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{{Short description|Independent Church in India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox Christian denomination
| name = Malabar Independent Syrian church
| image =Western Syriac Cross.svg
| imagewidth = 50px
| caption =
| type = [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox]]
| main_classification= Independent Oriental Orthodox
| theology = [[Miaphysite]]
| polity =
| founder = [[Abraham Mar Koorilos I|Kattumanghattu Abraham Mar Koorilos I]]
| leader_title = Metropolitan
| leader_name = [[Cyril Mar Baselios I]]
| founded_date = 1772
| separated_from = [[Malankara Church]]
| parent =
| merger =
| separations =
| fellowships =
| associations =
| area = Kerala
| hospitals = 1
| nursing homes =
| aid =
| congregations = 13 Parishes and 6 Chapels
| members = 5000
| ministers =10-15
| primary_schools = 3
| secondary_schools = 1
| tertiary =
| other_names = Thozhyur Sabha <br />Anjoor Church
|website= [http://misc.co.in/ Official Website]}}

The '''Malabar Independent Syrian Church (MISC)''' also known as the '''Thozhiyur Church''', is a Christian church centred in [[Kerala]], [[India]]. It is one of the churches of the [[Saint Thomas Christian]] community, which traces its origins to the evangelical activity of [[Thomas the Apostle]] in the 1st century.

This group split off from the main body of India's [[Malankara Church]] in 1772 and was confirmed as an independent church with its current name after a high court verdict in 1862.<ref>{{cite book |title=The forgotten bishops : the Malabar Independent Syrian Church and its place in the story of the St. Thomas Christians of South India |year=2009 |publisher=Gorgias Press |isbn=978-1-60724-619-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Misc – Malabar Independent Syrian Church |url=http://misc.co.in/about-the-congregation/#history}}</ref> Although the church is independent under the [[Malankara Church|Malankara]] umbrella, the church faith and traditions are strictly [[Oriental Orthodox]], adhering to the [[West Syriac Rite]] and consistently using western [[Syriac language|Syriac]] and [[Malayalam]] during the [[Holy Qurobo|Holy Qurbono]] (Qurbono Qadisho). The Eucharistic Celebration is popularly known as Holy Qurbana due to the historical influence of the [[Church of the East]].

Today the church remains small, with about 5,000 members,{{Citation needed|date=June 2019}} and maintains good relations with the other Malankara churches.
{{Christianity in India sidebar|state=collapsed}}
{{Nasrani people}}
[[File:SaintThomasChristian'sDivisionsHistoryFinal-en.svg|alt=|thumb|300x300px|A diagram showing the history of the divisions among the Saint Thomas Christians (click to enlarge).]]

==History==
{{Main article|Saint Thomas Christians}}

The Saint Thomas Christians trace their origins to [[Thomas the Apostle]], who according to tradition [[Proselytism|proselytized]] in India in the 1st century. By the 7th century they were part of the [[Church of the East]], centred in Persia.<ref>Baum, p. 53.</ref> The entire community remained united until the 17th century, when disputes with the [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese]] ''[[padroado]]'' in India led to the [[Coonan Cross Oath]] of 1653 and the division of the Saint Thomas Christians into [[Syro-Malabar Church]] and independent branches.<ref>Neill, p. 214.</ref><ref name="Neill319">Neill, p. 319.</ref> The independent branch, known as the [[Malankara Church]], forged a relationship with the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] of Antioch.<ref name="BritannicaIndia">[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/115623/Christians-of-Saint-Thomas "Christians of Saint Thomas"]. ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved February 9, 2010.</ref>

However, relations between the Syriac Orthodox hierarchy and the native clergy were sometimes strained. In 1772 Bishop Mar Gregorios, a representative of the Syriac Orthodox hierarchy from the Middle East, had grown dissatisfied with how the Metropolitan [[Mar Dionysius I]] had treated him. Against Dionysius' wishes, Gregorios consecrated as bishop a leading dissenter, the monk Kattumangatt Kurien, in a secret but canonically legitimate ceremony. The new bishop took the name Mar Cyril (Koorilos), and he was designated Gregorios' sole heir.<ref name="Neill70">Neill, p. 70.</ref>

Cyril claimed authority over the parishes of [[Cochin]], and initially received the support of the [[Raja]] of Cochin. However, Dionysus saw him as a threat to his power, and in 1774 he appealed to the Raja and to the [[Kingdom of Great Britain|British]] authorities in India to suppress the rival bishop.<ref name=Neill70/><ref name="Vadakkekara92">Vadakkekara, p. 92.</ref> Cyril left for [[Thozhiyoor]], Kerala outside their jurisdiction, and established what would become an independent church.<ref name="Burgess">Burgess, p. 175.</ref> This was the first of several groups to split from the [[Malankara Church]].<ref name=Vadakkekara92/>

Cyril's church was always small, but maintained stability by attracting devoted priests and emphasizing regularity in the ecclesiastical order. In 1794 Cyril consecrated his brother Geevarghese as bishop; Geevarghese succeeded Cyril as Mar Cyril II in 1802, and the succession has proceeded unbroken since.<ref name=Neill70/>

