Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christian Church

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Jacobite Syrian Christian Church aka Malankara Syrian Church (Malayalam: Malankara Suriyani Sabha) (so called after its association with Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch) commonly and erroneously referred to as the Jacobites , is an integral part of the Syriac Orthodox Church; located in Kerala, India. The Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, Ignatius Aphrem II, is its supreme head. It functions as an autonomous Indian church within the Syriac Orthodox church with a provincial episcopal synod, under the authority of the Catholicos of India present Baselios Thomas I, ordained by and accountable to the Patriarch of Antioch. . It is a part of the Saint Thomas Christian community, which traces its origin to the evangelistic activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Historically, the Saint Thomas Christians were united in leadership and liturgy, and were part of the Syriac Orthodox Church centred in Persia.^[6][7] From the 16th century the Portuguese Jesuits attempted to subject the community fully into the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. Resentment of these measures led the community to a swearing never to submit to the Portuguese in the famous Coonan Cross Oath event in 1653. Later many deflected back to the Roman Catholic faith. The part of the St.Thomas church that followed Parambil Thomas Kathanar aka Mar Thoma I is known as the Malankara Church.

After the request of Malankara Church, Gregorios Abdal Jaleel of Jerusalem, established first Archdeacon for Malankara Church.The Malankara synod convened by the Mar Dionysius at Mavelikkara on 16 January 1836, accepted the supremacy of the Church of Antioch. They also stated that only bishops permitted by the Patriarch, had the authority over the Malankara Church. Over time, however, relations soured between the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs and the local hierarchy, particularly after Patriarch Ignatius Peter IV (reigned 1872—1894) demanded registered deeds for the transfer of properties. In 1912, a synod led by the Patriarch Ignatius Abdal Masih II, who had been controversially deposed by the Ottoman government,^[8][9] consecrated Evanios as Catholicos of the East, under the name Baselios Paulose I. The faction that supported Baselios Paulose became what is now the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, while those who supported the new Patriarch, Ignatius Abded Aloho II, who opposed that consecration, became the Jacobite Church. In 2002, Supreme Court appointed a Judge ( Justice Malimat ) to organise the Malankara Association to elect and select their Malankara Metropolitan but a section of people under the leadership of Baselios Thomas gathered at Puthencruz officially at the same time and proclaimed Baselios Thomas as Catholicos. By the permission of Patriarch, later he went Lebanon and met Patriarch of Antioch to have apostolic blessings cementing his place as Catholicos. Attempts by church leaders and two Supreme Court decisions were unable to resolve the contention, and the two churches operate independently today.

As part of the Syriac Orthodox communion the church uses the West Syrian liturgy and is part of the Oriental Orthodox group of churches. It has dioceses in most parts of India as well as in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Western Europe, and the Persian Gulf nations. In 2003 it was estimated that the church has 80,000 members globally.^[10] The members of the Church are known as Nazaranis.

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Saint Thomas Christians മാർത്തോമാ നസ്രാണികൾ
Alternate names
Nasrani · Mar Thoma Nasrani · Syrian Christians
History
Saint Thomas · Thomas of Cana · Mar Sabor and Mar Proth · Tharisapalli plates · Synod of Diamper · Coonan Cross Oath
Religion
Ancient crosses · Churches · Shrines · Liturgical language · Church music
Prominent persons
Abraham Malpan · Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar · Kayamkulam Philipose Ramban · Kuriakose Elias Chavara · Mar Thoma I · Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly · Sadhu Kochoonju Upadesi · Kariattil Mar Ousep · Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril · Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala · Ignatius Elias III · Geevarghese Mar Ivanios · Saint Alphonsa · Yeldho Mar Baselios · Euphrasia Eluvathingal · Thoma of Villarvattom
Culture
Margam Kali · Parichamuttukali · Cuisine · Suriyani Malayalam

Name

The legal name of the autonomous body of the Syriac Orthodox Church in India is the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church. It is also known as the Malankara Syrian Church. The local Episcopal synod is led by the Catholicos of India . The Catholicos is ordained by and accountable to the Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church. The Patriarch holds both temporal and spiritual control where the Catholicate has jurisdiction, however restricts exercising temporal power due to the nature of affairs and independent history of the church. However, the Indian section or its bishops including its local head has absolutely no say or voting rights in the selection of the Patriarch of Antoich.

