Mar Thoma I +1670

Mar Thoma I +1670

April 22nd is the anniversary of the demise of Mar Thoma I +1670. Mar Thoma I was the first native-born Metropolitan of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church after the Koonan Kurishu Sathyam of 1653. Previously known as Arkadiyokan (Archdeacon) Thoma, he along with Itty Thommen Kathanar (Knanaya priest & leader) led the Malankara faithful in the revolt against the Roman Catholic Church & Portuguese persecutors. This historic event is known as the Koonan Kurishu Sathyam (Oath at the Leaning Cross). It is the first recorded mass revolt against the Western colonialism & forced Roman Catholic supremacy in history! The Koonan Kurishu Sathyam cemented the reinvigorated faith of the Syriac Christians of Malankara & their unflinching loyalty to the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East. This monumentally historic event would pave way for the reestablishment of the Syriac Orthodox hierarchy in Malankara as had been present since the dawn of Christianity in India. Mar Thoma I was given his full episcopal consecration by St. Gregorios Abdul Jaleel the honorary Patriarch of Jerusalem under the authority of the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. Mor Gregorios came to Malankara on authority of the Patriarch of Antioch, who received letters from the Malankara Church. Those who accepted Mar Thoma I as the rightful Metropolitan under the authority of the Holy Apostolic See of Antioch are known as Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christians, while those who rejected him continued to be under the yoke of Roman Catholic supremacy (forming the Syro-Malabar Church). Mar Thoma I along with Mor Gregorios would lead the Malankara Church, strengthening the faithful to remain loyal to the Patriarch of Antioch even in the midst of persecution & coercion by the Portuguese Roman Catholics. Mar Thoma I departed for the heavenly abode on April 22nd 1670. His mortal remains were interred at the southern side of the 'Hykala' of St. Mary's Soonoro Jacobite Syrian Cathedral Angamali. Biography courtesy of Syriac Christianity website. Illustration of Mar Thoma only for artistic purposes. Oh Mar Thoma I! Plead for us before God's throne of grace. Amen. http://www.syriacchristianity.info/PARAVUR/StGregorios.htm On Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1722288264484849&id=165154486864909