Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Mar Thoma Syrian Church" in English language version.
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(help)The Mar Thoma Syrian Church, which represents the Protestant Reform movement, broke away from the Syrian Orthodox Church in the 19th century.
The Syrian Orthodox also became the target of Anglican missionary activity, as a result of which the Mar Thoma Church separated from the Orthodox in 1874, adopting the Anglican confession of faith and a reformed Syrian liturgy conforming to Protestant principles.
On the death of Mathews Mar Athanasios, Metran of the Malankara Syrian Church, in 1877, he was succeeded by Thomas Mar Athanasios, who lost control over most of his parishes and church buildings in a series of lawsuits filed during his sixteen-year reign by rival Metran Dionysios V. Subsequently, his movement was renamed the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, and gradually absorbed elements of both Anglicanism and evangelism, as new parishes were established and reforms effected. It remains today the most Protestant of all the Malabar Syrian churches.
Metropolitan Juhanon Mar Thoma called it "a Protestant Church in an oriental grab."...As a reformed Oriental Church, it agrees with the reformed doctrines of the Western Churches. Therefore, there is much in common in faith and doctrine between the MTC and the reformed Churches of the West. As the Church now sees it, just as the Anglican Church is a Western Reformed Church, the MTC is an Eastern Reformed Church. At the same time as it continues in the apostolic episcopal tradition and ancient oriental practices, it has much in common with the Oriental Orthodox Churches. Thus, it is regarded as a "bridging Church".
The Mar Thoma Church combines evangelical and reformed doctrines with ancient forms of worship and practices. As a reformed Church with progressive outlook, it agrees with the reformed doctrines of Western Churches. Therefore, in the days of ecumenism, there is much in common between the Mar Thoma Church and other reformed Churches. At the same time as it continues the Apostolic Episcopal tradition and ancient Oriental practices, it has much in common with the Orthodox Churches. Thus it is regarded by many in the ecumenical world as a bridging Church.
The Reformers calls themselves the "Mar Thomas Christians". They are considerably Protestantized. They have no images, denounce the idea of the Eucharistic sacrifice, pray neither to the saints nor for the dead, and use the vernacular (Malayalam) for their services…If only we knew what the views of the Church of England in matters of faith are, it would be easier to estimate those of the Mar Thomas Christians.
The Church has accepted the Bible and the Nicene Creed, as the basis of its faith and doctrines…Another major change was that prayers for the departed souls and Saints were removed from the liturgy and considers praying for the dead and praying to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to Saints are opposed to the canon and Scripture. The Church does not validate the practice of seeking the intercession of Saints for lack of biblical reference. In the case of priesthood, the Church believes that the priest is only the representative of the people. The Church affirms the priesthood of the laity and believes that Christ alone is the mediator...Regarding the priesthood, the Church believes that the celebrant is a representative of the people and affirms that Christ alone is the mediator. This Church does not recognize the "priestly mediation".
But his main emphasis was the gospel of personal salvation through faith in Christ and the renewal of personal life and relations, which justification by faith would make possible. This of course was the new emphasis he had learned from the western mission. It was with this end in view that he made the revision in the liturgy of Holy Communion. Besides emphasising justification by faith rather than by religious works, the Malpan gave expression to the priesthood of the whole people of Christ over against the priesthood of the clergy.
Following are the major changes Abraham Malpan made in his revision of liturgy and practice. The reformers also emphasized that we are saved by the grace of God and not by any human deed or work. Through repentance and confession, we have to come to the Lord to receive His grace.