As a result of an 1862 court case, the [[Madras]] High Court confirmed the Thozhiyur church was an independent Malankara church, and it has subsequently been known as the Malabar Independent Syrian Church.<ref name=Burgess/>

==Ecumenical relations==
The Malabar Independent Syrian Church maintains good relations with the other Malankara churches especially its relationship with Marthoma Syrian church. Despite its small size, it has had a significant impact on the history of the Saint Thomas Christian community. On several occasions Thoziyur bishops have stepped in to consecrate bishops for the other churches when the episcopal succession, and therefore the churches themselves, were in danger.<ref name=Neill70/> Mar Philoxenos II Kidangan (1811–1829) of the Thozhiyur Church consecrated three successive bishops in the unified Malankara Church: [[Mar Dionysius II]] on 22 March 1816, [[Mar Dionysius III]] on 19 October 1817, and [[Mar Dionysius IV]] on 27 August 1825.<ref>Rev. K. C. Varghese Kassessa. (1972). ''History of Malabar Independent Syrian Church''. (Malayam). Page 62.</ref> In 1894 Mar Athanasius and Mar Koorilose V consecrated Titus I Mar Thoma for the Reformed Syrians, later known as the Mar Thoma Church. On subsequent occasions when the Thozhiyur Metropolitan has died without consecrating a successor, the Metropolitan and bishops of the Mar Thoma Church had performed the consecration. Thozhiyur bishops have taken part in all Mar Thoma Church episcopal ordinations up to the present.

Malabar Independent Syrian Church is a member of the [[Christian Conference of Asia]], the Council of Churches in India, and the Kerala Council of Churches. Other ecumenical links have been developed, not least with the [[Anglican]] and [[Lutheran]] Churches. This has been facilitated through a support group based in [[England]], which is a registered charitable trust.<ref>{{cite web |title=Malabar Independent Syrian Church Support Charity |url=https://beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1059966&subid=0 |website=beta.charitycommission.gov.uk}}</ref> In 1998 and 2008, Thozhiyur Church Metropolitans were ecumenical observers at the [[Lambeth Conference]] of Anglican bishops. In July 2006 Mar Koorilose IX and Mar Basilios I participated as [[Consecrator|co-consecrator]]s in the episcopal ordination of Paul Hunt and John Fenwick as bishops of the [[Free Church of England]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bishops' Visit to India |url=https://fcofe.org.uk/2018/10/28/bishops-visit-to-india/ |website=The Free Church of England |date=28 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Fenwick |first1=John R. K. |title=Malabar Independent Syrian Church The Thozhiyur Church |url=https://gedsh.bethmardutho.org/Malabar-Independent-Syrian-Church}}</ref>

==Thozhiyur Metropolitans==
The Metropolitans of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church:
*[[Abraham Mar Koorilos I]] (1772–1802)
*[[Geevargheese Mar Koorilose II]] (1802-1808)
*[[Joseph Mar Evaniose]] (1807-6)months only)
*[[Zacharia Mar Philexenos I]](1807–1811)
*[[Geevarghese Mar Philexenos II]] (1811–1829)
*[[Geevarghese Mar Koorilose III]] (1829–1856)
*[[Joseph Mar Koorilose IV]] (1856–1888)
*[[Joseph Mar Athanasius I]] (1888–1898)
*[[Geevarghese Mar Koorilose V]] (1898–1935)
*[[Kuriakose Mar Koorilose VI]] (1935–1947)
*[[Geevarghese Mar Koorilose VII]] (1948–1967)
*[[Paulose Mar Philexenos III]] (1967–1977) <small>(joined the [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Church]] and replaced)</small>
*[[Mathews Mar Koorilose VIII]] (1978–1986)
*[[Joseph Mar Koorilose IX]] (1986-2001)
*[[Cyril Mar Baselios I]] (2001–present)

==Institutions==

===Parishes===
*[[St. George's Cathedral Church, Thozhiyur]], [[Thrissur]] Dt., [[Kerala]].
*St. George's Church, [[Perambur]], Cooks Rd., [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]].
*St. Thomas' Church, [[Kunnamkulam]], Guravayur Rd., [[Thrissur]] Dt.
*St. George's Church, Karikkad, [[Thrissur]] Dt., [[Kerala]].
*Mar Koorilose Church, Korattikara, [[Thrissur]] Dt., [[Kerala]].
*St. Adhai's Church, Porkulam, Pazhanji, [[Thrissur]] Dt., [[Kerala]].
*St. Mary's Church, Pazhanji, [[Thrissur]] Dt., [[Kerala]].
*St. George's Church, Kallumpuram, [[Thrissur]] Dt., [[Kerala]]
*St. Augin's Church, [[Chalissery]], [[Palakkad]] Dt., [[Kerala]]
*St. Mary's church, Perummannoor, [[Palakkad]] Dt., [[Kerala]]
*St. George's Church, Peringod, [[Palakkad]] Dt., [[Kerala]]
*Mar Koorilose Bava Church, [[Ernakulam]], [[Kerala]].
*St. George's Church, [[Coimbatore]] [[Tamil Nadu]].

