- Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius (Mar Thoma XII)
Infobox Marthoma Bishop
honorific-prefix = Most Rev.
name = Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius (Mar Thoma XII)
honorific-suffix =
bishop_of = Malankara Church.
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caption =
diocese =
ordination =
consecration = August 27, 1825.
enthroned = August 27, 1825.
ended = 1852
predecessor =Punnathara Mar Dionysious (Mar Thoma XI)
successor =Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XIII)
birth_name = Philipose
birth_date = 1781
birthplace =Cheppad
death_date =October 9 ,1855 .
deathplace =Cheppad
buried =Cheppad St. George Church.(now Orthodox church)
nationality =
Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius (Mar Thoma XII) was the a Malankara Metropolitan from 1825 to 1855 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).
"Philipose" ("Piyliypaos") =
Aramaic andMalayalam . "Philip." = EnglishEarly life
Cheppad is a scenic village in KarthikapallyTaluk of Alleppy District inKerala State,India . It is about halfway between Kochi andThiruvananthapuram on the National Highway 47. Philipose Mar Dionysius was born in1781 at the Aanjilimootil family in Pallippad, a place nearCheppad .Consecration
After the great swearing in 1653 it became necessary to appoint a bishop. For this purpose a special chair was made and the first bishop of Malankara church,
Mar Thoma I was enthroned. It is in the possession of theMar Thoma Church and is kept atTiruvalla . It has been used in the installation of every Mar Thoma Metropolitan, so that the continuity of the throne of Mar Thoma is ensured. This was the throne used for the consecration of Mar Thoma XII, Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius.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 andKottayam Eruthickal Markose Kathanar were proposed. After prayer theycast lots (cleromancy ), and the lot fell to Philipose Kathanar.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 andKottayam Eruthickal Markose Kathanar were proposed. After prayer theycast lots (cleromancy ), and the lot fell to Philipose Kathanar.Philipose Ramban was consecrated by Geevarghese Mar Philexenos (Kidangan) of the
Malabar Independent Syrian Church on August 27, 1825 at Kottayam Cheria palli. [Alex Mathew. Kalloopara parish history. Page 112.] Because Mar Philexenos was not a bishop of Malankara church,Cheppad Anjilimootil Philipose Ramban was given the episcopal title Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysious. He was the fourth bishop in the Malankara Church to get this title DionysiusMalankara 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 andCochin , as Malankara Metropolitan on March 20, 1829. (for the purpose of giving interest of the Vattipanam) [ N.M.Mathew. Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram, Vol.I. Page 253-254.]Problems
Problems with church of Antioch
On November 1825 a bishop named Mar Athanasius arrived from
Antioch and claimed that the Malankara church was under thepatriarch . Soon there were troubles in parishes, The Diwan (prime minister) and the government made an enquiry. It was realized that Malankara Church was not under any foreign church and they banished him from India, for creating the trouble. [T.C.Chacko. Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitra Samgraham. Page 65, 66.] [Letter from 22 clergies to the Maharaja of Travancore dated September 13, 1875, para 8]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
#to ordain only those who completed their studies from theSeminary and received the certificate from the Principal,
#to raise a fund to increase the salary of the priests,
#to submit the accounts of the Church every year to the British Resident for annual auditing and
#to conduct thechurch services in vernacular,Malayalam .The Metropolitan rejected all these suggestions outright. [Ittoop writer. (1869) History of Syrian Christians of Malabar. Page 228.] Soon Mar Dionysius convened a meeting of the representatives of the parishes at
Mavelikara (January 16, 1836) and proclaimed allegiance to thePatriarch of Antioch . [Mavelikara Padiola (Decisions of Mavelikara meeting) First sentence of the original Malayalam version.] Soon the C.M.S. missionaries formed the 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.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 fromAntioch 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. WhenAbraham Malpan used the revised liturgy and brought about changes in practices, that offended Marthoma XII and so he refused priesthood to the deacons trained under him. [ George Kassessa, Rev.M.C. (1919). "Palakunnathu Abraham Malpan". (Biogrpahy in Malaylam) Page 42.)]Consecrations
In 1829, Mar Dionysius consecrated Geevarghese Mar Koorilose (Kuthoorey) (1829-1856), as the Metropolitan of Thozhyoor church.
Palakunnathu Deacon Mathews, a deacon trained under
Abraham Malpan and was his nephew went to Anitoch. He was consecrated with the episcopal titleMathews Mar Athanasius byPatriarch of Antioch , Ignatius Elias II (1838—1847), in 1843.In
1846 , thePatriarch sent a Metropolitan Euyakim Mar Kurilos to Malankara. In 1852 Mar Dionysius abdicated due to poor health. [Royal proclamation of August 30,1852, in favour of Mathews Mar Athanasius] 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. The Maharajah of Travancore appointed a committee of four senior government officers (known as Kollam Panchayat), They decided that a foreign bishop had no authority over the Malankara church. So the Maharajah issued a proclamation in favour ofMathews Mar Athanasius on August 30, 1852. After getting the proclamation,Mathews Mar Athanasius first visited Mar Dionysius atCheppad who gave him a very warm welcome.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.Last days
After deposed 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 atCheppad Valiya palli.12 October marks the annual observance of his death.Ten years after
In 1865, ten years after the demise of Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius, those who opposed
Mathews Mar Athanasius sent Pulikottil Ouseph Kathanar to Antioch who was consecrated with the episcopal titlePulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious II. by thePatriarch of Antioch Ignatius Jacob II (1847-1871).uccession
succession
office=Metropolitan of the Malankara Church
years=1825 –1852
preceded=Punnathara Mar Dionysious (Mar Thoma XI)
succeeded=Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XIII)References
Further reading
*#Juhanon Marthoma Metropolitan, The Most Rev. Dr. (1952). "Christianity in
India and a Brief History of the Marthoma Syrian Church.". Pub: K.M. Cherian.
*#Zac Varghese Dr. & Mathew A. Kallumpram. (2003). ‘’Glimpses of Mar Thoma Church History’’. London, England. ISBN 81/900854/4/1
*#Chacko, T.C. (1936) "Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charithra Samgraham’’. (Concise History of Marthoma Church), Pub: E.J. Institute, Kompady, Tiruvalla.
*#Eapen, Prof. Dr. K.V. (2001). ‘’Malankara Marthoma Suryani Sabha Charitram’’. (History of Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church). Pub: Kallettu, Muttambalam,Kottayam .
*#Ittoop Writer, (1869). ‘’Malayalathulla Suryani Chistianikauleday Charitram’’. (History of Syrain Christians in the land of Malayalam).
*#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, Thiruvallaee also
*
Mar Thoma Church
*Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
*List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans
*List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis External links
* [http://marthomasyrianchurch.org http://marthomasyrianchurch.org]
* [http://www.indianchristianity.org/orthodox/former_catholicos1.html http://www.indianchristianity.org/orthodox/former_catholicos1.html]
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