The reformation in the Malankara Church had several elements of the protestant reformation that took place in the 16th century in Europe under the leadership of Martin Luther...A recovery of the Lutheran maxim of the "priesthood of all believers" and the reclamation of the Christian vocation as the task of the whole Church, signalled a re-alignment of the nature of the ministry and mission. The ministry was no longer solely equated with the activities of the clergy, but rather became something exercised by the whole people of God, in the Church and the world.(pages 42-43) The office of the priesthood: The role of the priest was accepted as a representative of the people, before God. An emphasis on the priesthood of all believers (the general priesthood) was give more importance in the liturgy.(pages 83-84) In the case of priesthood, the Church believes that the priest is only the representative of the people. The Church affirms the priesthood of the laity and believes that Christ alone is the mediator.(page 94) Regarding the priesthood, the Church believes that the celebrant is a representative of the people and affirms that Christ alone is the mediator. This Church does not recognize the "priestly mediation".(pages 96-97)
Under the influence of the British officers and the missionaries, the Government by Royal Proclamation recognised Mathews Mar Athanasius as Malankara Metropolitan.
No doubt conscious of the fact that Mathews Mar Athanasios enjoyed support from the British, the Patriarch travelled first to London where he met the Archbishop of Canterbury and a number of Government representatives.......Gradually the British Government and the Churchmen involved came to accept that a position of neutrality regarding who should be Malankara Metropolitan was the only realistic compromise. Archbishop Tait communicated this to Peter III, though his references to the desirability of worship in the vernacular and the distribution of the Scriptures, show where his instincts lay.
In 1875 Patriarch Peter III Ignatius visited Malabar. Perceiving that his authority was getting steadily eroded because of the popularity of Mathew Mar Athanasius, the patriarch excommunicated him and his clique.
The Patriarch excommunicated Mathew Mar Athanasius and the pro-Anglican group from the Malankara Jacobite Church.
Letters, petitions and telegrams were sent by the Reformers to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the British Government and the governor in Madras. Some of these were from individual Syrian Christians, others from groups. Eighteen individuals from Kunnamkulam, the nearest town to Thozhiyur, for example, sent a Memorial to Tait, begging him to intervene on behalf of Mathews Mar Athanasios. Thomas Mar Athanasios, the Suffragan Metropolitan, asked Tait to save the Syrian Church from 'the thraldom which threatens it at present'. Mathews Mar Athanasios himself sent a Memorial to the Marquis of Salisbury, pointing out that the Malabar Church was independent and that there was no precedent of a Patriarch ever deposing or excommunicating a Malankara Metropolitan. It was all to no avail. Mathews Mar Athanasios was to all intents and purposes abandoned by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
1876 Patriarch Peter tries to persuade British to declare Mar Dionysius V as lawful Metropolitan, since he had excommunicated Mathews Mar Athanasius. British refuse, withdraw recognition of Mar Athanasius and ask the Indian Christians to approach the civil courts to decide who is lawful Metropolitan.
While the new Bishops knelt before the Moderator of the CNI, Most Rev. Dr R. S. Bhandare, His Grace Metropolitan Alexander Mar Thoma, and seven other bishops of the CNI put their hands upon the heads the Bishops, thereby invoking the Holy Spirit by saying: Send forth your Holy Spirit upon your servants
Then followed the Consecration of new Bishops coming from the UCNI, ' British ' Methodist, Baptist, Disciples and Church – of – the Brethren traditions. The Bishops taking part in the Consecration were the retiring Metropolitan of the Anglican Church in India, the Most Rev. Lakdasa de Mel, and the Right Revs. Christopher Robinson and John Sadiq, together with the Moderator of the CSI and Bishop Mar Theophilus of the Mar Thoma Church. The Ordinal used was that of the Church of South India
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: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Theodosius believes the time will come when transgender people will be ordained as priests in the church. "It is quite possible. But don't expect this all of a sudden. It may take time, but it is likely."
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)It was also agreed that in the consecration of Bishops by either Church, the Bishops of the other Church should participate. Thus ministry of the two Churches was mutually accepted in full.