===Chapels===
*St. George's Chapel, Akathiyur, [[Kerala]].
*Mar Bahanan Chapel, Anjoor Bazar, [[Kerala]].
*Sleeba (Cross Memorial) Chapel, Thozhiyur, [[Thrissur]] Dt., [[Kerala]].
*Mar Koorilose bava Chapel Ottapilave (Thrissur) Dt., Kerala
*St George Chapel Thiruthikkad (Thrissur) Dt.,
*Mar Koorilose Chapel, Bangalore, Karnataka.

===Schools===
*Syrian Christian U.P.S., Chalissery, [[Palakkad]] Dt., [[Kerala]].
*St. George's H.S.S., Thozhiyur, [[Thrissur]] Dt., [[Kerala]].
*Mar Koorilose Memorial U.P.S., Porkulam, Pazhanji, [[Thrissur]] Dt., [[Kerala]].
*C.M.U.P. School, Thozhyoor, [[Thrissur]] Dt., [[Kerala]].

===Hospital===
*Mar Koorilose Mission Hospital, Anjoor, Thozhiyur P.O., [[Thrissur]] Dt., [[Kerala]] – 680 520. Currently closed.

===Press===
*St. Thomas Press, Kunnamkulam, Guruvayur Rd., [[Kunnamkulam]], [[Thrissur]] Dt., [[Kerala]] – 680 503.

==See also==
* [[Abraham Mar Koorilos I]]
* [[Geevargheese Mar Koorilose II]]
* [[Geevarghese Mar Philexenos II]]
* [[Oriental Orthodox Church]]
* [[Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch]]
* [[Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church]] (Mar Thoma Church)

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{Cite book|last1=Baum|first1=Wilhelm|author-link1=Wilhelm Baum (historian)|last2=Winkler|first2=Dietmar W.|title=The Church of the East: A Concise History|year=2003|location=London-New York|publisher=Routledge-Curzon|isbn=9781134430192|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CnSCAgAAQBAJ}}
* {{Cite book |title=The Eastern Orthodox Churches|last= Burgess|first= Michael |year= 2005 |publisher= McFarland|isbn= 0-7864-2145-2}}
* {{Cite book|last=Frykenberg|first=Robert Eric|title=Christianity in India: From Beginnings to the Present|year=2008|location=Oxford|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780198263777|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mXgSDAAAQBAJ}}
* {{Cite book |title= A History of Christianity in India: The Beginnings to AD 1707 |last= Neill|first= Stephen|author-link= Stephen Neill|year= 2004 |publisher= Cambridge University Press|isbn= 0-521-54885-3|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=RH4VPgB__GQC|access-date=31 January 2011}}
* {{Cite book |title= A History of Christianity in India: 1707-1858, Volume 2|last= Neill|first= Stephen|author-link= Stephen Neill|year= 2002 |publisher= Cambridge University Press|isbn= 0-521-89332-1 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Xi-tvrYbYxMC |access-date=31 October 2011}}
* Vadakkekara, Benedict (2007). [https://books.google.com/books?id=pAncGlpGW8wC&pg=PA91&dq=Malankara&as_brr=3&client=firefox-a&cd=7#v=onepage&q=Malankara&f=false ''Origin of Christianity in India: a Historiographical Critique'']. Media House Delhi.

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book|last=Fenwick|first=John R. K.|title=The Forgotten Bishops: The Malabar Independent Syrian Church and Its Place in the Story of the St. Thomas Christians of South India|publisher=[[Gorgias Press]]|year=2009|isbn=9781607246190}}

The following are works in [[Malayalam]]:
*Mathew, N.M. (2007) ''Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram'', (History of the Marthoma Church), Volume 1.(2006) and Volume II (2007). Pub. E.J.Institute, Thiruvalla.
*Kochumon, M.P. (1995) Parisuddha Kattumangatte Bavamar. (The saintly bishops of Kattumangattu). Pub. By Most Rev.Joseph Mar Koorilose Metropolitan.
*Porkulam, A.K.C. (2003) Parisudha Kattumangatte Bavamar Thiruvachanathiludey. (St. Kattumangattu bishops through the Bible), Trissur.
*Varughese, Rev. K.C. (1972) ''Malabar Swathantra Suryani Sabhyude Charitram'' (History of the Malankar Independednt Suryani Church).

==External links==
* [http://misc.co.in/ Official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20021213025524/http://www.malabar.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.html Malabar Independent Syrian Church]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060515061818/http://indianchristianity.org/thozhiyur.html Thozhiyur at indianchristianity.org]
* [https://njanamcom.wordpress.com/2016/10/10/the-church-of-thozhiyoor-anjoor/ The Church of Thozhiyoor / Anjoor]

{{Churches in India}}
{{Christianity in Kerala}}
{{Anglican Churches}}
{{Syriac Christianity}}
{{Oriental Orthodoxy footer}}

[[Category:Saint Thomas Christians]]
[[Category:Oriental Orthodoxy in India]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1772]]
[[Category:Christian denominations established in the 18th century]]
[[Category:1772 establishments in India]]

Malabar Independent Syrian Church - Revision history

UpdateBot at 08:38, 23 June 2022