Mar Thoma III
Encyclopedia
Mar Thoma III was the third metropolitan bishop
who sat on Malankara throne and led the Malankara Church from 1686 to 1688. His leadership was only for a short time. With great respect, people called him Valiappooppen (Great Grandfather).
lies a small state known as Kerala
. It was here in the first century, Thomas the Apostle
arrived to preach the gospel
.Some of the Jews and locals became followers of Jesus of Nazareth
. They were known as Malabar Nasrani
people and their church as Malankara Church. They followed a unique Hebrew-Syriac Christian
tradition which included several Jewish elements and Indian customs.
is a town located in the Kottayam
district of Kerala
, South India
. The town is situated in the Meenachil
Taluk, about 22 km north of Kottayam
. Pakalomattom family
was one of the oldest families at Kuravilangad
. The third Mar Thoma was from this family. He grew up as a man of prayer.
died suddenly on April 14, 1686, and he was buried inside Niranam
church. The leaders of the Malankara Church
selected Mar Thoma III as his successor. At that time Mar Ivanios Hidayuttulla who arrived in Kerala in 1685 was the only bishop in Malankara. So Mar Ivanios consecrated Mar Thoma in 1686.
This throne used for the consecration of Mar Thoma I, has been used in the installation of every Mar Thoma Metropolitan, to this day, so that the continuity of the throne of Mar Thoma is ensured. This was the throne used for the consecration of Mar Thoma III also.
In those days traveling from one place to another was very tedious and it was mainly by river. Yet Mar Thoma III tried to visit as many parishes as possible.
in the Pathanamthitta
district. Christians there believe that they came from Nilakkal (a first century Christian settlement) and built a church at a place called ‘’Nilakkal Mukal’’ there in AD 325 known as St.Thomas church. Later it was moved to the present position and was named St.George's Valia palli. Later on renamed as Kadampanad St Thomas Orthodox Cathedral and recently was made a Marthoman Pilgrim centre by the Orthodox Church.
It was to this church, Mar Thoma paid a visit in 1688. While he was there, he died suddenly on April 21, 1688 and was interred their.
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
who sat on Malankara throne and led the Malankara Church from 1686 to 1688. His leadership was only for a short time. With great respect, people called him Valiappooppen (Great Grandfather).
Introduction
On the southwestern coast of IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
lies a small state known as Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. It was here in the first century, Thomas the Apostle
Thomas the Apostle
Thomas the Apostle, also called Doubting Thomas or Didymus was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is best known for questioning Jesus' resurrection when first told of it, then proclaiming "My Lord and my God" on seeing Jesus in . He was perhaps the only Apostle who went outside the Roman...
arrived to preach the gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
.Some of the Jews and locals became followers of Jesus of Nazareth
Nazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
. They were known as Malabar Nasrani
Syrian Malabar Nasrani
The Syrian Malabar Nasrani people, also known as Saint Thomas Christians, "'Nasrani Mappila'" and Nasranis, are an ethnoreligious group from Kerala, India, adhering to the various churches of the Saint Thomas Christian tradition...
people and their church as Malankara Church. They followed a unique Hebrew-Syriac Christian
Syriac Christianity
Syriac or Syrian Christianity , the Syriac-speaking Christians of Mesopotamia, comprises multiple Christian traditions of Eastern Christianity. With a history going back to the 1st Century AD, in modern times it is represented by denominations primarily in the Middle East and in Kerala, India....
tradition which included several Jewish elements and Indian customs.
Early life.
KuravilangadKuravilangad
Kuravilangad is a town located in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. The town is situated in the Meenachil Taluk, about 22 km north of Kottayam, and is located near the town of Ettumanoor and places like Kalathoor, Kalikave, Vempally, Marangattupally, Kurianad, Monippally, Vakkadu...
is a town located in the Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
district of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. The town is situated in the Meenachil
Meenachil
Meenachil is the name of the north-eastern region of Kottayam district in Kerala, south India. The name originates from Meenakshi the Dravidian goddess. Palai is the main town in Meenachil. The arterial river of the district is also named Meenachil...
Taluk, about 22 km north of Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
. Pakalomattom family
Pakalomattom family
The Pakalomattam family is an ancient Suriyani Christian family in Kerala, India. They are popularly known as Syrian Christians in view of the Syriac liturgy used in church services since the early days of Christianity in India and not for any Syrian migration...
was one of the oldest families at Kuravilangad
Kuravilangad
Kuravilangad is a town located in the Kottayam district of Kerala, India. The town is situated in the Meenachil Taluk, about 22 km north of Kottayam, and is located near the town of Ettumanoor and places like Kalathoor, Kalikave, Vempally, Marangattupally, Kurianad, Monippally, Vakkadu...
. The third Mar Thoma was from this family. He grew up as a man of prayer.
Consecration
Mar Thoma IIMar Thoma II
-Further reading:*#Mathew, N.M. ‘’Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram’’, , Volume 1., Volume II . Volume III Pub. E.J.Institute, Thiruvalla...
died suddenly on April 14, 1686, and he was buried inside Niranam
Niranam
Niranam is a village in central Travancore region in Kerala, India. It was a port in ancient Kerala, on the confluence of the Manimala and Achankovil River. It is almost from Tiruvalla in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala...
church. The leaders of the Malankara Church
Malankara Church
The Malankara Church is the church of the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, India, with particular emphasis on the part of the community that joined Archdeacon Mar Thoma in swearing to resist the authority of the Portuguese Padroado in 1653...
selected Mar Thoma III as his successor. At that time Mar Ivanios Hidayuttulla who arrived in Kerala in 1685 was the only bishop in Malankara. So Mar Ivanios consecrated Mar Thoma in 1686.
Administration
Malankara church had comparatively a peaceful time during his tenure. It was during this time some members of Karingachira parish joined the Catholics. But majority of them supported Mar Thoma III and rejected the authority of Roman bishop Joseph Sebastani.In those days traveling from one place to another was very tedious and it was mainly by river. Yet Mar Thoma III tried to visit as many parishes as possible.
Last days
Kadampanad is a very fertile land near AdoorAdoor
Adoor is a town and a municipality near Pandalam in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala state, India, spread over an area of 20.42 km2. The town is located midway between Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam. It is among one of the three municipalities in Pathanamthitta district.-Etymology:It is...
in the Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta is a large town and a municipality situated in the central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, south India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The city has a population of 38,000...
district. Christians there believe that they came from Nilakkal (a first century Christian settlement) and built a church at a place called ‘’Nilakkal Mukal’’ there in AD 325 known as St.Thomas church. Later it was moved to the present position and was named St.George's Valia palli. Later on renamed as Kadampanad St Thomas Orthodox Cathedral and recently was made a Marthoman Pilgrim centre by the Orthodox Church.
It was to this church, Mar Thoma paid a visit in 1688. While he was there, he died suddenly on April 21, 1688 and was interred their.
Further reading
-
- Mathew, N.M. ‘’Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram’’, (History of the Marthoma Church), Volume 1.(2006), Volume II (2007). Volume III (2008) Pub. E.J.Institute, Thiruvalla