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LINEAGE OF THE CATHOLICATE OF THE EAST


Catholicose Lineage
 
Apostolic Period
The Syrian church  includes two major churches -  the Syrian church of the West and the Church of the East. The Syrian Church of the East was founded by the Apostles of Christ. It was established and strengthened by Apostles St. Thomas, St. Thaddaeus among the twelve and other Apostles among the seventy. The 'Chair of succession' in the East is mentioned in ancient documents of the Church.
 
1. Mar Thoma Sleeha (St. Thomas the Apostle)   Apostle St.. Thomas. Founder of the Eastern Church. After establishing the Church in Persia, moved to India. Suffered Martyrdom in India. According to Canonical documents, such as Coptic Synaxarium, writings of early fathers, liturgical hymns of Orthodox Churches and local tradition of the Indian Church, St. Thomas established churches and ordained Bishops and presbyters for them. "Thoma Parvom", a traditional Indian work describes the works of Apostle Thomas in India.
AD 72: Martyrdom of St. Thomas in India
 
2. Mar Addai Sleeha (St. Thaddeus the Apostle)   Apostle St. Thaddeus. Mar Thomas Sleeha appointed St. Thaddeus in Persian regions and proceeded to India []. 
 
3. Mar Aggai  Sleeha 66-87 Apostle St. Aggai. According to the Doctrine of Thaddeus, an ancient Syriac document popular in Eastern Churches, Mar Aggai succeeded Mar Addai in the "chair". 
 
4. Mar Mari Sleeha 88-120  
 
5. Mar Abres    
 
6. Mar Abraham I of Kashkar  159-171  
 
7. Mar Yaco I  172-190 Alexandrian father Pantaenus visits India and records about Christians and existence of Gospel in India. 
 
8. Mar Ahha d'Aboui  190-220 According to Tertullian, by AD 200, there were several bishoprics in the East during this period.
 
9. Mar Shahioupa 220-240  
 
9. VACANT 240-317 But bishops existed. In AD 300, Bishop David of Basra visited India. 
In AD 311 Emperor Constantine accepted Christian faith.
10. Mar Papa 317-329  A famous Catholicos of the East.   In AD 314 Persian Synod of Seleucia deposes Papa after he proposes that the bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon should have primacy over the other Eastern bishops.  In AD 315 Emperor Constantine sends a letter to Shapur II urging him to protect Christians in his realm.  Mar Papa restored as bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon with the title "Catholicos of the East".
AD 325: First Ecumenical Council of Nicea.
James of Nisibis and a Persian bishop from "India" recorded as attending the council.
 
11. Mar Shimoun Bar Sabba'e 329-341 After the departure of Mar Papa and Mar Shimun bar Sabbaeas succeeded as Catholicos 
In AD 344, Catholicos Shimun Bar Sabbae suffered Martyrdon along with 5 bishops and 100 priests
The Knanaya Migration to India. 
72 Mesopotamian Christian families immigrated to India.  Mesopotamia was part of the Babylonian empire.  The immigrants were under the jurisdiction of the Catholicos of the East in Seleucia-Ctesiphon. This church trace it's origin to the apostle St. Thomas.  Mar Shimoun, the Catholicos of the East  came to know about the Indian church through traders who had been trading with India. As directed by the Catholicos, Thomas Kinayi (Knayi Thoma), a merchant, organized an immigration of 72 families from seven tribes of Jewish Christians. They were accompanied by Bishop Mar Joseph of Uraha (now a place in Iraq) and four priests and a few deacons. On reaching the Indian coast (Malabar Coast) Thomas Kinayi visited the ruling King Cheraman Perumal and obtained from him land and some highly esteemed previleges. The Knanaya immigrants lived in unity with the St. Thomas Christians of India.
 
12. Mar Shalidoste  341-345  Suffered Martyrdom in 344.
Knayi Thoma and immigrants lead by him arrived Indian coast in AD 345.
 
