Vayaliparambil pynadath

Vayaliparambil Pynadath is an ancient Syriac Christian family name (patronymic) used by the Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Christian members of the family from generation to generation as identity in India. The Judo-Christian family had its origin in Arthat, Kerala in South India, ancient trade centre of Jews and Urhoyan Syrian traders (who were spice merchants). The family worships 'the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Living' and fears 'the Root and offspring of David' as well as honors the Prince Patriarch of Antioch and All the East in Syria (of Apostolic Petrine Throne) as the Supreme head of their Syriac Orthodox Church in India. The family has many professionals settled in India and abroad. The family has good ecumenical relationship with other sister church. The family worships in Syriac liturgy of Holy Throne of Antioch written by St. James, first bishop of Jerusalem and cousin of our Lord Jesus Christ. The family is one of the most educated, forward well known ancient eastern Syriac Orthodox Christian family which originate in the state of Kerala in South India. Though their liturgy is in Syriac, their household language is Malayalam and official language is English. Critics accuse family of being too Orthodox and traditional in general though there had been well educated liberals in the family. The family believes in God more than church standing within holy Apostolic church. Once they were well known for their leadership, values, charity, vast paddy cultivation and credibility in the state of Kerala in colonial India.

The Patrons of Syriac Orthodox (Antioch) Christianity in India

St. Thomas the Syriac disciple of Christ landed in India in 52 AD and first preached gospel to Jews and the first Christians of India were Jews and Syrians along Hindu Brahmins directly converted by St. Thomas. St. Thomas, who was a delegate of Holy Apostolic Throne of Antioch (established by Patriarch St. Peter, the chief disciple of Christ at Antioch in 37 AD) formed the first Syriac Orthodox Church or Christianity in India and this Indian Syriac church was under the Holy See of Antioch and All the East, St Thomas was followed by several bishops of the holy Apostolic See of Antioch to India to nurture the Indian Syriac Orthodox church. In course of time this mother Syriac Orthodox Church of India/Malankara (also called Jacobite Church by British in memory of great Bishop Jacob Baradaeus of Middle East who rejuvenated church during Roman arrogance against Syriac church) split into several daughter Syriac church in India under various local Indian heads and all equally claim the heritage of apostle St. Thomas and Syriac identity.

The Portuguese who landed in India in 1499 started persecution using its military endorsed by See of Vatican to convert the Syriac Orthodox Christians of India and burnt all Syriac books as well as banned the Jacobite Syriac Orthodox church in India with help of local kings (Synod of Diamper 1599).The Vayaliparambil family is one of the influential families who resisted Portuguese military, see of Vatican and Raja of Cochin to preserve the spiritual loyalty of Jacobite Syriac Orthodox community of India with holy Throne of Antioch. Following the murder of Bishop Mor Ahatulla of Syria at Goa-Inquisition by Portuguese Catholic bishop the Syriac Christians took Oath, that from generations they will accept the spiritual authority of Patriarch of Antioch only and not Pope of Vatican, Vayaliparambil is one of the family which took Coonan Kurish Oath of 1653 and kept oath without changing spiritual loyalty. When British landed in India, the family resisted the subversion attempt of British to make Syriac Christians under British Anglican Protestant church and succeeded. The British officers had respect for the family and patrolling British police seldom entered family compound, British registrars waited even after office hours for family members land registration.

The family migrated from Arthat region in 1789 AD at the rule of Dharma Raja of Travancore to Angamaly region during the attack of Tipu Sultan of Mysore on Jacobite church in Arthat. The family's official parish was "Morth Mariam Jacobite Syrian Orthodox church" at Angamaly, headquarters of Syriac church in India for centuries and residential chapel was famous "Mor Sabor and Afroth Jacobite Syrian Orthodox" church at Akaparampu. All the Patriarchs of holy Throne of Antioch who visited India had been to their parish church in Angamaly and Akaparampu. The church in Akaparampu had no cemetery and pall bearers of family carried coffin on shoulders to Angamaly for burial ceremony.

