Early History, Early Prelates, Medieval History, Nasrani History, Persian Church, Thomas the Apostle

Dear John & Antony, Thanks ,I think that the …

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Comment posted Prelates of Nasranis till the Synod of Udayamperoor- List of early Bishops till 1599 AD by JEEVAN PHILIP.

Dear John & Antony,

Thanks ,I think that the only objection to my posting in ” General Talk ” is regards with the type of relations with Romans and non-Roman Prelates (I am using this term because it includes Alexandrians, Antiochians, Chaldeans , Farsian and what not).Since an excellent article is posted about prelates I need not to worry about details (though it is from Roman side)

To understand the type relations which MALANKARANAZRANIES had with these prelates one should get some documents which related with their work .We have very limited details regarding prelates pre-8th century. From Mar DUDI to unknown bishop in Indicopleatus book (AD535) we get little information from references of related authors .In order to understand this situation one should analyse the Christendom with respect to ours. Every body knows that Apostolic period was with full of documentation .You get writings by Apostles, related writings by Pagans and other religious sects .Early church leaders period were also full of documentation. Theological explanations were done in this period, every body knows about Alexandrian school, Antiochene School, Cappadocian fathers, eastern school etc. Maximum Christian philosophical disputes were carried out in this period. Compare this with Malankara church and their brother prelates. Any documentation, any detailed letters, how do you explain it? When whole of Christendom was under turmoil over personality of Christ, role and the status of Mariam, what were the MALANKARANAZRANIES and their so called foreign Prelates doing? Did they only come for money and power?

The other important source one should analyze is the travelers records from which we can get some light into the so called brother prelate’s work and time. One of them is JORDANUS CATALANI 1321 AD who reported to Rome directly. He discovered a small community of Christians in Quilon, also in Thana& Gujarat.”Persians had neglected them for long. He found these eastern Christians very susceptible to any form of Christian teaching. He went back to Europe and gave information to Pope& The King. He was consecrated as bishop of Quilon and sent back to India by POPE Johnxx11, with three letters (a) one for Christian of India (B) another to catholic converts from Pagans(c) third one address to Nazranies”! What it means?

LUDOVICO DE VANTHEME an Italian traveler who visited Malabar in 1505AD noted that about every three years a priest from Babylon used to come to Kayamkulam (Brown L. W, Indian Christian of St. Thomas).The Nestorian patriarch Alexander II sent a petition to caliph of BAGDAD stating that the Catholicos under Patriarch of Antioch was sending Bishop for countries under him! (V.Nagamayya, Travancore state manual Vol. 2, p-24)Two instances deserve mentioning to understand the picture here.”YAZDAD was the metropolitan of Rewardisher (Fars) when the church of Seleucia turned Nestorian at the time of Acacius (485-498); he however did not contribute to the Nestorian faith and refused to accept Nestorianising decision .The other incident is reflected in the struggle between Patriarch ISHU YAHB III (650-660) and SHIMUN, metropolitan of FARS .The rebellion and schism of Shimun were alleged by patriarch eight letters. In one of his letters to Shimun he is accused of closing the door of Episcopal ordination in the face of many peoples of India and impending the gift of God for the sake of perishable gains which feed bodily desire .As far as your province is concerned, since your revolt against ecclesiastical canons, the priestly succession has been broken for the people of India” (Dr.Paulose Mar Gregorious: The Indian Orthodox church-An Overview).

Now please analyse the situation. Whether the Patriarch of Antioch, or Chaldean Catholicos, or Bishop or Fars, all fought over MALANKARA NAZRANIES It is also interesting to note that none of these chairs helped us in creating a separate hierarchy. Why? It will be clearer if you read the history of ANTIOCHIAN, CHALDIAN&JERUSALEM church relations. Antiochians helped to consecrate Abrosius (185-201) as metropolitan of Seleucia based on request from eastern fathers .The next three heads were ABRAHAM (201-213), JACOB (213-231) and AHOD ABUEI (231-246).The first was consecrated at Antioch, and the other two at Jerusalem. In fact Ahod Abouei visited Antioch but could not consecrated due to enmity between Persian and Roman empires ,but Antioch sent letter to Jerusalem asking to ordain him. Jerusalem understanding the political environment went a step farther to raise the see a GREAT METROPOLITAN of the East-CATHOLICOS. This was recognized at council of Seleucia 410AD&Council of Markabta424AD.Political rivalry between two countries ended in death of QOM YESU –the metropolitan elect, forced the understanding fathers of Antioch &Jerusalem to rise above the situation and help the brothers in Christian love resulted in the creation of an independent see. This could have been applicable to MALANKARA, but did not happen, why? CHALDEANS never wanted us to be independent church rather a subjugated one under them.

The same case is with prelates after the Portuguese .MAR JACOB (1503-1545), MAR JOSEPH (1556-1564), MAR ABRAHAM (1568-1597).Initially they sided with Nazranies, when they found out it is of no use in front of Rome they supported and helped Romans in Latinizing Nazranies .So what I wanted to state that the Church of the East is no better than the Church of Rome as far as MALANKARA NAZRANIES are concerned. I also wanted to state that I am not forgetting MAR SABHOR AND MAR PHROT that I do not consider them as foreign prelates since they come as a refugee to our beloved land of HINDUSTHAN where Jews held their head high(no where else in the world).