13. Mar Barbashmin  345-346 Suffered Martyrdom in 346
 
13. VACANT  350-363 Bishops existed. In AD 354, Mar Theophilos visited India and Maldives.
 
14. Mar Toumarsa  363-371  
 
15. Mar Qaioma 372-399  AD 381: Ecumenical Council of Constantinople.
In 390, Mar Abdyeshu builds monastery on the island of Bahrain 
 
 
16. Mar Issac  399-410   
 
17. Mar Ahha  410-415  410 First General Synod of the Persian Church (Synod of Isaac) confirms the  primacy of the bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon as "Catholicos of all the Orient"  and the equality of Seleucia-Ctesiphon with the sees of Jerusalem, Antioch,  Alexandria and Rome, adopts the Nicene Creed and establishes metropolitans for  Jundishapur, Nisibis, Basra, Arbela, and Kirkuk
 
18. Mar Yab-Alaha I  415-420   
 
19. Maana  420 420 Second General Synod of the Persian Church (Synod of Yaballaha I)
 
20. Mar Frabokht  420-421  
 
21. Mar Dadisho I  421-456 AD 431: Ecumenical Council of Ephesus
424 Third General Synod of the Persian Church (Synod of Dadyeshu) confirms Catholicos of the Church of the East as "Patriarch of the East" and asserts him  as equal to all other patriarch.
 
22. Mar Babwahi  457-484  484 Persian Church Council in Jundishapur honors memory of Theodore of Mopsuestia and adopts a Nestorian confession of  faith under influence of Barsauma, Metropolitan of Nisibis. 
 
23. Mar Aqaq-Acace  485-496  486 Fourth General Synod of the Persian Church (Synod of Acacius) officially adopts Nestorian Christology and affirms right of priests and bishops to marry
 
24. Mar Babai I  497-503  
 
25. Mar Shila  503-523  
 
26. Mar Narsai Elisha  524-539   
 
27. Mar Paul I  539-540  
 
28. Mar Aba I  540-552 544 Sixth General Synod of the Persian Church (Synod of Mar Aba I) adopts  the creed and decrees of the Council of Chalcedon
 
29. Mar Joseph I  552-566  
 
30. Mar Ezecbiel  566-581  
 
Reviving the non-Chalcedonian (Oriental Orthodox) Catholicate of the East.
In the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431), the faith of Patriarch St. Cyril of Alexandria was accepted as the Orthodox faith. 
The terminology "Theotokos" was confirmed as consistent with the Orthodox faith. But a group of Eastern Christians remained loyal to the faith of Nestor, the Patriarch of Constantinople.
A non-Chalcedonian (Oriental Orthodox) revival happened in the Eastern Church with Patriarch Theodosius of Alexandria ordaining Mar Yakub Burdana (St. Jacob of Edessa) as a Catholicos (Universal Bishop). Mar Yakub Burdana strengthened the Oriental Orthodox Church in the Persia, Armenia, Mesopotomia and elevated Mar Ahoudemme as the Orthodox Catholicose of the East.  Mar Ahoudemme was ordained a Bishop by Christophorus, the Catholicos of the Armenian Church.
 
30. Catholicos Mar Ahoudemme  559-77 Elevated Catholicos of the East by Mar Yakub Burdana.  Suffered Martyrdom.
 
31. Catholicos Mar Qum Yeshu  578 - 79  
 
32. Catholicos Mar Samuel  614 -24  
 
Reduction of Catholicate of the East to "Maphriyan of the East"
 
A renaissance of the pre-Chalcedon faith began, led by Jacob Bardeus, emphasizing the West Syrian Christological tradition of the One United Nature, influencing the church in Persia as well. Availing the relatively equable political climate following the Arab conquest of Syria and other parts of West Asia, a Maphrianate of the anti-Chalcedonians was established by Mar Marutha, a native Persian, became the first Maphriana (Catholicos) of the East. 
 
After Mar Samuel, the Catholicate was vacant. In 628, a reconciliation was reached between the Persian and Roman Empires. Patriarch Athanasius I (595-631) sent his secretary Rabban (Monk) Youhanna to the East. He met with Bishop Christophorus, head of the Monastery of St. Matthew and discussed with him the subject of resuming relations between the Church of Antioch and the Church in the East. The bishop convened a synod which was attended by Monk Youhanna and four regional bishops. They elected three monks, Marotha, Ithalaha and Aha as bishops. The patriarch honored the old custom of the Church of the East which allowed three bishops in the absence of the Catholicos.
 