The family possessed rich paddy fields of more than 10,000 para (a measure) and had its own hierarchy of domestic servants for cultivation and domestic protection and gave title "Cheria Vayaliparambil" and land to a Jacobite family of Arthat as they found no families equal in their status to mingle at Nedumbassery. Their paddy field was one of the region selected by government of India for study by Japanese delegation who visited India to study paddy cultivation in 1960s. The family supplied rice free of charge to Thrikkunath Syriac Orthodox Seminary during the tenure of Archbishop St. Athanasios Paulose Pynadath. The family which possessed huge paddy fields lost many of them when Communist Government came to power in Kerala and due to mismanagement. In colonial India the family had their own slaves (when slavery was common in feudal India) who were bought from slave auction conducted during famous Hindu festival of Shivarathri in Aluva on the banks river Periyar. Later the family abolished it when royal authorities of Kerala officially abolished it and gave land and house to slaves it had. During the harvest festival 'Onam' all the workers were given free rice grains, vegetables, plantain, a pair of new cloths and a lavish lunch in plantain leaf.Today some of the old Hindu,Muslim tenants and former domestic staff of family also use same cognoman for social status but they are easily identified by the public and family members.The men of the family carried silver dragger for self defence and old members wore golden bangles each of 1 soverign during wedding.Later this was abolished as out of fashion.Most of the older men used vettila leaves with betel nut and tobacco.The family had different branches with different branch names and each had their own workers and slaves,cattles and baffalos.Few of the members knew Indian astrology(based on planetry position originated in Babylon) which is considered as a science or shastra.They also had indegenous medicine box which had rare herbs ,"tooth of elephant" used to make various medicine.Their granery was built of wood inside house.

The family was highly successful for past 400 years during Portuguese rule, Dutch rule and British colonial rule in bringing Syriac prophets of holy throne of Antioch from Syria, Israel, Iraq to India in preserving the Syriac Orthodox Church in India, in spite of severe resistance of colonial powers. Feudal Lord Mathu Itoop (Mathu-Matthew and Itoop=Abraham, Syriac name) of the family was the first lay signatory of historic Mulanthuruthy synod of 1876 during which he officially signed agreement with HH. Patriarch Peter IV of Antioch giving spiritual authority officially to see of Antioch over Syriac Orthodox Christians of India witnessed by St. Gregorios of Parumala secretary of Patriarch, Patriarch Abded Aloho and recognized by Government of HM.Queen Victoria. This historic agreement was the foundation for the progress of Syriac Orthodox Church in India to this day. The agreement was signed at free will of Indian Jacobite Syriac leaders as they had great faith in the holy prophets of Antioch who came to India on their request and liberated from Portuguese-Vatican hegemony and persecution. Mathu Itoop was presented with two crosses: one with a lens at centre showing tomb of Jesus Christ, a silver cross with relic and Syriac icon from the Holy Throne of Antioch which is still possessed by his family successors. Mathu Itoop was also permanent member of managing committee constituted by HH. Patriarch Peter IV for managing church affairs of India. The ancient documents of church endorse this.After synod a committee based on democratic principles were formed for managing church in India under Holy Throne of Antioch.All the Patriarchs of Antioch visited India has metleaders of the family.