Christianity never banned priesthood and baptism for transgender people, and the Holy Bible very well clarified this, the Mar Thoma Metropolitan, Joseph Mar Thoma, has said...He said the baptism of an Ethiopian eunuch by Philip and the prophesy of Isaiah amply justified this bare truth. The role played by the eunuch in the formation of the Ethiopian Church too was noteworthy in this regard, he said. The Metropolitan said the tendency to keep the transgender people away from the mainstream by misinterpreting the Gospel and the prophesies should be rejected.
"The baptism of an Ethiopian eunuch by Philip and the prophesy of Isaiah amply justified this bare truth. The role played by the eunuch in the formation of the Ethiopian Church too was noteworthy in this regard.
The Mar Thoma Syrian Church, which represents the Protestant Reform movement, broke away from the Syrian Orthodox Church in the 19th century.
The Syrian Orthodox also became the target of Anglican missionary activity, as a result of which the Mar Thoma Church separated from the Orthodox in 1874, adopting the Anglican confession of faith and a reformed Syrian liturgy conforming to Protestant principles.
On the death of Mathews Mar Athanasios, Metran of the Malankara Syrian Church, in 1877, he was succeeded by Thomas Mar Athanasios, who lost control over most of his parishes and church buildings in a series of lawsuits filed during his sixteen-year reign by rival Metran Dionysios V. Subsequently, his movement was renamed the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, and gradually absorbed elements of both Anglicanism and evangelism, as new parishes were established and reforms effected. It remains today the most Protestant of all the Malabar Syrian churches.
The Reformers calls themselves the "Mar Thomas Christians". They are considerably Protestantized. They have no images, denounce the idea of the Eucharistic sacrifice, pray neither to the saints nor for the dead, and use the vernacular (Malayalam) for their services…If only we knew what the views of the Church of England in matters of faith are, it would be easier to estimate those of the Mar Thomas Christians.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link){{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires |journal=
(help)The Church has accepted the Bible and the Nicene Creed, as the basis of its faith and doctrines…Another major change was that prayers for the departed souls and Saints were removed from the liturgy and considers praying for the dead and praying to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to Saints are opposed to the canon and Scripture. The Church does not validate the practice of seeking the intercession of Saints for lack of biblical reference. In the case of priesthood, the Church believes that the priest is only the representative of the people. The Church affirms the priesthood of the laity and believes that Christ alone is the mediator...Regarding the priesthood, the Church believes that the celebrant is a representative of the people and affirms that Christ alone is the mediator. This Church does not recognize the "priestly mediation".
But his main emphasis was the gospel of personal salvation through faith in Christ and the renewal of personal life and relations, which justification by faith would make possible. This of course was the new emphasis he had learned from the western mission. It was with this end in view that he made the revision in the liturgy of Holy Communion. Besides emphasising justification by faith rather than by religious works, the Malpan gave expression to the priesthood of the whole people of Christ over against the priesthood of the clergy.
Following are the major changes Abraham Malpan made in his revision of liturgy and practice. The reformers also emphasized that we are saved by the grace of God and not by any human deed or work. Through repentance and confession, we have to come to the Lord to receive His grace.
The reformation in the Malankara Church had several elements of the protestant reformation that took place in the 16th century in Europe under the leadership of Martin Luther...A recovery of the Lutheran maxim of the "priesthood of all believers" and the reclamation of the Christian vocation as the task of the whole Church, signalled a re-alignment of the nature of the ministry and mission. The ministry was no longer solely equated with the activities of the clergy, but rather became something exercised by the whole people of God, in the Church and the world.(pages 42-43) The office of the priesthood: The role of the priest was accepted as a representative of the people, before God. An emphasis on the priesthood of all believers (the general priesthood) was give more importance in the liturgy.(pages 83-84) In the case of priesthood, the Church believes that the priest is only the representative of the people. The Church affirms the priesthood of the laity and believes that Christ alone is the mediator.(page 94) Regarding the priesthood, the Church believes that the celebrant is a representative of the people and affirms that Christ alone is the mediator. This Church does not recognize the "priestly mediation".(pages 96-97)
Under the influence of the British officers and the missionaries, the Government by Royal Proclamation recognised Mathews Mar Athanasius as Malankara Metropolitan.
