Apostolic origin Saint Thomas Christian denominations

1 apostolic origin

1.1 rough chronology

1.1.1 1st century
1.1.2 2nd century
1.1.3 4th century
1.1.4 5th century
1.1.5 6th century
1.1.6 7th century
1.1.7 8th century
1.1.8 9th century
1.1.9 10th century
1.1.10 11th century
1.1.11 13th century
1.1.12 14th century
1.1.13 15th century
1.1.14 16th century
1.1.15 17th century
1.1.16 18th century
1.1.17 19th century
1.1.18 20th century
1.1.19 21st century


1.2 history

apostolic origin

according 1st century annals of pliny elder , author of periplus of erythraean sea, muziris in kerala reached in 40 days time egyptian coast purely depending on south west monsoon winds. sangam works puranaooru , akananooru have many lines speak of roman vessels , roman gold used come kerala ports of great chera kings in search of pepper , other spices, had enormous demand in west.

the lure of spices attracted traders middle east , europe many trading ports of keralaputera (kerala) — tyndis, (ponnani ), muziris, near kodungallur, nelcynda (niranam), bacare, belitha, , comari (kanyakumari) long before time of christ. thomas apostle in 1 of these ships, arrived @ muziris in 52, e’zion-ge’ber on red sea. started gospel mission among jews @ maliyankara on sea coast.

jews living in kerala time of solomon. later, large numbers of them arrived in 586 bc , 72 ad. drawings , captions on wall of remaining jewish synagogue in kerala, @ mattancherry, kochi near ernakulam endorse these facts.

its traditionally believed during stay in kerala, apostle baptized jews , of wise men adored infant jesus. apostle established 7 , half churches in malabar @ kodungalloor (muziris), paravur, palayoor, kokkamangalam, niranam, nilackal, kollam, , thiruvithamcode arappally in kanyakumari district.

the apostle preached in other parts of india. visit of apostle thomas these places , mylapore on east coast of india can read in ramban songs of thomas ramban, set moc , 1500. martyred in 72 @ little mount, little distant st. thomas mount, , buried @ san thome, near modern city of chennai. body of apostle thomas translated edessa, iraq. in ortona, italy. relics of apostle thomas translated san thome cathedral in chennai , st thomas church in palayur, near guruvayoor @ chavakkad taluk, thrissur district in kerala.

several ancient writers mention india scene of st. thomas’ labours. ephrem syrian (300–378) writes in forty-second of carmina nisibina apostle put death in india, , remains subsequently buried in edessa, brought there merchant. st. ephraem in hymn relics of st. thomas @ edessa depicts satan exclaiming, apostle whom killed in india comes meet me in edessa. gregory nazianzen, (329–389), in homily says; what! not apostles foreigners? granting judea country of peter, had saul gentiles, luke achaia, andrew epirus, thomas india, mark italy?. ambrose (340–397) writes when lord jesus said apostles, go , teach nations, kingdoms had been shut off barbaric mountains lay open them india thomas, persia mathew.

there other passages in ancient liturgies , martyrologies refer work of st. thomas in india. these passages indicate tradition st. thomas died in india widespread among churches.

an icon of st.thomas

many writers have mentioned apostle established 7 “and half” churches in malabar. are:

doctrine of apostles states that, india , countries . . . received apostle’s hand of priesthood judas thomas…. 345 ad, when knanaya christians arrived persia, had continued relationship home church in persia, established st. thomas apostle.

rough chronology

the mar thoma syro-malabar catholic church, kodungaloor, kerala, india. believed 1 of 7 churches built st. thomas.



the champakkulam catholic church,



kottakkavu mar thoma syro-malabar pilgrim church (old), north paravur, founded st. thomas apostle , rebuilt mar sabor , mar proth in 9th century



kothamangalam st. marys church or valiya pally

|thumb|kottakkavu mar thoma syro-malabar pilgrim church (new), north paravur]]

the st. mary s orthodox church, niranam, kerala. believed 1 of 7 churches said built thomas.



the st. thomas syro-malabar catholic church, kokkamangalam, kerala. believed 1 of 7 churches said built thomas.



thiruvithamcode arappally or st. mary s orthodox church, said founded thomas in 63. known arapalli, short form of arachan palli (king’s church).



thompamon valia pally or st. mary s orthodox church, built in ad 717.



st mary s syro-malabar catholic church, kudamaloor built king of chempakassery in ad 1125

following rough chronology of events associated st. thomas christianity.