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 current legal name and inclusion of the term "Jacobite" as a way of distinguish themselves from the other faction known as the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (Indian Orthodox Church) or Methran Kakshi as well as to prevent the transference of churches to the other in legal disputes.

Historically, the Syrian Christians of India were organized as a body known as the Syrian Church. When the faith, traditions, and practice of the Syriac Orthodox Church were integrated it became the Orthodox Syrian Church in keeping with how the phrase would be said in the grammar of Malayalam. Afterwards, the name was known as Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, a direct English transliteration/translation of the phrase Malankaralayulla Orthodox Suriyani Sabha. However, when some leadership, including the "Catholicose" at the time and several laypeople of this body broke away from the Syriac Orthodox Church resulting in the fracture of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Malankara, the remaining leadership and faithful reorganized under the name that was traditionally used as an insult for the global Syriac Orthodox Church, the word Jacobite.

Due to its keeping with Cyrillian phrasing of the nature of Christ, the Syriac Church of Antioch and the Coptic Church of Alexandria rejected the Council of Chalcedon and was branded as heretics by the churches of Rome and Constantinople. In this first division of the Christian Church, these two former patriarchates and their churches were persecuted resulting in the near elimination of the Syriac Orthodox Church. It, however, continued to remain and survived due to the instrumental efforts of Jacob Baradaeus. Thus, the church was called Jacob-ites by other Chalcedonian churches to insinuate that the church was new body that formed under Jacob Baradaeus rather than then direct continuation of the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate of Antioch.

The Semitic approach of evening and morning are used to mark the observations of fasting and prayer and the preparation for the Eucharist. However, the Malayalam Calendar was used to make the more recent religious events such establishment dates of churches, houses and gravestones until recently. Now that practice has virtually ceased in favor of the standard Western, Gregorian calendar.

Malankara Syrian Church Sunday School Text Book

Headquarters

Patriarch Ignatius Zaka I Iwas Centre - Patriarchal Centre: The headquarters of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church in India

Puthencruz is the headquarters of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church in India. The headquarters is situated near the St. Peter's and St. Paul's Jacobite Syrian church. Its headquarters is named after the illustrious Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas. The property was bought and built under the leadership of the Catholicos of India Baselios Thomas I, after the church faced difficulties in continuing its functioning from its base at Muvattupuzha with the demise of Catholicos Baselios Paulose II. Within a short time this religious centre rose to significance inside the community and state.

The Catholicossate chapel is named after Poulose Mor Athanasius of Aluva and under the chapel is situated the space for tombs for the use of future Catholicos of the church. An Arts and Science college named after Mor Athanasius of Aluva is also run in the premises of the Zakka centre. It is the place where Akhila Malankara Suvisesha Yogam, the official gospel convention of the community, that is generally conducted from 26 to 31 December of every year. The official publishing house of the church, JSC Publishers and JSC News, the official media of the church are also a part of the large complex.Its subsidiary institutions such as the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Sunday School Association (MJSSA) is also based in Puthencruz.

History

^[11]

Thomas the Apostle is credited by tradition for founding the Indian Church in 52 AD.^{[1][12][13][14]} This "Nasrani" faith had many similarities to ancient Judaism, see also Jewish Christianity, and owing to the heritage of the Nasrani people, developed contacts with the Nestorian religious authorities of Edessa, Mesopotamia.

The local church maintained its autonomous character under its local leader. When the Portuguese established themselves in India in the 16th century, they found the Church in Kerala as an administratively independent community. Following the arrival of Vasco de Gama in 1498, the Portuguese came to South India and established their political power there. They brought missionaries to carry out evangelistic work in order to establish churches in communion with Rome under the Portuguese patronage. These missionaries were eager to bring the Indian Church under the Pope's control. They succeeded in their efforts in 1599 with the Synod of Diamper. The representatives of various parishes who attended the assembly were forced by Portuguese authorities to accept the Papal authority.

