Mor Shabor and Mor Aphroth, Akapparampu

Mor Shabor and Mor Aphroth, Akapparampu

December 2nd is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Sabor & St. Aphroth according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Mor Sabor & Mor Aphroth are believed to be two saintly men who came to Malankara to preach the Gospel. The two were most likely from Dayro d-Mor Mattai Nineveh. They came along with a group of Syriac Christian immigrants lead by a merchant named Maruvan Sapir Iso. They are said to have disembarked at Quilon (Kollam) in c. 822. They were preachers of the Gospel & it is believed that both were bishops. They established churches in Quilon, Kayankulam, Udayamperoor, Kadamattom & Akaparambu. According to one tradition, the Malayalam Calendar era (Kolla Varsham) started with these holy fathers who settled at Kollam in AD 825. While not much is knows about the two, for the faithful in Malankara they are saintly figures who built many churches in Malankara. Both Mor Sabor & Mor Aphroth are named after Syriac martyr saints who lived in Persia during the early centuries of Christianity. To honour the memory of these martyrs, the visitors to Malankara built churches in the name of these Persian martyrs. This is corroborated by the records of the decisions of the 'Synod of Diamper' (Udayamperoor). Mor Sabor is believed to have been based at Quilon & Mor Aphroth at Udayamperoor. Some accounts suggest that Mor Aphroth was based at Kodungalloor. Mor Aphroth is believed to have been instrumental in the conversion of the royal family of Udayamperoor to Christianity. It is believed that the Villarvattom royal family, perhaps the only Christian royal family in Kerala was an offshoot of this conversion.The records of the Thareesa church at Quilon indicate that the church was established by Sapor Esho. Historians suggest that the records refer to Maruvan Sapir Iso, the merchant leader of the immigrant group, or Mor Sabor or perhaps both. The Tharisappalli Copper Plates are a set of grants by the King. The inscription describes the gift of a plot of land to the Syriac Orthodox Church at Tangasseri near Quilon (now known as Kollam), along with several rights & privileges to the Syriac Christians led by Maruvan Sapir Iso. The word 'Tharissa' is a corruption of the Syriac word 'treeysath' meaning 'Orthodox'. There is a rock cross at Kadamattom St. George Syriac Orthodox Church built by Mor Sabor. The Phalavi (Persian) inscription on the cross is translated as follows, "I have come to this nation from Nineveh as a bird. Mar Sapor writes, the forgiving Messiah who saved me from persecution".The Udayamperoor Synod (illegal Synod forcefully convened by the Portuguese colonialists in a bid to force the Syriac Orthodox Church of Malankara to be subject to Rome) in the mistaken belief that Mor Sabor & Mor Aphroth were Nestorians removed their names from the list of the holy ones & changed the churches named after them to the 'Church of All Saints.' (19th canon of the Synod). Although the Akaparambu church was represented at the Udayamperoor Synod, it did not acknowledge the decisions of the Synod & retained its name. The other churches are called the 'Church of the Qadishangal' (Qadishangal being a corruption of the Syriac word for the Holy Ones, Qadishé). Today, Kollam Qadisha Church, Kayankulam Qadisha Church, Kadamattom Church & most famous of all Mor Sabor-Mor Aphroth Church Akaparambu stand as testament to the evangelization of these saintly Syriac fathers. The Syriac Orthodox faithful of Malankara continue to venerate & commemorate the dukhrono of these 2 Holy Fathers every year. None of the other Kerala Christian communities do so.Oh Mor Sabor and Mor Aphroth! Plead for us before God's throne of grace. Amen.http://www.soc-wus.org/ourchurch/Sts.%20Shabor%20&%20Aphrohot.htmLecture Series - Malankara Church & it's relation with the Persian Church (courtesy Hymonutho): https://bit.ly/3b2jY8a