Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
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The Syrian Orthodox Church in India, or commonly known as Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, is a Malankara Archdiocese in Kerala, India. It is affiliated to the Syriac Orthodox Church, with the Patriarch of Antioch, Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, as its supreme head. The local head of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church in Malankara is the Catholicos, Mor Baselios Thomas I, ordained by and accountable to the Patriarch of Antioch. Some estimate that the church has about 2.5 million members globally.
The Church has dioceses in most parts of India as well as in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Western Europe, and the Persian Gulf nations.
Malankara is one of the churches that are part of Saint Thomas Christians, tracing their origins to St. Thomas the Apostle who, according to tradition, came to India in AD 52.
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[edit] Name of the Church
Although the church is officially named, Jacobite Syrian Christian Church[1] it is commonly called the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church. Other names that are in common use are Syrian Orthodox Church in India, Syriac Orthodox Church in India, and Malankara Jacobite Church. The Church is also called Patriarchal faction, because of the disputes with the Methran Faction.
In 2000, a Holy Synod ruled that the name of the church in English should be the "'Syriac Orthodox Church". It had been, and often still is today, called the "Syrian Orthodox Church". The church in India uses the term "Jacobite" as a way to distinguish themselves from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church or Methran Faction.
[edit] Dioceses of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
- Malabar
- Kozhikode
- Thrissur
- Angamali
- Kochi
- Kandanad
- Kottayam
- Idukki
- Knanaya Archdiocese
- Niranam
- Thumpamon
- Kollam
- Greater India
- Middle East
- Europe
- Australia & New Zealand
- Simhasana Churches
- EAE Churches
- Malankara Archdiocese of North America
[edit] Bishops of the Church
The church has 23 Indian bishops:
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[edit] Autonomous dioceses
The North American, Europe Archdiocese, Knanaya Archdiocese, Simhasana, Evangelical Association are under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch. Of these, the last two had been formed as autonomous bodies in the early 20th century, to escape from the onslaught of civil court cases arisen from disputes with the rival Orthodox Church of India. However when the regional Synod of the Church in India is convened, by right, it is the Catholicos Baselios Thomas I who presides.[citation needed]
[edit] Knanaya Arch-diocese
The Knanaya diocese (today an archdiocese) was formed in 1910. Its jurisdiction extends to all Knanaya Jacobite people throughout the world. The diocese was formed in recognition of the endogamous character of the Knanaya people. It was also intended to recognize the leadership and sacrifice of the Knanaya people in establishing and maintaining since 345 A.D. the (Antiochan) orthodox faith in Malankara. The Knanaya Archbishop is a member of the Synod of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, but is part of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church.
[edit] See also
- List of Patriarchs of Antioch - to 518
- List of Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs of Antioch - list from 518
- Saint Thomas Christians (Syrian Malabar Nasrani)
- Catholicos of India
[edit] References
- ^ (1)Content of The Patriarchal Boola No E 149/02 dated July 5, 2002, issued by the Patriarch of Antioch, Ignatious Zakka I was about the formation of Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
[edit] External links
- Jacobite Syrian Church
- Malankara Syriac Christian Resources
- Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christian Network
- History of the Malankara Church
- Malankara Syriac Church
- Shroro - The Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest
- Web site of CNEWA (Catholic Near East Welfare Association)on 8-10-2007
- SOCM-FORUM· Malankara Jacobite's Discussion Forum
- Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christian Association
- Viswasa Samrakshakan