1st century

30 crucifixion of jesus.
40 apostle thomas in service of king gondophares in takshasila in pakistan.
52 apostle thomas, landed @ muziris near paravur, ancient port city of malabar (present-day kerala).
52–72 apostle founded 8 churches: palayoor, kodungaloor, paravur, kothamangalam, niranam, nilackal, kollam , thiruvithamcode half church . [other claimants half church status malayattoor , athirappalli].six of churches preserved (see pictures). church @ kollam believed have been submerged in sea, possibly following tidal waves, while actual location of church @ chayal has not been identified conclusively. church @ palayoor also, identified wrongly, historians conclude, original town palayoor present day arthat.
64 formation of malankara church.
72 apostle thomas attained martyrdom @ st. thomas mount in chennai , buried on site of san thome cathedral.

2nd century

190 pantaenus, founder of famous catechetical school of alexandria, visited india , nasranis. found local people using gospel according matthew in hebrew language. took hebrew text library @ school in alexandria.

4th century

325 archbishop john, of persia , great india, @ first ecumenical council of nicea.
325 kadampanad church (st.thomas orthodox syrian cathedral) built settlers chayal (nilackel)
345 thomas of cana landed @ cranganore 72 families.
345kuravilangad church (now martha mariam catholic church) built first settlers came kodungalloor.
arrival of mar joseph of edessa.

5th century

400 st. john nepumsian s forane church, parappukkara built, devoted mother mary.

6th century

510 udayamperoor (diamper) church built mar thoma nasranis (saint thomas christians). church under syro-malabar catholic archdiocese of ernakulam-angamaly
522 cosmas indicopleustes visited south india.

7th century

marthoma christians constructed kolenchey st. peter s , st. paul s church around ad 650

8th century

717 thumpamon st. mary s orthodox syrian church founded.
722 karingachira st. george s syrian orthodox church founded
774 emperor veera raghava gives copperplate iravikorthan.

9th century

824 beginning of kollavarsham (malayalam era).first tharissapalli sasanam (copper plate) stanu ravi gupta perumaal nasranis.
824 persia. mar sabor , mar afroth @ quilon.
849 deed given king ayann adikal thiruvadikal of venad, easow-data-veeran (tharisapalli plates) grants 72 royal privileges of nasranis in nasranis signed in 3 languages hebrew, pahlavi , kufic.

10th century

905 pallikkara, st. mary’s syrian orthodox church
999 marth mariam syro-malabar catholic forane church, arakuzha founded.
999 thazhekad sasanam written in pali language canonical language of buddhists, nasranies granted special rights , privileges.

11th century

1100-1125 st.thomas christians built marthoman syrian orthodox church @ mulanthuruthy.
1125 kudamaloor st. mary s syro-malabar catholic church, believed built king of chempakasserry.

13th century

1225 north pudukkad church founded.
1293 marco polo, venetian traveler, visited tomb of st. thomas (at mylapore).

14th century

1325 enammavu church founded.
1328 st. george s syro-malabar catholic forane church, edappally founded.
1339 kallooppara church (st mary s orthodox church) founded
1342 pazhuvil church founded
1375 velayanadu church founded

15th century

1490 2 nestorian bishops john , thomas in kerala.
1494 june 7 treaty of tordesillas. division of world , mission lands between spain , portugal.
1498 may 20 vasco de gama lands @ kappad near kozhikode.
1499 cabral’s fleet carried vicar, 8 secular priests, , 8 franciscans kozhikode,
1499. in calicut, friars reputedly converted brahman , leading nayars.