Following the synod, the Indian Church was governed by Portuguese prelates. They were generally unwilling to respect the integrity of the local church. This resulted in disaffection which led to a general revolt in 1653 known as the "Coonan Cross Oath".Under the leadership of their elder Thomas, Nazranis around Cochin gathered at Mattancherry church on Friday, 24 January 1653 (M.E. 828 Makaram 3) and made an oath that is known as the Great Oath of Bent Cross. The following oath was read aloud and the people touching a stone-cross repeated it loudly. By the Father, Son and Holy Spirit that henceforth we would not adhere to the Franks, nor accept the faith of the Pope of Rome.^[15] This reference from the The Missionary Register of 1822 seems to be the earliest reliable document available. Those who were not able to touch the cross tied ropes on the cross, held the rope in their hands and made the oath. Because of the weight it is believed by the followers that the cross bent a little and so it is known as "Oath of the bent cross" (Coonen Kurisu Sathyam). This demanded administrative autonomy for the local church. Since it had no bishop, it faced serious difficulties. It appealed to several eastern Christian churches for help. The Antiochene Syrian Patriarch responded and sent metropolitan Mar Gregorios of Jerusalem to India in 1665. He confirmed Marthoma I as the bishop and worked together with him to organize the Church.

Faith and traditions

The Jacobite Syrian Church accepts only three Ecumenical Synods namely Nicea (A.D.325), Constantinople (A.D. 381) and Ephesus (A. D. 431) as the universal Synods. The Church meticulously observe all faith declaration of the Nicean Creed. The western church at a later stage appended a statement to this creed attributing the Holy Ghost to be originating from Son also, Filioque which we do not accept. The Church was totally merged with the divine element and became one Monophysite.The church believes that Jesus Christ is one Person out of two natures namely human and divine. He is perfect man and perfect God. But Western Church had wrongly construed us Monophysites. This was an unfortunate error that creeped into the Werstern Church History. But this anomaly was removed as a result of the deliberations at Vienna under the auspices of Pro-Orienete'.The faith of Oriental Orthodoxy like Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian and Indian Church are in line with the beliefs of Syrian Churches. The Holy church assiduously teach its members that the Church is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostholic enshrined with all elements of full-fledged Church and it paves way for salvation and that it is the duty of each member to obey the directions of the Church. The sacramental rites such as Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Confession, Priestly Orders, Matrimony and Sacrament to sick are held sacred and the members have ardent belief in their efficacy. Among those the first three rites are not only given together but are most important and each member has to partake in these without fail.

Baptism

Holy Baptism of Syriac orthodox church in India

The Syrian Church believes in infant baptism. Hot and cold water mixed together is used for baptism.

Eucharist

Catholicos Baselios Thomas I Celebrated Holy Mass

The Eucharist is believed to represent the Body and Blood of Christ. But we do not accept the 'transubstatiation' of the Roman Catholic Church , whereby the bread and wine transmuted into the very Body and Blood of Christ. Leavened bread and wine are used in the Eucharist and given to the believers as the sacred Body and Blood.The departed souls are remembered in prayers and Holy Eucharist is conducted in their memory. There is another practice of annually celebrating the day of demise of any person at his house with prayer and offering of incense at the tomb.

Holy Bible

The Holy Bible is revered as the word of God. Every Sundays and other sacred days, Bible is invariably read. During the sacramental rites and common prayers the Bible is read by the priest and as a mark of reverence candles are lit and held either sides. The traditions of the church that have been handed down by the early Church Fathers are revered fervently and observed strictly as that of Bible. The Holy Bible and the traditions of the Church are esteemed as the criteria of the Church's faith.

Bible in Syriac tradition

Syriac Orthodox Churches use the Peshitta (Syriac: simple, common) as its Bible. The Old Testament books of this Bible were translated from Greek to Syriac between the late 1st century to the early 3rd century AD.^[16]

The Old Testament of the Peshitta was translated from the Hebrew, probably in the 2nd century. The New Testament of the Peshitta, which originally excluded certain disputed books, had become the standard by the early 5th century, replacing two early Syriac versions of the gospels.