Some well known personalities of family include Landlord Mathew Matthew (grandson of Mathu Itoop) (1889-1960) a Gov civil engineer in British India who was adviser to St. Athanasios Paulose Pynadath (Malankara Metropolitan also called Valiya Thirumeni or Archbishop of India )also architect and first trustee of St.George Jacobite Syrian Church Nedumbassery,he had been trustee of Mor Sabor and Mor Afroth Jacobite Syrian church earlier ,and Bishop Mor Gewargis Gregorios (1899-1966) of Angamaly, Niranam and Thumbamon, a licentiate holder in teaching, ordained by HH. Patriarch Afram Barsoum at Homs (Syria) in 1946 is known as Iron man of Syriac Orthodox church who united all the warring factions of church in 1958 under holy throne of Antioch till his death and was instrumental in establishing first chapel for leprosy patients in India at Koratty as well as founder of English school at Nedumbassery in 1939 called Mor. Athansios High school in memory of his Guru and promoted educational-charitable organisations including Mor Athansios College Association at Kothamangalam. He was the first chairman of Mor Athanasios Engineering College founded in 1953, (inaugurated by Emperor of Ethiopia) the second private engineering college in India as well as founder of forty new churches including St. George Jacobite Syrian Church at his home town Nedumbassery. His Grace was an agriculturist and was successful in planting rubber and coconut trees in all church. His Grace is respected by both factions of Syrian Orthodox church namely Jacobites and Indian Orthodox in India as his grace was the only bishop who could unify both factions following schism in church till his death in 1966. Late Advocate Kunjikora, late banker Mr. Titus of Cheriya Vayaliparambil (founder of Vayaliparambil Bank in Aluva) late Dr P M Matthew, founder of Pynadath Hospital in Chalakudy were well known. The original Syriac Orthodox family is still in India but the various branches have degenerated and scattered in 1960s with some of them migrating to US and Canada(Dr.Lisby & Dr.Libny).

The Patron Saints of Family are

"Virgin Mary,the Mother of God",Patriarch.St.Peter,the chief Apostle and first Patriarch of Antioch AD 37,"St.Thomas,Apostle arrived India"St.James bishop of Jerusalem and brother of Our Lord Jesus Christ,"St.Stephen,the first Martyr of Christianity"Patriarch Ignatious Nurono,the third Patriarch of Antioch,the Martyr AD 68,"Maphryono Mor Gregorius Bar `Ebroyo" Mor Sabor and Mor Afroth,the Syriac bishops arrived India on gospel,"St.George of Asia Minor" St.Abdel Galeel Mor Gregorios,Bishop of Jerusalem buried in India,"Patriarch Ignatius Elias III of Antioch buried in India"Maphryono Mor Baselius Yaldo of Iraq buried in India,"St.Sleebo Mor Osthathios,delegate of the Holy Throne of Antioch buried in India"Marthesmuni and children,the Martyrs of early Christianity,"Mor Gregorios ordained by Patriarch Peter IV at Cochin in 1876"St.Athanasios Paulose Pynadath,Archbishop of India.

CURSE ON A FAMILY BRANCH

A wealthy branch of Vayaliparambil family called 'Perikkattil' in Nedumbassery was cursed by the Mathu Itoop and has ended in misery.Mathu Itoop had more than 10,000 para of paddy cultivation,he divided his land,1000 para each to his Six sons.But one of his son was adopted through marriage to a Jacobite family called "Mazhuvancheriparambil" in Cherai,who had good wealth.Mathu asked all his six children to be present for registration and partition of his wealth before British registrar, but one son, though Registrar waited till sunset did not come as he never wanted his father to give land to adopted brother. The registration did not take place that day, all five sons attended, Mathu Itoop cursed his son who abstained from registration out of jealosy and his wealthy lineage ended in tragedy with 3rd generation.

One of the prominent members of this church is T Jayarajan (originally Thomas Jayaraj), formerly with "Mathrubhoomi" newspaper's Mumbai office, a leading Malayalam daily. He now lives in Navi Mumbai. Other eminent personalities in this tradition are Colonel Kunnathara and his cousin Joby PL, a famous poet.

References

* http://sor.cua.edu/Pub/TarziJ/SyrUrhoyanCuisine.html
* http://saintgregorios.org/PARAVUR/mulunthuruthy_padiyola.htm
* http://sor.cua.edu/Personage/Malankara/MGregoriusGVayaliparambil.html
* http://sor.cua.edu/Patriarchate/PatriarchsChronList.html
* http://www.socdigest.org/articles/02sep05.html
* http://sor.cua.edu/ChMon/Ankamaly/AnkamalyHVMary.html
* http://www.syrianchurch.org/bio/ValiyaThirumeni.htm
* http://parumalathirumeni.com/