16th century

1502 november 7 vasco de gama s second visit cochin.
1503 dominican priests @ kochi.
1503 mar yabella, mar denaha , mar yakoob persia in kerala.
1503 september 27 work commenced on cochin fort , santa cruz church .
1514 portuguese padroado begun.
1514 jewish migration kodungalloor kochi.
1514 june 12 portuguese funchal rule on christians in india.
1524 december 24 vasco de gama buried @ st. francis church, fort cochin.
1534 november 3 goa catholic diocese erected. parishes of kannur, cochin, quilon, colombo , sao tome (madras) belonged it.
1540 franciscan fr.vincent de lagos starts cranganore seminary.
1542 may 6 st. francis xavier, apostolic nuncio in east, reaches goa.
1544–45 st. francis xavier in travancore.
1548 dominican monastery founded in cochin.
1549 mar abuna jacob, chaldean bishop, stayed @ st. antonio monastery, cochin.
1550 first jesuit house in kochi.
1552 december 3 death of st. francis xavier.
1555 mattancherry palace built portuguese king of cochin.
1557 pope paul iv erects diocese of cochin. canonization process of francis xavier begun @ cochin.
1565 archdiocese of angamaly erected.
1567 jews constructed temple @ mattancherry
1568 synagogue of white jews built in cochin.
1570 mar hormiz syro-malabar catholic church, angamaly founded.
1577 vaippicotta seminary of jesuits started.
1579 augustinians reached cochin.
1580 kallissery st. mary s knanaya syrian orthodox church established
1583 synod @ angamaly bishop mar abraham.
1597 bishop mar abraham, last foreign archbishop, died , laid rest @ st. hormis church, angamaly.
1599 december 20 fr. francis roz declared bishop of angamaly.
1599 june 20–26 archbishop alexis menezes convenes synod of diamper (udayamperoor).

17th century

1600 august 4 padroado rule imposed on nasranis.
1601 francis roz appointed first latin bishop of st. thomas christians.
1609 december 3 erection of diocese of cranganore. archdiocese of angamaly suppressed.
1610 december 22 metropolitan of goa limits pastoral jurisdiction of nasranis malabar.
1624 dominican seminary @ kaduthuruthy.
1626 february 5 edappally ashram started religious community of st. thomas christians
1652 august 23 mar ahatallah in madras, not allowed enter kerala.
1653 january 3 coonan cross oath @ mattancherry, cochin.
1653 may 22 malankara mooppen (elder)thomas kathanar, ordained mar thoma @ alangad laying of hands 12 priests.
1653–1670 mar thoma i.
1657 apostolic commissary joseph of st. mary ocd (sebastiani), carmelite, in malabar.
1659 december 3 vicariate of malabar erected pope alexander vii.
1659 december 24 joseph sebastini bishop , appointed vicar apostolic of malabar.
1663 january 6 dutch conquer cochin , destroy catholic churches , institutions in cochin, except cathedral , church of st. francis assisi.
1665 mar gregorius abdul jaleel, believed antioch confirms consecration of marthoma i.
1670–1686 mar thoma ii.portuguese starts campaigning bring nasranis again under catholicism.
1682 seminary syrians @ verapoly.
1685 eldho mor baselios of syrian orthodox church arrives @ kothamangalam persia.
1686 hortus malabaricus in 12 volumes printed in 17 years. mathoma iii ordained mar ivanios hirudyathulla (from antioch).
1686–1688 mar thoma iii.
1688–1728 mar thoma iv.

18th century

1709 march 13 vicariate of malabar suppressed , vicariate of verapoly erected pope clement xi.
1718–1723 ollur st. anthony s syro-malabar catholic forane church established.
1728–1765 mar thoma v.
1765–1808 mar thoma vi (dionysius i)
1772 first malayalam book sampskhepa vedartham (rome) clement pianius.
1773 pope clement xiv suppresses jesuit order, except in russia , prussia.
1782 december 16 kariyattil joseph elected archbp. of cranganore; consecr. lisbon 1783; died goa on way malabar, 9 september 1786.
1785 varthamanappusthakam, first written travelogue in india paremakkal thoma kathanar.
1795 october 20 conquest of cochin british.

