound and lasting impact on the Malankara Syrian community; calls for reformation were to come from within the Church, later.[22][23]

In 1836, as soon as the missionaries separated from the Malankara Syrian Church, a minority from the Church who were in favor of the reformed ideologies of the missionaries sought membership in the Anglican Church and were admitted. These St. Thomas Anglicans were the first reformed group to emerge from the St. Thomas Christian community. Initially the Anglican Syrian community was concentrated in the areas of Travancore where the missionaries had earlier worked with the Malankara Syrians.[24][25][8]

British Period

St. Thomas Anglicans benefited from the English education imparted by the missionaries and joined them in their work.[8][26][27] The missionaries were the pioneers who promoted mass education in Travancore and people from all sections of society joined the various schools and the Cotym College established by the Church Mission Society.[28][29][30][31][32] They also started the C.M.S. Press (first printing press of Kerala) in 1821, in Kottayam.[33][34][35] Anglican Syrian Christians served as teachers in the educational institutions and worked in the other institutions established by the Church Mission Society, taking charge of them, later. Some worked along with the missionaries in their evangelical and reformative activities among the poor and backward communities.[36][37][30][38][39] Some served the Government. Several were ordained into priesthood in the Anglican Church and the Anglican Diocese of Travancore and Cochin was established in 1879.[40][41][42][43] St. Thomas Anglicans provided the greater part of the leadership of the Anglican Diocese of Travancore and Cochin.[41][44]

Formation of the Church of South India

See also: Church of South India § Origins, and Church of South India § Formation

In the extensive dialogues that preceded the formation of the Church of South India, the Anglican party, while accepting the ministries of all uniting denominations, argued for the introduction of an episcopate in historic succession (from the Anglican Church) into the envisioned United Church, by conferring episcopal ordinations, upon all candidates to bishoprics who are drawn from non-episcopal traditions.[45][46][47][48][49] They also insisted that all ordinations after the union should be exclusively episcopal, conferred only by existing bishops with the imposition of hands, so that in the fullness of time, the entire ministry of the United Church would be in apostolic succession. These were eventually accepted.[50][46][47][48][49] Accordingly, on 27 September 1947, as part of the inauguration of the Church of South India, the presiding bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Cherakarottu Korula Jacob, of the Anglican diocese of Travancore and Cochin along with other Anglican bishops and senior presbyters of the uniting denominations conferred episcopal ordinations on all new candidates to bishoprics.[51] The Church of South India was thus realized and since then the Anglican Syrian Christians came to be known as CSI Syrian Christians.[52][53][54][55]

Anglican Syrian Christians today

After acceding to the CSI, the Anglican Diocese of Travancore and Cochin was renamed as the Madhya Kerala Diocese.[41][43] Although the majority of CSI Syrian Christians have their roots in this diocese, like other Saint Thomas Christian communities, many moved out of Kerala after Indian independence to other Indian states and the rest of the world, starting new congregations.[56][57] Many of these congregations are out side of the South Indian Anglican province and hence fall under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the respective provincial bishops, at least technically.[58] Although the cumulative number of Syrian Christians in the South Indian and other Anglican provinces is difficult to determine, it is roughly estimated that they constitute about 4% (approximately 152,000) of the 3.8 million members of the Church of South India.[59][60]

