Jacobite Syrian Christian Church

The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, also called the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church, is a special group of churches in Kerala, India. It is part of the bigger Oriental Orthodox Churches and follows the rules and traditions of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch. The leader of this church is called the Catholicos of India, and right now, it is Mor Baselios Joseph.

People believe that this church was started a long time ago by Saint Thomas the Apostle. Today, it is the only church in Malankara that uses the same special ways of worship as the Syriac Orthodox Church. One of the important ways they worship is called the Liturgy of Saint James, which is part of the West Syriac Rite.

There is a big and important church building called St. Athanasius Cathedral, which is part of the church's main center in a place called Puthencruz. This church has kept many old traditions alive and is an important part of the history and culture in Kerala.

Name

After the Council of Chalcedon, Emperor Justinian I sent away Patriarch Severus of Antioch because he did not agree with the council’s decisions. Severus believed in something called Miaphysitism. During this difficult time, a man named Jacob Baradaeus, supported by Empress Theodora, became a leader in the church and helped it grow again. The word "Jacobite" started as a rude name for followers of Severus, but later the church began to use it proudly. The church is also known as the Syriac Orthodox Church.

History

Main articles: Saint Thomas Christians, Saint Thomas Christian Churches, and Malankara Church

According to tradition, the Saint Thomas Christians in Kerala were taught by Thomas the Apostle, who arrived in the area in 52 CE. Over time, these Christians became linked to the Persian Church of the East. However, the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church believes they always respected the leader of the Patriarch of Antioch, based on old church rules from Nicaea and Constantinople.

In the 1500s, Portuguese leaders tried to bring these Christians into the Latin Church of the Catholic Church, causing disagreements. This led to the creation of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. Later, the local Christians united under a leader called an archdeacon and stayed connected to churches in the Middle East.

When the Dutch East India Company took control from the Portuguese in 1663, the Malankara Church used this chance to escape Catholic control. With the Dutch's help, they invited a bishop from the Syriac Orthodox Church, Gregorius Abdul Jaleel, who helped organize the church. The church then adopted West Syriac liturgy practices.

Today, as part of the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church has communities in many places around the world, including India, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Western Europe, the Persian Gulf, Australia, and New Zealand. Around the year 2003, it was thought that the church had about 1,000,000 members globally, including the Knanaya.

Beliefs and practices

The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church has special ways of worship and beliefs. Their main worship service is called the Holy Qurbono, done in the Syriac language. It happens on Sundays and special days, with Bible readings, prayers, and songs.

The church uses a special Bible called the Peshitta. They also have special times for prayers throughout the day, following ancient traditions. The church believes in one God who exists as three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They also believe that Jesus Christ was both fully human and fully divine. The church honors saints and believes they can pray for people, especially Saint Thomas the Apostle, who they say started their church in India.

Contemporary disputes

Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church often disagree about who should lead their community. These disagreements began in 1912 when a leader was removed, causing a split. They reunited in 1955 but split again in 1974 over leadership issues. This led to two separate groups: the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church believes that the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate should not interfere in their church’s matters. The Jacobite Syrian Church lost control of some important churches after a court decision, even though they were the majority there. In 2022, the Jacobite Syrian Church decided to stop working together with the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church on religious activities.

Ecumenical relationships

The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church works closely with other Christian groups. It is part of the Oriental Orthodox Churches and has agreements with the Catholic Church. These agreements allow people from both churches to share important church services when there is a serious need. There are also special rules for marriages between members of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church and the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.

!Catholicos Baselios Thomas I with Ignatius Aphrem II of the Syriac Orthodox Church and Pope Francis of Holy Catholic Church

, Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma with Ignatius Aphrem II

Catholicate

Main articles: Maphrian and List of maphrians

Long ago, leaders of churches in big cities like Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome were called patriarchs. Later, in the seventh century, Syriac Orthodox Christians living outside the Roman Empire started using the title "maphrian" for their leader. This important job was just below the Patriarch of Antioch in their church order. The maphrian title was stopped in 1860 but brought back in 1964 in India.

Main article: Catholicos of India

The Maphrian of India, also called the Catholicos, is a special leader in the Syriac Orthodox Church and the main head of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church. This church is part of the bigger Syriac Orthodox Church. The Catholicos only leads in India to keep things clear and avoid problems. The Syriac Orthodox Church calls this leader the Catholicos of India, which is different from the Catholicos of the East.

Tomb of Baselios Yeldo

Geevarghese Gregorios

Abdal Jaleel Gregorios

Mor Osthathios Sleeba

Dioceses

The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church has many areas, called dioceses, where it serves its members. Some of these are in Kerala, India, like Kollam, Thumpamon, and Kottayam. Others are spread across India and the world, including places like Mumbai, Delhi, and even countries such as the United States and Australia.

There are also special areas called autonomous dioceses, which include groups such as the Malankara Syriac Knanaya Archdiocese and others that serve members living in different parts of the world, from North America to the Middle East.