19th century

1808–1809 mar thoma vii.
1809–1816 mar thoma viii.
1816 mar thoma ix.
1815 march – first educational institution in kerala, syrian seminary, opens @ kottayam abraham malpan, (syriac), konattu varghese malpan (syriac) , kunjan assan (sanskrit) teachers.
1816 c.m.s missionaries in kerala.
1816 9 months. mar thoma x – pulikkottil joseph mar dionysious (dionysious ii).
1816–1817 mar philoxenos ii, kidangan, of malabar independent syrian church (thozhiyoor sabha) malankara metropolitan.
1817–1825 mar thoma xi- punnathra mar dionysious (dionysious iii).
1825–1852 mar thoma xii – cheppad philipose mar dionysius (dionysius iv).
1836 6,000 - 12,000 jacobites joined anglican c.m.s. church (later joined other similar churches form church of south india).
1838 april 24 dioceses of cochin , crnaganore annexed vicariate of verapoly.
1838 queen of portugal suppressed religious orders in portugal , in mission lands.
1840 april 10 kerala syrian catholics came under archdiocese of verapoly.
1852–1877 mar thoma xiii -mathews mar athanasius metropolitan.
1861 may 20 bishop rocos sent patriarch of chaldea reaches kerala.
1864–1909. pulikkottil joseph mar dionysious ii (dionysious v) malankara metropolitan, jacobite church.
1867 may 7 property donated syrians king of portugal start seminary @ aluva. administered diocese of cochin.
1867 portuguese missionaries start seminary @ mangalapuzha syrian students.
1874 bishop mar elias mellus sent patriarch of chaldea reaches kerala – mellus schism.
1875 june-hh patriarch of antioch peter iii arrives in kerala.
1876 june 28–30 hh patriarch of antioch peter iii convenes mulanthuruthy synod. section of saint thomas christians came under jurisdiction
1877–1893 mar thoma xiv – thomas mar athanasius metropolitan, malankara marthoma metropolitan.
1886 archdiocese of cranganore suppressed.
1887 may 19 st. thomas christians totally segregated jurisdiction of archbishop of verapoly , padroado.
1893–1910 mar thoma xv – titus mar thoma metropolitan, malankara marthoma metropolitan.

20th century

1909–1934 st. geevarghese mar dionysius of vattasseril (dionysius vi), malankara metropolitan, jacobite church.

1910–1944 mar thoma xvi – titus ii mar thoma metropolitan, malankara marthoma metropolitan.
1911–1917 paulose mor koorilose kochuparambil. malankara metropolitan of jacobite syrian orthodox church.)
1912, 15 september patriarch hh abdul messiah, patriarch of antiochea established catholicate of east @ niranam st. mary’s church.
1912–1914 moran mor baselios paulose i, malankara (indian) orthodox catholicos
1917–1953 st. paulose mor athanasius (valiya thirumeni, malankara metropolitan of jacobite syrian orthodox church.)
1923 december 21 reinstated syro malabar catholic church hierarchy syrian catholics ernakulam metropolitan see, archbishop mar augustine kandathil metropolitan , head of church, , trichur, changanacherry , kottayam sufragan sees.
1925–1928 moran mor baselios geevarghese i, malankara (indian) orthodox catholicos.
1927 march 19 varghese payyappilly palakkappilly founded congregation of sisters of destitute.
1929 october 5 death of mar varghese payyappilly palakkappilly.
1929–1934 moran mor baselios geevarghese ii, malankara (indian) orthodox catholicos.
1930 september 20 mar ivanios mar theophilus left malankara orthodox church, joined catholic church , formed syro-malankara catholic church.
1931 mor elias iii, patriarch of antioch , east left mosul on 6 february 1931 accompanied mor clemis yuhanon abbachi, rabban quryaqos (later mor ostathios quryaqos), , rabban yeshu` samuel, secretary zkaryo shakir , translator elias ghaduri. set sail india on 28 february 1931 basra.
1932 moran mor elias iii, patriarch of antioch , east buried near st. stephen’s church manjanikkara on sunday 13 february
1932 june 11 establishment of syro-malankara catholic hierarchy pope pius xi. mar ivanios becomes archbishop of trivandrum, , mar theophilus bishop of tiruvalla.
1934 malankara syrian church accepts new constitution.
1934–1964 moran mor baselios geevarghese ii, malankara (indian) orthodox catholicose of east & malankara metropolitan).
1944–1947 mar thoma xvii – abraham mar thoma metropolitan, malankara marthoma metropolitan.
1947–1976 mar thoma xviii – juhanon mar thoma metropolitan, malankara marthoma metropolitan.
1947 november 2 bishop gheevarghese mar gregorios of parumala declared first native indian saint along catholicos baselios eldho.
1950 july 18 portuguese padroado on diocese of cochin (from 1557 4 february till 1950 july 18) suppressed , diocese of cochin handed on native clergy.
1952 december 28–31 jubilee celebration of st. thomas , st. francis xavier @ ernakulam.
1961 january 26 st. thomas evangelical church inaugurated (separated mar thoma syrian church of malabar)
1964–1975 moran mor baselios augen i, malankara orthodox catholicose of east & malankara metropolitan).
1972 fraction split in malankara syrian church jacobite fraction (in favour of full submission antiochian patriarch) , orthodox fraction (in favour of autocephaly).
1972 december 27, 19th centenary of martydom of st. thomas apostle celebrated @ ernakulam under auspices of orthodox, catholic, jacobite, marthoma , c.s.i. churches.
1973 july 3 governor of kerala , cardinal release st. thomas stamp , t.en.ii sale.
1975–1991 moran mor baselios mar thoma mathews i, malankara (indian) orthodox catholicose of east & malankara metropolitan).
1975–1996 aboon mor baselios paulose ii, malankara syriac orthodox (jacobite) catholicoi , malankara metropolitan
1976-1999mar thoma xix – alexander mar thoma metropolitan, malankara marthoma metropolitan.
1986 1–10 february visit of pope john paul ii india.
1986 8 february fr. chavara kuriakose elias , sr. alphonsa proclaimed blessed pope john paul ii.
1991–2005 moran mor baselios mar thoma mathews ii (catholicose of east & malankara metropolitan).
1999–2007 mar thoma xx – philipose mar chrysostom mar thoma metropolitan, malankara marthoma metropolitan.