Saint Mary and Saints

An ancient painting of the Saint Mary in the Rajadhiraja St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Piravom

St.Mary is the perpetual virgin and mother of God who is esteemed as the first among the saints. Inercessory prayers are offered in the names of the Saints, Churches are built in their venerated memory and their relies are honored and their memories are celebrated Conception for St. Mary is not accepted by the Syrian Church.

Lent

The Church teaches that observing lent, refraining from rich food is good for the spiritual awakening. The Church observes every Wednesday and Friday as day of lent. Also there are five lent annually such as 50 days lent before Easter, the lent of Apostles the lent in the name of St.Mary, the lent before Christmas and the 3 day lent (Nineweh).

Apostolic Benediction and succession

The church believes that it receives Apostolic Benediction and succession through the Patriarchs seated on the throne of St.Peter at Antioch and the Patriarchs are the successors of St. Peter. The Apostolic laying on the hands is regarded to be absolutely essential for the Order of Priesthood. Those priest who have received such ordination only have the authority to perform liturgy and give sacraments.

confession

The church teaches the priest to be the designate of Christ and as such he is empowered to forgive sins. The believers make secret confession before the priest forgives the sins in the name of Christ. The Church asserts the need for marriage to those priests who are Vicars of Parishes. But the bishops are unmarried and must adhere to celibacy. The Priests are not allowed to remarry. The Church also preaches that matrimony is sacred and marriage relation is undissolvable.

Holy Oil

The Sick are anointed with sacred oil for recuperation and atonement of sins. Basically this sacrament has been conceived for the healing of the sick, but it is now generally misunderstood and observed as the last sacrament.

The Major Feasts

The church expects its members to observe Sunday and sacred days as holy and to refrain from routine engagements. Traditionally there are nine such sacred days a year and they are Christmas, Baptisam of Jesus, His entry into the Church, Gabriel's Announcement to St. Mary of the impending birth of the saviour, Ascension, Transfiguration, Feast of Cross, the ascension of St. Mary the mother of God and remembrance of St. Peter & St. Paul. In addition to these, other important occasions are St.Thomas day. Passover, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Resurrection during Passion Week.

Worship

The Syrians do not worship idols but the pictures of Jesus, St. Mary and other Saints are displayed in the Churches and houses. During Prayer, facing east ward is the practice. The monks in monasteries should pray seven times and the laity twice daily. It is also specified that only canonical prayers can be used in public worship.

Prayer

Dayroyo Naseeho Very Rev. Phinehas Monk of malecruz Dayara

Syriac Orthodox clergy and some devout laity follow a regimen of seven prayers a day, in accordance with Psalm 119.^[17] According to the Syriac Tradition, an ecclesiastical day starts at sunset:

• Evening or Ramsho prayer (Vespers)
• Night prayer or Sootoro prayer (Compline)
• Midnight or Lilyo prayer (Matins)
• Morning or Saphro prayer (Prime or Lauds, 6 a.m.)
• Third Hour or tloth sho`in prayer (Terce, 9 a.m.)
• Sixth Hour or sheth sho`in prayer (Sext, noon)
• Ninth Hour or tsha` sho'in prayer (None, 3 p.m.)

Belief

The church believes in the second coming of Jesus and in the last judgment when the righteous would be rewarded with eternal heavenly tranquility and the wicked will be banished to perpetual hell.

Monasticism

Malecruz Dayaro (Syriac Orthodox Monastery of India )

The Syriac Orthodox Church enriched by ancient monasteries. From the beginning of the 4th century, many famous monasteries were founded throughout the lands under the jurisdiction of the Antiochian see, that is to say in Syria, Mesopotamia, on the southern coast of Palestine, in the Syrian desert, in Gozarto (Mount Edessa), at Mount Izala, which surveys Nisibis and Tur-Abdin, and in Qardu and Al-Faf close to Mosul. They became centres of learning and of the virtuous life; thousands of monks and nuns withdrew into them from the worldly life in their quest for the Kingdom of God.The First Monastery of Malankara Church was built by the Patriarchal delegate Mor Yulius Elias Qoro over the tomb of the Patriarch Ignatius Elias III on manjanikara ^[18]

