"Catholicate History at a Glance" by Very. Rev. Thomas P Mundukuzhy,
Cor Episcopa is a brilliant effort by achen explaining the History
of the Catholicate. A lot of information has been compiled into this
111 page book. I feel it would serve as a very important reference handbook
because "We have only a few books on the history of the Catholicate" as pointed
out by Job Mar Philexinos Thirumeni in the foreword. Also the few books that do
exist are probably in Malayalam and hence lost to the growing generation outside
Kerala, thus making this effort by Mundukuzhy achen especially valuable.
It is a condensed translation of the original work in Malayalam "Mar
Thoma Sleehayude Pourasthia Catholica Simhasana Sabha Charitra
Samgraham" [which was submitted as an evidence to the court in the church case
in the 1960s.]
Several little known facts of the church history are dealt within the book, for
eg:
1) As early as in 231 A.D., (i.e. 94 years before the Nicene Council) the
Jerusalem Synod consecrated the "Catholicose Of the
East"(Persia) and gave him the authority to consecrate new bishops
for the churches in Persia and the East.
2) The Great Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. further confirmed the authority of the
Catholicate.There is one instance quoted in the
book where the Patriarch of Antioch refuses to consecrate a
Catholicose in Persia citing the Nicene Council,saying that the
Easterners should consecrate their own Catholicose.(629 A.D.)
3) There are several instances throughout history, of conflicts between the
Catholicose (in Persia) and the Patriarch (in Antioch). The practice of
remembering the Patriarch in the Thubden was removed and added several times as
a result. Also they excommunicated each other at times!
4) Among the important decisions taken in the Synod of Kaprathutha (869 A.D.)
were "the Patriarch should not visit parishes of the Catholicose without
official invitation; The Patriarch should
not be consecrated without the consent of the Catholicose" (similar restraint
for the Catholicose).
5) The establishment of the Catholicate in India in 1912 followed the same
pattern in history as the Catholicate was established in Persia many centuries
earlier.
6) Till as late as the 18th century all priests of the
Indian Church were from the Pakalomattom family (By the way, the book says
"there is strong documentary evidence to argue that there were Brahmins in
Kerala as early as 5B.C.")
The book provides significant details about the lineage of the Catholicate right
from Apostle St.Thomas, arranged in chronological sequence. It provides a
glimpse into the turbulent history of the
church, which faced trials from the Portuguese, the British as well
as the Patriarchate.(It also shows us how the Antiochian Patriarch
has been helpful to the Church during its weak periods). The book
takes us on a journey to meet the virtuous holy fathers and
leaders who stood firmly for the faith. It also touches on the socio-
economic status of the Malankara Christians and the church rulers in
history. Also it has good information on the Catholicoses from
Malankara right upto the current Bava.
The book has pictures of Patriarch Abdeh Mesiah,St.Gregorios, St. Dionysius, and
Bava Mar Didymos I.The ICON members may be able to relate to the recent online
discussions being quoted in the book.
On the flip side, I noticed a few typos and some (minor) repetition of ideas,
but nothing that was overly distracting.
The book is sure to be an asset to the English speaking generation wanting to
learn about the history of the church. In my mind, it
serves as a reference book, a guide to help more exhaustive research
for those who seek to learn more. It is especially useful since
there are several versions and manipulations of the history being
injected into the younger generation today because of the prevalent
current situation of confusion in these matters.
I also have one suggestion to make. We need to have the Church and Catholicate
History in more depth to be included into the Sunday School Syllabus in one of
the higher grades(From what I know, we do not have much details being taught
currently, but I may be wrong). I
would suggest that someone among the central authorities take up this book (and
other similar books if available) and evaluate it, then if found appropriate
make a recommendation to use (any) such
works as references in Sunday school. This will enable a uniform system of
instruction(and prevent other efforts re-inventing the wheel!) and help the
growing generation grasp some of the complex realities that confound us today.
---------------------------------------
P.S: I consider myself a novice in church history. The above are some of my
thoughts and opinions after I read this book. I am sharing information about
this book as I felt it may be useful for many like me. I thank Mundukuzhy achen
for the efforts and I realise
that I am greatly blessed to be a member of his parish here in
Albany.
