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HISTORY OF THE MALANKARA MAR THOMA SYRIAN CHURCH
The Mar Thoma Church of India is an Oriental Church born out of the Protestant Reformation. It is the product of Anglican influence on St. Thomas Christians of India during the 18th century. The Church in India founded by St.Thomas the Apostle, remained monolithic till the advent of European missionaries in the 15th century. The efforts of Portuguese Missionaries to Latinize the Church, led to dissension. One group adhered to the Pope while others declared allegiance to the Jacobite Patriarch of Antioch. The latter group was called “Puthencoor”. The Puthencoor group came into close contact with English Protestant missionaries during the period of Mar Thoma VI who was also known as Dionysius I (1765-1808). In 1806-07 chaplains of East India Company visited Tranvancore and Cochin . Col. Manroe, Resident of the British government, also showed much interest in the affairs of the Syrians of Malabar. He helped Ittoop Ramban to start a seminary at Kottayam in 1813.
The Mar Thoma Church is one of the historic Churches of Christendom and belongs to the family the Lesser Eastern Churches.The Mar Thoma Church retains its essential Character of the Eastern Church in its liturgy and mode of worship, its ceremonies, rituals and traditions. It also maintains friendly contacts with some of the Protestant Churches.
The Mar Thoma Church is a part of the Ancient Syrian Church of Malabar, founded in AD 52 as a result of the missionary efforts of St. Thomas, the Apostle. The Mar Thoma Church which began in Kerala is now grown into a church with Parishes all around the Globe. The Head Quarters of the Church is in Thiruvalla, Kerala, India. The Mar Thoma Church has 900,000 members, 708 clergy and 1062 parishes including congregations divided into 11 dioceses. The church has a democratic pattern of administration with a representative assembly (Prathinidhi Mandalam), an executive council and an Episcopal Synod. The Church has been active in the field of education and owns 8 colleges, 6 High er Secondary Schools, 9 High Schools, 15 UP Schools, 117 Primary Schools and one Training School. There are several schools and other educational institutions owned and managed by individual parishes. The Mar Thoma Church have three technical institutions.
The Mar Thoma Church has 30 social welfare institutions, 9 destitute homes, 5 Hospitals, 4 Camp centres and 3 Study centres. The Mar Thoma Theological Seminary and 7 other institutes cater to the theological education of both clergy and the laity. The religious education of the children is looked after by Sunday School Samajam and the work among the youth is carried on by the Yuvajana Sakhyam. The famous Maramon Convention held annually for the last 104 years is a source of great spiritual power and inspiration for innumerable people. As members of the Mar Thoma Church, let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God so that He may exalt us in due time and use us for His glory for the extension of His Kingdom in India and abroad.
Source: www.indianchristianity.org
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