Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius (Dionysius IV)

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Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius (Dionysius IV)
Metropolitan of the Malankara Church
Enthroned 1825
Ended 1855
Predecessor Punnathra Mar Dionysious (Dionysious III)
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Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius (Dionysius IV) was the twelfth Mar Thoma of the Malankara Church. His tenure was a period of turmoil. The Malankara church severed its relations with the Anglican missionaries; some of its members joined the C.M.S. Church; remaining members were divided into two factions known as Bava Kakshi (also known as Jacobites Church) and Metran Kakshi (later became the Mar Thoma Church). Mar Dionysius was not able to consecrate a successor.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Cheppad is a scenic village in Karthikapally Taluk of Alleppy District in Kerala State, India. It is about halfway between Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram on the National Highway 47. Philipose Mar Dionysius was born in 1781 at the Aanjilimootil family in Pallippad, a place near Cheppad.

[edit] Ordination

Punnathara Mar Dionysius Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XI) died on May 17, 1825. To select a successor representatives of the parishes met together at Pallikara palli under the leadership of Mar Philixinos II of Thozhyoor Church who was the Malankara metropolitan at that time. The names of Cheppad Anjilimootil Philipose Kathanar, Kalloopara Adangapurathu Ouseph Kathanar and Kottayam Eruthickal Markose Kathanar were proposed. After prayer they cast lots (cleromancy), and the lot fell to Philipose Kathanar. He was consecrated as Mar Thoma on August 27, 1825 at Kottayam Cheria palli.[1]

[edit] Malankara Metropolitan

After the demise of Mar Philoxenos II on February 4, 1829, Cheppad Mar Dionysius Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XII) was approved by the governments of Travancore and Cochin, as Malankara Metropolitan on March 20, 1829. (for the purpose of giving interest of the Vattipanam)[2]

[edit] Problems

[edit] Problems with church of Antioch

On November 1825 a bishop named Mar Athanasius arrived from Antioch and claimed that the Malankara church was under the patriarch. Soon there were trouble in parishes, The Diwan (prime minister) and the government made an enquiry and banished him from India, for making trouble in the country and because Malankara church was not under a foreign church. [3][4]

[edit] Problems with C.M.S. Missionaries

The relation between the missionaries who came from England was cordial during the first few years. But soon they began to interfere in the internal affairs of the church. They tried to change the liturgy and practices of the Malankara church to their system. Without permission they began worshiping using Anglican liturgy in Old Seminary chapel. A letter from the bishop of Calcutta in 1835 suggested

  1. to ordain only those who completed their studies from the Seminary and received the certificate from the Principal,
  2. to raise a fund to increase the salary of the priests,
  3. to submit the accounts of the Church every year to the British Resident for annual auditing and
  4. to conduct the church services in vernacular, Malayalam.

The Metropolitan rejected all these suggestions outright. [5] Soon Mar Dionysius convened a meeting of the representatives of the parishes at Mavelikara (January 16, 1836) and proclaimed allegiance to the Patriarch of Antioch.

C.M.S. missionaries formed C.M.S. Church. By a government award known as Cochin Award, they were given a few properties of the Malankara Church. It was at this time Malankara Church got its name Jacobite Church.

[edit] Problems with Abraham Malpan

Abraham Malpan, Mamalaserry Konattu Malpan and Idavazhikkal Philipose Kathanar were fined by the government for receiving ordination a second time from Mar Athanasius, the bishop from Antioch who was later banished.

Mar Dionysius did not support reformation movement initiated by Abraham Malpan and his supporters. Abraham Malpan did not attend the Mavelikara meeting. So Abraham Malpan was excommunicated and it was decided not to ordain his students.

[edit] Consecrations

In 1829, Mar Dionysius consecrated Geevarghese Mar Koorilose (Kuthoorey) (1829-1856), as the Metropolitan of Thozhyoor church.

Cheppad Mar Dionysius was not able to consecrate a successor. But Palakunnathu Mathews, nephew of Abraham Malpan went to Anitoch and was consecrated as Mathews Mar Athanasius by the Patriarch of Antioch in 1843.

In 1846, the Patriarch sent a Metropolitan Euyakim Mar Kurilos to Malankara. In 1852 Mar Dionysius abdicated due to poor health. [6] At this time it was necessary for the government to find the successor of Mar Donysius for the purpose of paying the interest to a fixed deposit (Vattipanam) with the government. Mathews Mar Athanasius and Mar Kurilos made claims. It was finally decided by the government appointed Kollam Panchayat, that a foreign bishop had no authority over the Malankara church. The proclamation was issued on August 30, 1852. After getting the proclamation, Mathews Mar Athanasius first visited Mar Dionysius at Cheppad who gave him a very warm welcome and a number of presents.

Mar Kurilos then made claim to the Thozhyoor church (in 1857). The Madras High court issued the final judgment that the Thozhyoor church was an Independent Malankara church and the Patriarch had no claim over it.

Those who opposed Mathews Mar Athanasius sent Pulikottil Ouseph Kathanar to Antioch who was consecrated as Pulikottil Joseph Mar Dionysius by the Patriarch of Antioch in 1865.

[edit] Last days

After abdicating in 1852, life of Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius became miserable. Mar Athanasius heard about it and rushed to Cheppad, made all arrangements for the comfort of Mar Dionysius. During the time while Valia Methrachen (Mar Dionysius) was bedridden, Mar Athanasius made visits only to the nearby parishes.

Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius died on October 9, 1855. and was laid to rest at Cheppad Valiya palli. The funeral service was conducted by Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan.

12 October marks the annual observance of his death.

Image:Cheppad Church.jpg

Cheppad Valiya palli, the resting place of Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysios, Malankara Metropolitan (1825 - 1855).


[edit] References

  1. ^ Alex Mathew. Kalloopara parish history. Page 112.
  2. ^ N.M.Mathew. Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram, Vol.I. Page 253-254.
  3. ^ T.C.Chacko. Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitra Samgraham. Page 65, 66.
  4. ^ Letter from 22 clergies to the Maharaja of Travancore dated September 13, 1875, para 8
  5. ^ Ittoop writer. (1869) History of Syrian Christians of Malabar. Page 228.
  6. ^ Royal proclamation of August 30,1852, in favour of Mathews Mar Athanasius

[edit] Further Reading

    1. Juhanon Marthoma Metropolitan, The Most Rev. Dr. (1952). Christianity in India and a Brief History of the Marthoma Syrian Church.. Pub: K.M. Cherian.
    2. Zac Varghese Dr. & Mathew A. Kallumpram. (2003). ‘’Glimpses of Mar Thoma Church History’’. London, England. ISBN 81/900854/4/1
    3. Chacko, T.C. (1936) Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charithra Samgraham’’. (Concise History of Marthoma Church), Pub: E.J. Institute, Kompady, Tiruvalla.
    4. Eapen, Prof. Dr. K.V. (2001). ‘’Malankara Marthoma Suryani Sabha Charitram’’. (History of Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church). Pub: Kallettu, Muttambalam, Kottayam.
    5. Ittoop Writer, (1869). ‘’Malayalathulla Suryani Chistianikauleday Charitram’’. (History of Syrain Christians in the land of Malayalam).
    6. Mathew, N.M. ‘’Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram’’, (History of the Marthoma Church), Volume I.(2006), Volume II (2007). Volume III (2008) Pub. E.J.Institute, Thiruvalla

[edit] See Also

[edit] External Links