Mar  Marutha was installed to preside over the East as the "Maphriyan of the East".  The jurisdiction of this Maphriyan extended to 18 Episcopal dioceses in lower Mesopotamia and East, but significantly, not to India. Mar Marutha of Tikrit (d. 649) was the first to be called Maphryono.
 
one of the three new bishops, as Bishop of Tikrit, and gave him authority to preside over the East, on his behalf. The above incident indicates that the Church in the East was autonomous and that its Catholicos who was installed by the patriarch had authority over all its bishoprics. Also we can see in the history of the church that the Patriarch was enthroned by the fathers of the church with the cooperation of the Catholicos. Several attempts have taken place for infringing this tradition. 
 
Morooso (Tigris)  628 - 49 Reduction of Catholicate and origin of Maphriyanate:
 
  Mar Marotha of Tikrit (d. 649) was the first to be called Maphryono. From him the Maphrianate took its line of succession. 
 
Denha -1 650-59  
 
Bar Yeshu  669-84  
 
Abraham  686-87  
 
David  87  
 
Youhanon Soubo 87-88  
 
Denha - 11  688-728  
 
Paulos  728-57  
 
Youhanon Keeyunoyo  758-88  
 
Joseph  789-93  
 
Sharbeel  794-810  
 
Simun  812-828  
 
Baselios Bar Baldoyo  828-838  
 
Daniel  838 - 847  
 
Thomas of Tigris 848-56  
 
Lo Asar  856-69  
 
Sargis  872-883  
 
Athanasius  887 - 904  
 
Thoma Asthunoro  912 - 13  
 
Denha 111  915-35  
 
Baselios 111  938-62  
 
Kuriakos  964-82  
 
Youhanan Darmascus  991-97  
 
Ignatius Barkiki  997-1022  
 
Athanasius of Edessa  1027 - 141  
 
Baselious of Tigris  1046 - 69  
 
Youhanan Sleeba  1075 - 1106  
 
Dionysius Moosa 1112 - 42  
 
Ignatius Lo Asar  1143-64  
 
Youhanan Srugayo  1165- 88  
 
Dionysius Bar Msah  1188 - 1204  
 
Gregorios Yakoub  1204 - 15  
 
Ignatius David  1215-22  
 
Dionysius Sleeba  1222-31  
 
Youhanan bar Madan  1232-53  
 
Ignatius Sleeba of Edessa  1253-58  
 
Gregorios Bar Hebraeus 266-86 (1264-1281)  Bishoprics of the East increased in number to the extent that they outnumbered the dioceses of the Church of Antioch during the time of Mar Gregorios Bar Ebraya. Bar `Ebroyo is considered to be one of the most famous and scholarly Maphryonos of the East. 
 
Gregorios Bar Sauma  1289-1308  
 
Gregorios Matthai  1317-60  
 
Athanasius Abraham  1365-79  
 
Baselios Bahnam  1404-12  
 
Dioscoros Bahnam  1415-17  
 
Baselios Barsauma  1422-55  
 
Baselio Asiz  1471-87  
 
Ignatius Nuh 1490-94 1490: Portuguese arrival in India and forced St. Thomas Christians of India to accept the Roman Catholic faith. 
1490: St. Thomas Christians from India travel to the Catholicos (non-Ephesian) Patriarch in Gagarta, near Mosul, to bring back bishops for India.
 
Baselios Abraham  1494-96 1503: Catholicos Mar Eliyah (non-Ephesian) consecrates Metropolitans for India, Java and China.
 
Baselios  1560-89  
 
Baselios Yalda (d. at Kothamangalam)  1634-85 1665: Relationship with the non-Chalcedonian Maphrianate established.
Declared saint by Catholicos and Malankara Metropolitan Mar Baselius Gheevarghese 11 in 1947.
 
Baselios Shakrulla (d . at Kandanad) 1751-64  
 
Baselios Elias  1838-40  
 
Baselios Bahnam in Malankara  1850-60 In the year 1860, after the death of Maphryono Mor Baselios Bahnam IV, the Maphrianate was abolished by a decision of a local synod held by the Antiochian Church. 
 
The Rule of Malankara Metropolitans
 
By this time the non-Chalcedonian (Oriental Orthodox) section of the St. Thomas Christians of the East was confined mostly to India. In 1490,  the Roman Catholic mission, which came to India with the Portuguese colonizers, tried to bring the Indian Church under their bishop Menezes and the rule of Rome. They convened the Synod of Diamper (Udayamperor), to bring Indian Christians of St. Thomas under the law of Peter, accepting the supremacy of rule of successors of Peter of Rome.  Indian Christians of St. Thomas, under the leadership of Archdeacon Thomas rejected the Synod of Diamper and affirmed their St. Thomas heritage. 12 Indian priests layed hands and raised Archdeacon Thomas to the status of Metropolitan following the advice of Mar Ahatallah.
 