Relations with other Saint Thomas Christians

See also: Church of South India § Ecumenism

Due to familial and social ties, Anglican Syrian Christians have always been in cordial relations with the Malankara Syrians and the Jacobite and Orthodox factions that came of it. This continued due to the historic reality that for well over half a century since their split in 1836, the Malankara Church was the only Church that existed in Travancore-Cochin area, from which the Anglican Syrians could get partners in marriage, outside of their own community.[61][62][63] By 1889, the reformists of the Malankara Church separated as an independent Reformed Oriental denomination, choosing the name Mar Thoma Syrian Church in 1898. Since then ecumenical ties have developed with them as well; the Mar Thoma Church is in partnership and full communion with the Church of South India.[23][64]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ross, Israel J. (1979). "Ritual and Music in South India: Syrian Christian Liturgical Music in Kerala". Asian Music. 11 (1): 80–98. JSTOR 833968.
  2. ↑ The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 5 by Erwin Fahlbusch. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing - 2008. p. 285. ISBN 978-0-8028-2417-2 Search this book on ..
  3. ↑ Stephen Neill (2 May 2002). A History of Christianity in India: 1707–1858. Cambridge University Press. pp. 247–249. ISBN 978-0-521-89332-9. Retrieved 31 August 2012. Search this book on
  4. ↑ "Anglican Communion: Member Churches".
  5. ↑ Pages 389-400, The Travancore State Manual, V. Nagyam Aiya, 1906, Travancore government Press
  6. ↑ Pages 225-239, A history of Travancore from the earliest times, P. Shungoony Menon, 1878, published by Higginbotham and Co, Madras
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Tovey, Phillip. "Colonel John Munro Evangelical Christian".
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "History – CSI Madhya Kerala Diocese".
  9. ↑ Buchanan, Claudius (1811). "Christian researches in Asia:". Boston: Pub. by Samuel T. Armstrong, Cornhill. [etc., etc.]
  10. ↑ Stephen Neill (2 May 2002). A History of Christianity in India: 1707–1858. Cambridge University Press. pp. 247–249. ISBN 978-0-521-89332-9. Retrieved 31 August 2012. Search this book on
  11. ↑ Susan Bayly – Saints, Goddesses and Kings: Muslims and Christians in South Indian Society – ISBN 0-521-89103-5 Search this book on ., Cambridge University Press, 2004, pp. 281–286
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Tovey, Phillip. "John Munro, Evangelical Christian". Academia.edu. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "History of Cochin Royal Family".
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 McKee, Gary. "Benjamin Bailey and the Call for the Conversion of an Ancient Christian Church in India": 114–134. doi:10.3366/swc.2018.0216. ISSN 1354-9901.
  15. ↑ Stephen Neill (2 May 2002). A History of Christianity in India: 1707–1858. Cambridge University Press. p. 241. ISBN 978-0-521-89332-9. Retrieved 31 August 2012. Search this book on
  16. ↑ Stephen Neill (2 May 2002). A History of Christianity in India: 1707–1858. Cambridge University Press. p. 241. ISBN 978-0-521-89332-9. Retrieved 31 August 2012. Search this book on
  17. ↑ Stephen Neill (2 May 2002). A History of Christianity in India: 1707–1858. Cambridge University Press. pp. 247–249. ISBN 978-0-521-89332-9. Retrieved 31 August 2012. Search this book on
  18. ↑ "A History of the Church of England in India, by Eyre Chatterton (1924)". anglicanhistory.org.
  19. ↑ Stephen Neill (2 May 2002). A History of Christianity in India: 1707–1858. Cambridge University Press. pp. 247–249. ISBN 978-0-521-89332-9. Retrieved 31 August 2012. Search this book on
  20. ↑ "A History of the Church of England in India, by Eyre Chatterton (1924)". anglicanhistory.org.
  21. ↑ McKee, Gary (6 July 2018). "Benjamin Bailey and the Call for the Conversion of an Ancient Christian Church in India". Studies in World Christianity. 24 (2): 114–134. doi:10.3366/swc.2018.0216. ISSN 1354-9901.
  22. ↑ Stephen Neill (2 May 2002). A History of Christianity in India: 1707–1858. Cambridge University Press. pp. 247–249. ISBN 978-0-521-89332-9. Retrieved 31 August 2012. Search this book on
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Heritage – Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church".
  24. ↑ Stephen Neill (2 May 2002). A History of Christianity in India: 1707–1858. Cambridge University Press. pp. 247–249. ISBN 978-0-521-89332-9. Retrieved 31 August 2012. Search this book on
  25. ↑ "A History of the Church of England in India, by Eyre Chatterton (1924)". anglicanhistory.org.
  26. ↑ Stephen Neill (2 May 2002). A History of Christianity in India: 1707–1858. Cambridge University Press. pp. 247–249. ISBN 978-0-521-89332-9. Retrieved 31 August 2012. Search this book on
  27. ↑ "A History of the Church of England in India, by Eyre Chatterton (1924)". anglicanhistory.org.
  28. ↑ "Missionaries led State to renaissance: Pinarayi". Inaugurating on Saturday the valedictory of the bicentenary celebration of the arrival of Church Mission Society (CMS) missionaries to the shores of Kerala, Mr. Vijayan said it was their pioneering work in the fields of education, literature, printing, publishing, women’s education, education of the differently abled and, in general, a new social approach through the inclusion of marginalised sections into the mainstream which brought the idea of ‘equality’ into the realm of public consciousness. This had raised the standard of public consciousness and paved the way for the emergence of the renaissance movements in the State.
  29. ↑ "Kerala to celebrate CMS mission". Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, visited CMS College in Kerala, the oldest college in India, and laid the foundation stone of the bicentenary block. He said, “CMS college is a pioneer of modern education in Kerala. It has been the source of strong currents of knowledge and critical inquiry that have moulded the scholastic and socio-cultural landscape of Kerala and propelled the State to the forefront of social development.”