Catholicos of India

Catholicose of India is an ecclesiastical office in the Syriac Orthodox Church, the head of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church in Kerala, India. He is the Catholicos/Maphrian of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church an autonomous body within the Syriac Orthodox Church, and functions at an ecclesiastical rank second to the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch. The jurisdiction of the Syriac Orthodox Catholicos is limited to India and Indian diaspora, although he is often invited to preside over Syriac Orthodox functions abroad.^[19] The current Catholicos of India is Catholicos Baselios Thomas I, who was consecrated in 2002.

The position was created in the 20th century, amid a series of splits within the local Malankara Church and the broader Syriac Orthodox communion that divided the community into rival Jacobite Syrian and Indian Orthodox factions. It was instituted to provide a regional head for Jacobite Syrian Church, the faction that remained closely aligned with the Patriarch of Antioch.

Catholicos/Maphrian

The word is a transliteration of the Greek καθολικός, pl. καθολικοί, meaning concerning the whole, universal or general. It was a title that existed in the Roman Empire where Government representative who was in charge of a large area was called ‘Catholicos’. The Churches later started to use this term for their Chief Bishops.

‘Maphriyono’ (Maphrian) is derived from the Syriac word 'afri', "to make fruitful’, or "one who gives fecundity". This title be used exclusively for the head of the Syriac Orthodox Church in the East. From the mid 13th century onwards, a few occupants of the Maphrianate were referred also as ‘Catholicos’, but the title never came into extensive usage.

In the 20th century when this office of the Maphrianate under the See of Antioch was established in India, the chief of the local church assumed the title ‘Catholicos’. It is this title that is being used in India today, whilst the title Maphrian is no longer used.^[19] Both the titles have the same meaning in the Syriac Orthodox Context.^[20]

Origins and development of the Catholicate in India

As the political rivalries were great between the Roman and Persian Empires, the Persian Church thought it wise to create a local leader, since the Zoroastrian rulers of Persia were strongly suspicious of any contacts between their Persian Christian minority, and the Christians in the enemy Roman Empire. In the 4th century, the bishop of the Persian capital of Seleucia, Mar Papa, had been declared the first Catholicos of the Church of the East. Mar Issac, bishop of Seleucia, became the first royally recognized Catholicos, empowered to exercise authority over the Church's Persian jurisdictions excluding India. In the 5th century, as part of the Nestorian schism, the Persian Christians separated from the Christians of the Roman Empire. In the 16th century, another split occurred, with the Nestorian branch becoming known as the Assyrian Church of the East, and another branch joining into communion with Rome, to become the Chaldean Catholic Church. The Assyrian Christians sought to better establish themselves by claiming that the Apostle Thomas not only evangelized their territories and ordained presbyters, but gave authority to specific successors to govern the Church. This teaching contradicted the teachings of Nicaea. To maintain Orthodoxy, patriarchs continued to ordain local Orthodox Maphriyono, who assumed the title Catholicos centuries later.^[21]

Public consecration of Thomas Mar Dionysius as Baselios Thomas I, Catholicos of India of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church (seated) by the Patriarch of Antioch, H. H. Ignatious Zakka I Iwas, and the universal episcopal synod. 31 July 2002, Damascus

A reconciliation movement gathered momentum in the 1950s and culminated in the consecration of Mar Augen I by the bishop's Synod presided over by the Patriarch Ignatius Jacob III, canonically establishing the Catholicate as the spiritual and temporal head of the Church in India (1964) under the authority of the Patriarch of Antioch. The camps later split again in 1975 with the Patriarch Ignatius Jacob III excommunicating the Catholicos Mor Augen I after renewed efforts to from an autocephalous and national church. Mor Augen I in turn excommunicated the Patriarch, favoring autocephaly and "Thomasine" hierarchical succession.

The office of the Catholicate favoring the Patriarch's supremacy was continued with the consecration of Mor Baselios Paulose II by Patriarch Jacob III in 1975. After Mor Baselios Paulose II's demise in 1996 the office remained vacant for several years to accommodate reconciliation attempts, which were unsuccessful.