No doubt conscious of the fact that Mathews Mar Athanasios enjoyed support from the British, the Patriarch travelled first to London where he met the Archbishop of Canterbury and a number of Government representatives.......Gradually the British Government and the Churchmen involved came to accept that a position of neutrality regarding who should be Malankara Metropolitan was the only realistic compromise. Archbishop Tait communicated this to Peter III, though his references to the desirability of worship in the vernacular and the distribution of the Scriptures, show where his instincts lay.
In 1875 Patriarch Peter III Ignatius visited Malabar. Perceiving that his authority was getting steadily eroded because of the popularity of Mathew Mar Athanasius, the patriarch excommunicated him and his clique.
The Patriarch excommunicated Mathew Mar Athanasius and the pro-Anglican group from the Malankara Jacobite Church.
Letters, petitions and telegrams were sent by the Reformers to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the British Government and the governor in Madras. Some of these were from individual Syrian Christians, others from groups. Eighteen individuals from Kunnamkulam, the nearest town to Thozhiyur, for example, sent a Memorial to Tait, begging him to intervene on behalf of Mathews Mar Athanasios. Thomas Mar Athanasios, the Suffragan Metropolitan, asked Tait to save the Syrian Church from 'the thraldom which threatens it at present'. Mathews Mar Athanasios himself sent a Memorial to the Marquis of Salisbury, pointing out that the Malabar Church was independent and that there was no precedent of a Patriarch ever deposing or excommunicating a Malankara Metropolitan. It was all to no avail. Mathews Mar Athanasios was to all intents and purposes abandoned by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
1876 Patriarch Peter tries to persuade British to declare Mar Dionysius V as lawful Metropolitan, since he had excommunicated Mathews Mar Athanasius. British refuse, withdraw recognition of Mar Athanasius and ask the Indian Christians to approach the civil courts to decide who is lawful Metropolitan.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Christianity never banned priesthood and baptism for transgender people, and the Holy Bible very well clarified this, the Mar Thoma Metropolitan, Joseph Mar Thoma, has said...He said the baptism of an Ethiopian eunuch by Philip and the prophesy of Isaiah amply justified this bare truth. The role played by the eunuch in the formation of the Ethiopian Church too was noteworthy in this regard, he said. The Metropolitan said the tendency to keep the transgender people away from the mainstream by misinterpreting the Gospel and the prophesies should be rejected.
"The baptism of an Ethiopian eunuch by Philip and the prophesy of Isaiah amply justified this bare truth. The role played by the eunuch in the formation of the Ethiopian Church too was noteworthy in this regard.
Theodosius believes the time will come when transgender people will be ordained as priests in the church. "It is quite possible. But don't expect this all of a sudden. It may take time, but it is likely."
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)It was also agreed that in the consecration of Bishops by either Church, the Bishops of the other Church should participate. Thus ministry of the two Churches was mutually accepted in full.
While the new Bishops knelt before the Moderator of the CNI, Most Rev. Dr R. S. Bhandare, His Grace Metropolitan Alexander Mar Thoma, and seven other bishops of the CNI put their hands upon the heads the Bishops, thereby invoking the Holy Spirit by saying: Send forth your Holy Spirit upon your servants
Then followed the Consecration of new Bishops coming from the UCNI, ' British ' Methodist, Baptist, Disciples and Church – of – the Brethren traditions. The Bishops taking part in the Consecration were the retiring Metropolitan of the Anglican Church in India, the Most Rev. Lakdasa de Mel, and the Right Revs. Christopher Robinson and John Sadiq, together with the Moderator of the CSI and Bishop Mar Theophilus of the Mar Thoma Church. The Ordinal used was that of the Church of South India