Regards,
Mathew Samuel,
Albany, NY
-----------------------------------------
Moderators' Note: Please contact Mundukuzhy achen at
veryrevtpm @yahoo.com(without the space after @) for more information about the
book.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/12947
Cor Episcopa is a brilliant effort by achen explaining the History
of the Catholicate. A lot of information has been compiled into this
111 page book. I feel it would serve as a very important reference handbook
because "We have only a few books on the history of the Catholicate" as pointed
out by Job Mar Philexinos Thirumeni in the foreword. Also the few books that do
exist are probably in Malayalam and hence lost to the growing generation outside
Kerala, thus making this effort by Mundukuzhy achen especially valuable.
It is a condensed translation of the original work in Malayalam "Mar
Thoma Sleehayude Pourasthia Catholica Simhasana Sabha Charitra
Samgraham" [which was submitted as an evidence to the court in the church case
in the 1960s.]
Several little known facts of the church history are dealt within the book, for
eg:
1) As early as in 231 A.D., (i.e. 94 years before the Nicene Council) the
Jerusalem Synod consecrated the "Catholicose Of the
East"(Persia) and gave him the authority to consecrate new bishops
for the churches in Persia and the East.
2) The Great Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. further confirmed the authority of the
Catholicate.There is one instance quoted in the
book where the Patriarch of Antioch refuses to consecrate a
Catholicose in Persia citing the Nicene Council,saying that the
Easterners should consecrate their own Catholicose.(629 A.D.)
3) There are several instances throughout history, of conflicts between the
Catholicose (in Persia) and the Patriarch (in Antioch). The practice of
remembering the Patriarch in the Thubden was removed and added several times as
a result. Also they excommunicated each other at times!
4) Among the important decisions taken in the Synod of Kaprathutha (869 A.D.)
were "the Patriarch should not visit parishes of the Catholicose without
official invitation; The Patriarch should
not be consecrated without the consent of the Catholicose" (similar restraint
for the Catholicose).
5) The establishment of the Catholicate in India in 1912 followed the same
pattern in history as the Catholicate was established in Persia many centuries
earlier.
6) Till as late as the 18th century all priests of the
Indian Church were from the Pakalomattom family (By the way, the book says
"there is strong documentary evidence to argue that there were Brahmins in
Kerala as early as 5B.C.")
The book provides significant details about the lineage of the Catholicate right
from Apostle St.Thomas, arranged in chronological sequence. It provides a
glimpse into the turbulent history of the
church, which faced trials from the Portuguese, the British as well
as the Patriarchate.(It also shows us how the Antiochian Patriarch
has been helpful to the Church during its weak periods). The book
takes us on a journey to meet the virtuous holy fathers and
leaders who stood firmly for the faith. It also touches on the socio-
economic status of the Malankara Christians and the church rulers in
history. Also it has good information on the Catholicoses from
Malankara right upto the current Bava.
The book has pictures of Patriarch Abdeh Mesiah,St.Gregorios, St. Dionysius, and
Bava Mar Didymos I.The ICON members may be able to relate to the recent online
discussions being quoted in the book.
On the flip side, I noticed a few typos and some (minor) repetition of ideas,
but nothing that was overly distracting.
The book is sure to be an asset to the English speaking generation wanting to
learn about the history of the church. In my mind, it
serves as a reference book, a guide to help more exhaustive research
for those who seek to learn more. It is especially useful since
there are several versions and manipulations of the history being
injected into the younger generation today because of the prevalent
current situation of confusion in these matters.
I also have one suggestion to make. We need to have the Church and Catholicate
History in more depth to be included into the Sunday School Syllabus in one of
the higher grades(From what I know, we do not have much details being taught
currently, but I may be wrong). I
would suggest that someone among the central authorities take up this book (and
other similar books if available) and evaluate it, then if found appropriate
make a recommendation to use (any) such
works as references in Sunday school. This will enable a uniform system of
instruction(and prevent other efforts re-inventing the wheel!) and help the
growing generation grasp some of the complex realities that confound us today.
---------------------------------------
P.S: I consider myself a novice in church history. The above are some of my
thoughts and opinions after I read this book. I am sharing information about
this book as I felt it may be useful for many like me. I thank Mundukuzhy achen
for the efforts and I realise
that I am greatly blessed to be a member of his parish here in
Albany.
Regards,
Mathew Samuel,
Albany, NY
-----------------------------------------
Moderators' Note: Please contact Mundukuzhy achen at
veryrevtpm @yahoo.com(without the space after @) for more information about the
book.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/12947
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