In 2002 Baselios Thomas I was consecrated by Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas to be the local head of the Malankara Archdiocese of Syriac Orthodox Church. His Beatitiude's official title was made Catholicos of India. due to the region of his jurisdiction. He functions at an ecclesiastical rank second only to the Patriarch, having the privilege to preside over the consecration of new patriarchs. The Catholicos is welcomed brotherly alongside the Patriarch at ecclesiastical and ecumenical functions, and hosted the Patriarch during a state visit to India in 2005.

This Catholicate is headquartered at Puthencruz, Kerala, India. The Catholicos of India presides over the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christian Association

Catholicos Baselios Thomas I

Catholicos of the Syriac Orthodox Church in India and Metropolitan Trustee of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church.

Catholicos Baselios Thomas I(Mal: ആബൂന്‍ മോര്‍ ബസേലിയോസ് തോമസ്‌ പ്രഥമന്‍ കാതോലിക്ക ബാവ, b: July 22, 1929) is the current Maphrian i.e. Catholicos of the Syriac Orthodox Church in India and Metropolitan Trustee of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church.His official title is Catholicos of India. On 26 July 2002 he was enthroned by Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch and All the Eastfor Syrian Jacobite Christians in India.Her ceremony held at Damascus, Syria.The position had remained vacant between 1996 (date of death of Catholicos Baselios Paulose II) and 2002.

Lineage of Catholicos of India

• 1. Baselios Paulose II (1975–1996)
  • Vacant from 1996 to 2002
• 2. Baselios Thomas I (2002–present)

Saints of the Church

• Ignatius Elias III - Pathriach Of Antioch (Entombed in Manjanikkara Dayara at omallur)
• Mor Baselios Yeldo - Catholicos of Persia (Entombed in Kothamangalam Cheria Pally)
• Parumala Thirumeni (Geevarghese Mor Gregorious, Entombed in Parumala Church)
• Paulose Mar Athanasius - Methropolitian of Jacobite Syrian Church (entombed in Aluva Thrikkunnathu Seminary )
• Mor Koorilos Paulose - Malankara Metropolitan (Entombed in Panampady Church)
• St.Kooorilos Yuyakkim - Reesh-Episcopa of Malankara (Entombed in Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Church )
• St.Osthatheos Sleeba - Apostolic delegate of the Holy See to India ( Entombed in Arthat St.Mary's Simhasana church, Kunnamkulam )
• Baselios Sakralla III of Aleppo - Maphryono (entombed at Morth Mariam Cathedral,Kandanad)
• Gregorios Abdul Jaleel - Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan of Jerusalem (entombed at St. Thomas Church North Paravur)

Dioceses

The Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church has the following dioceses

Manarcad Marthamariam Cathedral, Manarcad Church

Bethel Suloko Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church, Perumbavoor, Kerala

Holy Altar Of Jacobite Syrian Cathedral Kundara

Archdioceses (Autonomous)

There are Archdioceses under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Antioch:

1. Knanaya Archdiocese
   1. Region of Chingavanam
   2. Region of Kallisseri
   3. Region of Ranni
   4. Region of Malabar
   5. Region of USA, Canada and Europe
2. Malankara Archdiocese of North America
   1. Diocese of America
   2. Diocese of Canada
3. Malankara Archdiocese of Europe
   1. Patriarchal Vicarate of Ireland
   2. Patriarchal Vicarate of UK
   3. Patriarchal vicarate of Germany & Central Europe

Dioceses in Kerala

1. Kollam Diocese^[22]
2. Thumpamon Diocese^[23]
3. Niranam Diocese^[24]
4. Kottayam Diocese^[25]
5. Idukki Diocese^[26]
6. Kandanad Diocese^[27]
7. Kochi Diocese^[28]
8. Angamaly(Largest Diocese)
   1. Angamaly Region
   2. Perumbavoor Region
   3. Kothamangalam Region
   4. Highrange Region
   5. Muvattupuzha Region
   6. Pallikkara Region
9. Thrissur Diocese^[29]
10. Kozhikode Diocese^[30]
11. Malabar Diocese^[31]

Dioceses in Rest of India

1. Mangalore DIocese
2. Bangalore DIocese
3. Mylapore DIocese^[32] (formerly Chennai Diocese)
4. Bombay Diocese
5. New Delhi Diocese^[33]

Dioceses in Outside India (Autonomous)

1. Middle East Diocese - -Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen
2. Australia & New Zealand
3. Singapore & Malaysia

Other Dioceses (Autonomous)

There are dioceses under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Antioch.