Mar Thoma I 1653-70 Consecrated by twelve Indian priests.
 
Mar Thoma  II 1670-86 Consecrated by Mar Thoma 1
 
Mar Thoma III 1686-88  
 
Mar Thoma 1V 1688-1728  
 
Mar Thoma V 1728-65  
 
Mar Thoma VI (Mar Dionysius 1) 1765-1808 Consecrated by Mar Thoma V in 1761. 
 
Mar Thoma VII 1808-09 Consecrated by Mar Thoma VI in 1796
 
Mar Thoma VIII 1809-15 Consecrated by Mar Thoma VII
 
Pulukottil Joseph Mar Dionysios II 1815-16  
 
Mar Philoxenos,Kidangan(Thozhiyur)  1816-17  
 
Mar Thoma IX  1817 - Consecrated by Mar Thoma VIII
 
Punnathara Mar Dionysios III  1817-25  
 
Cheppad Mar Dionysius IV 1825-55  
 
Palakunnath Mathews Mar Athanasius 1843-77 First bishop to get direct ordination from the Patriarch of Antioch. Returning back, he claimed to be the Malankara Metropolitan. But when he introduced  reforms inspired by Protestant faith of English missionaries, he was removed.
 
Pulikottil Joseph Mar Dionysius V 1864-1909 A royal proclamation accepting Mar Dionysius 11 as the lawful Malankara Metropolitan was issued from the Regent Maharani Laxmibai of Travancore in January 1816. Thereafter, Mar Dionysius took over the reigns as the Malankara Metropolitan.
 
St. Dionysius (Vattasheril Gheevarghese Mar Dionysius V1)  1908-34 Elected by the Malankara Association 1908.
 
Reviving  the Catholicate of the East in India and its merger with Malankara Metropolitan
 
By the 20th century the non-Chalcedonian (Oriental Orthodox) Christians of the East were confined mostly to India. The Malankara Metropolitan Vattasheril Mar Dionysius negotiated with  Patriarch Mar Abded Messih. With the support of the Patriarch,  the Catholicate of the East was restored in India in 1912.  The identity and status of the Catholicate of the East was accepted in the Oriental Orthodox Ecumenical council of Addis Ababa, 1965, which was described in the official minutes as the Ecumenical Council of Orthodox Churches after the Council of Ephesus (AD 431). In this council, the Catholicos of the East was addressed "The Catholicos of the ancient See of St. Thomas".
 
Mar Baselios Paulos 1912-1914  Elected by the Malankara Association. Oriental Orthodox community of India under the leadership of Vattasheril Mar Divannasios (Mar Dionysius) negotiated with Antioch.  This resulted in reviving the Catholicate of the East in India.  The title "Maphroyono", which is a reduction introduced in 7th century was abolished and the original title of  the head of the East Church "Catholicos of the East" revived by the Indian Church of St. Thomas. 
 
Mar Baselios Geevarghese I 1925-28  Elected by the Malankara Association.
 
Mar Baselios Geevarghese II 1929-64  Elected by the Malankara Association. During his the Malankara Church remained united. the Constitution of 1934 was accepted as the united constituion of the Orthodox Syrian Church of the East.
 
Mar Baselios Ougen 1 1974-75 Elected by the Malankara Association. 

1965: Ecumenical Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Participated in the Ecumenical Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches held  in 1965, Addis Ababa, representing the Orthodox Church of India. This council is described as the fourth Ecumenical council of the Church after Ephesus (AD 431). 

When the Patriarch Yakub 111 of the Syrian Church taught that Apostle Thomas lacks in priesthood, Catholicos Mar Ougen strongly refuted the teaching and safeguarded the faith of St. Thomas Christians of India.
 
Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I 1975 -  Received Pope John Paul 11 of Rome and expressed the concerns about division caused by RCC leading to the formation of Malanakara Catholic Church.

Malankara Church represented in the dialogues between Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
 
Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II   Visited the Armenian Orthodox Church in 2001.

The March 20, 2002 Malankara Association decided his status as the Malankara Metropolitan and the Indian Supreme Court confirmed his status. 
 

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