21st century

2002 aboon mor baselios thomas appointed metropolitan trustee of jacobite syrian church , catholicose under patriarch of antioch.
2005 moran mor baselios mar thoma didymos i, enthroned catholicose of east & malankara metropolitan.
2005 february 10 pope john paul ii elevated archdiocese of trivandrum major archdiocese, elevating archbishop major archbishop (called catholicos syro-malankara catholics)
2007 mar thoma xxi – joseph mar thoma metropolitan enthroned malankara marthoma metropolitan.
2007 december 25 different fractions merged in st. thomas evangelical church(church , fellowship fraction)
2009 september 6 mar varghese payyappilly palakkappilly declared servant of god.
2010 november 1 moran mor baselios mar thoma paulose ii, enthroned catholicose of east & malankara metropolitan.
2012 february 18 mar george alencherry (malayalam: ആലഞ്ചേരീല്‍ മാര്‍ ഗീവര്‍ഗിസ്) appointed oriental (eastern) cardinal of syro-malabar catholic church. elected syro malabar catholic church holy synod, , ratified pope benedict xvi, mar george allencherry current major archbishop of ernakulam-angamaly succeeding mar varkey vithayathil.
2012 november 24 moran mor baselios cardinal cleemis catholicos (malayalam: മോറന്‍ മോര്‍ ബസേലിയോസ് കര്‍ദിനാള്‍ ക്ലിമ്മിസ് കാതോലിക്ക ബാവ) head of syro-malankara catholic church , appointed cardinal of universal church. elected syro-malankara catholic church holy synod in 2005, ecclesial communion confirmed pope benedict xvi. cleemis succeeded moran mor baselios cyril major archbishop-catholicos of trivandrum.

early history

icon depicting emperor constantine (centre) , bishops of first council of nicaea (325) holding niceno–constantinopolitan creed of 381.

doctrine of apostles states that, india , countries . . . received apostle’s hand of priesthood judas thomas…. period church of st. thomas christians came lifelong relationship church of east, established thomas apostle according christian writings. primate or metropolitan of persia consecrated bishops indian church, brought indirectly under control of seleucia.

the church of east traces origins see of seleucia-ctesiphon, said founded thomas apostle. other founding figures saint mari , saint addai evidenced in doctrine of addai , holy qurbana of addai , mari. original christian church in once parthia: eastern iraq , iran. see of seleucia-ctesiphon developing within persian empire, @ east of christian world, rapidly took different course other eastern christians.

the first council of nicaea, held in nicaea in bithynia (present-day İznik in turkey), convoked roman emperor constantine in 325, first ecumenical council of christian church, , resulted in first uniform christian doctrine, called nicene creed. documented mar john, bishop of great india attended council. prelate signs himself john persian presiding on churches in whole of persia , great india. centuries following, persian church suffered severe persecutions. persecuted christians , bishops, @ least on 2 occasions, sought asylum in malabar.

the rock crosses of kerala found @ st.thomas mount , throughout malabar coast has inscriptions in pahlavi , syriac. dated before 8th century.

in 825, arrival of 2 bishops documented, mar sapor , mar prodh. le quien says these bishops chaldaeans , had come quilon after foundation. men illustrious sanctity, , memory held sacred in malabar church. constructed many churches and, during lifetime, christian religion flourished in kingdom of diamper.

the beginning of kolla varsham resulted in origin of christianity in kerala individual religion outside vedic vaishnavism