1. Honavar Mission^[34]
2. E.A.E (Evangelistic Association Of The East) Churches^[35]
3. Simhasana Churches

Present Synod

The Synod of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church comprises:

1. Catholicose Baselios Thomas I- Metropolitan Trustee and Angamaly Diocese
2. Kuriakose Mor Severios Edavazhikal- Knanaya Archbishop and Chingavanam Region
3. Abraham Mor Severious- Angamaly Region of Angamaly Diocese
4. Thomas Mor Timotheos- Kottayam Diocese
5. Joseph Mor Gregorios- Synod Secretary and Kochi Diocese
6. Mathews Mor Ivanios- Kandanad Diocese
7. Geevarghese Mor Dionysius- Simhasana Churches (Pampady)
8. Kuriakose Mor Dioscorus- Simhasana Churches (Malecruz)
9. Geevarghese Mor Athanasios- Simhasana Churches (Manjinikkara)
10. Kuriakose Mor Theophilos- Seminary Resident Bishop
11. Yuhanon Mor Militos- Thumbamon Diocese
12. Mathews Mor Theodosius- Kollam Diocese
13. Mathews Mor Aphrem- Perumbavoor Region of Angamaly Dicese
14. Pathros Mor Osthathios- Bangalore Diocese
15. Geevarghese Mor Coorilose- Niranam Diocese
16. Yeldho Mor Theethose- Malankara Archdiocese of America
17. Kuriakose Mor Eusabios- Kothamangalam Region of Angamaly Dicese
18. Markose Mor Chrisostamos- Evangelist Association Of East
19. Elias Mor Athanasios- Thrissur Diocese
20. Kuriakose Mor Gregorios Knanaya Kalliserry Region
21. Yaqu'b Mor Anthonios- Honavar Mission
22. Zacharias Mor Philoxenos- Idukki
23. Paulose Mor Irenious- Kozhikode
24. Kuriakose Mor Ivanious Knanaya Malabar Region
25. Ayub Mor Silvanious Knanaya Diaspora Region
26. Geevarghese Mor Barnabas- Niranam Diocese Assistant Metroolitian
27. Issac Osthathios- Mylapore Diocese
28. Kuriakose Mor Julios- Highrange Region of Angamaly Dicese
29. Thomas Mor Alexandros- Bombay
30. Zacharias Mor Polycarpus- Malabar
31. Mathews Mor Thimothios- Malankara Affairs Secretary of Patriarch
32. Matthews Mor Anthimos- Muvattupuzha Region of Angamaly Dicese

Pilgrim Sites

Tomb churches

Global Pilgrim Centres

Pilgrim Centres

Other Prominent Churches

Seminary

Office Bearers

Spiritual Organisation

See also

• Catholicos
• List of Patriarchs of Antioch – to 518
• List of Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs of Antioch – list from 518
  • Catholicos of the East
  • Catholicos of India
  • Maphrian

Related

• List of Orthodox Churches
• Saint Thomas Christians
• Manarcad church
• Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
• Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
• Malankara Church
• Throne of St. Thomas
• Marthoma Metrans

References

• Holy Mass of the Jacobite Syrian Church

Complete video of the Holy Mass [Holy Qurbano] of the Jacobite Syrian Church:

• Part 1
• Part 2

External links

• Jacobite Syrian Christian Church on Facebook
• Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
• Online Community and News Site of Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church
• News Site Of Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church
• Indian Christianity
• Malankara Syriac Orthodox Resources
• Malankara Jacobite Syriac Christian Network
• Nazranies/Thomas Christians/Syrian Christians