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Growth of Literacy in Kerala". Economic and Political Weekly: 7–8. 5 June 2015.
  31. ↑ "District Handbooks of Kerala KOTTAYAM" (PDF). web.archive.org. DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS GOVERNMENT OF KERALA. 19 March 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2009. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  32. ↑ Menon, Sreedhara (1996). A survey of Kerala History. Madras: S.Viswanathan Printers and Publishers. pp. 339, 348, 349. ISBN 9788126415786. Archived from the original on 2019-08-24. Retrieved 2019-06-14. Search this book on
  33. ↑ Benjamin Bailiyum Malayala Saahityavum. By Dr. Babu Cherian. Published by the Department of Printing and Publishing, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam.
  34. ↑ "The Church Missionary Atlas (India)". Adam Matthew Digital. 1896. pp. 95–156. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  35. ↑ "District Handbooks of Kerala KOTTAYAM" (PDF). web.archive.org. DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS GOVERNMENT OF KERALA. 19 March 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2009. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  36. ↑ "Missionaries led State to renaissance: Pinarayi". Inaugurating on Saturday the valedictory of the bicentenary celebration of the arrival of Church Mission Society (CMS) missionaries to the shores of Kerala, Mr. Vijayan said it was their pioneering work in the fields of education, literature, printing, publishing, women’s education, education of the differently abled and, in general, a new social approach through the inclusion of marginalised sections into the mainstream which brought the idea of ‘equality’ into the realm of public consciousness. This had raised the standard of public consciousness and paved the way for the emergence of the renaissance movements in the State.
  37. ↑ "Kerala to celebrate CMS mission". Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, visited CMS College in Kerala, the oldest college in India, and laid the foundation stone of the bicentenary block. He said, “CMS college is a pioneer of modern education in Kerala. It has been the source of strong currents of knowledge and critical inquiry that have moulded the scholastic and socio-cultural landscape of Kerala and propelled the State to the forefront of social development.”
  38. ↑ "District Handbooks of Kerala KOTTAYAM" (PDF). web.archive.org. DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS GOVERNMENT OF KERALA. 19 March 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2009. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  39. ↑ Menon, Sreedhara (1996). A survey of Kerala History. Madras: S.Viswanathan Printers and Publishers. pp. 339, 348, 349. ISBN 9788126415786. Archived from the original on 2019-08-24. Retrieved 2019-06-14. Search this book on
  40. ↑ "A History of the Church of England in India, by Eyre Chatterton (1924)". anglicanhistory.org.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 "Kerala window". www.keralawindow.net. Archived from the original on 2017-10-29. Retrieved 2019-06-14.
  42. ↑ Stephen Neill (2 May 2002). A History of Christianity in India: 1707–1858. Cambridge University Press. pp. 247–249. ISBN 978-0-521-89332-9. Retrieved 31 August 2012. Search this book on
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 "CSI Madhya Kerala – CSI Madhya Kerala Diocese".
  44. ↑ Stephen Neill (2 May 2002). A History of Christianity in India: 1707–1858. Cambridge University Press. pp. 247–249. ISBN 978-0-521-89332-9. Retrieved 31 August 2012. Search this book on
  45. ↑ "Lausanne, Lambeth and South India, by N.P. Williams (1930)". anglicanhistory.org.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 "Some Comments on the South India Scheme". anglicanhistory.org.
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 "Church of South India - Oxford Reference".
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 "The Lambeth Conference and the Union of Churches in South India. --". biblehub.com.
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 "Church of South India Contributes to Anglican Communion". www.anglicannews.org.
  50. ↑ "Lausanne, Lambeth and South India, by N.P. Williams (1930)". anglicanhistory.org.
  51. ↑ "The Order of Service for the Inauguration of Church Union in South India (1947)". anglicanhistory.org.
  52. ↑ "The Order of Service for the Inauguration of Church Union in South India (1947)". anglicanhistory.org.
  53. ↑ ""A Church Is Born" Records, 1947 – 1948 Church of South India Inauguration" (PDF).
  54. ↑ "The Church of South India and Reunion in England" (PDF). biblicalstudies.org.uk.
  55. ↑ "The Historic Episcopate IN THE LIGHT OF SOUTH INDIAN EXPERIENCE" (PDF). churchsociety.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-09-24. Retrieved 2019-06-14.
  56. ↑ "A History of the Church of England in India, by Eyre Chatterton (1924)". anglicanhistory.org.
  57. ↑ "THE SYRIAN CHRISTIANS OF KERALA: DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC TRANSITION IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-07-28. Retrieved 2019-06-14.
  58. ↑ "What is the Anglican Communion?". Anglican Communion Website.
  59. ↑ "Church of South India — World Council of Churches". www.oikoumene.org.
  60. ↑ "CSI SYNOD". www.csisynod.com.
  61. ↑ "A History of the Church of England in India, by Eyre Chatterton (1924)". anglicanhistory.org.
  62. ↑ "Divisions and Rites of the Churches". Nasranis.
  63. ↑ "Co-operation with the Protestant Churches". mosc.in.
  64. ↑ "Communion of Churches in India". communionofchurchesinindia.org.in.


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