Four Historic Documents 1 - Syrian Christians in Kerala 2 - The Ancient Syrian Church 3 - Were the Syrian Christians Nestorians? 4 - Christians in Malabar

196 Pages·2002·12.8 MB·English

by  Kuriakose Corepiscopa Moolayil (Editor)

Kuriakose Corepiscopa Moolayil
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Anyone who asks for this volume, to
read, collate, or copy from it, and who
appropriates it to himself or herself, or
cuts anything out of it, should realize
that (s)he will have to give answer before
Gods awesome tribunal as if (s)he had
robbed a sanctuary. I .et such a person be
held anathema and receive no forgiveness
until the book is returned. So be it.
Amen! And anyone who removes these
anathemas, digitally or otherwise, shall
himself receive them in double.
FOUR FIISTORIC DOCUMENTS
Edited by
Dr. Kuriakose Corepiscopa Moolayil
Published by
Mor Adai Study Centre
Cheeranchira, Changanacherry
686106
Four Historic Documents
(English)
Edited by
Dr. Kuriakose Corepiscopa Moolayil
Published by : Mor Adai Study Centre
Cheeranchira, Changanacherry
Kerala - 686106
Tel: +481 - 724353
e-mail: [email protected]
June 2002 Printed ai D C Press (P) Ltd.
Price: Rs. 1 50/-
U.S.S 20 (including postage)
Contents
]. Introduction
2. The Syrian Christians in India
Dr. Claudius Buchanan
3. The Ancient Syrian Church
Mr. O.H. Parry
4. Were the Syrian Christians Nestorians?
Rev. Dn. P.T. Geevarghese M
(Archbishop Mor Ivanios)
5. Christians in Malabar - Justice K.K. Lukose

Introduction
The history of the Syrian Church in India is seriously ar loss
in keeping the documents related to its heritage and history. The
Pre-Portugal period is totally in darkness due to the lack of pri¬
mary evidences. There is very little or no trace of any books or
manuscripts of this period written by Indians. The scanty infor¬
mations we have are the writings of the travellers from abroad.
These secondary evidences are the basic source materials to bridge
the black spots in the Indian Church History.
The first systematic history of the Syrian Church in India
was written by Pukadiyil Itoop writer in Malayalam. Later by the
beginning of the 20th century the scholar and the secretary of the
Syrian Church, Mr. E.M. Philip prepared the most authoritative
and methodologically written history of the Indian Church, The
Indian Church of St. Thomas. This is the first attempt of a Syrian
Church member to present the history of his church in English.
The books written by the outside scholars were biased and at times
disparaging. The rejuvenation achieved by the English education
prompted young scholars of the Syrian Church give impetus to
present their Church's heritage and to defend the faith and doc¬
trines in a convincing scholarly manner. Rev. Dr. P.T. Geevarghese
M.A. (later Mor Ivanios, Archbishop of Trivandrum) wrote a the¬
sis on the Pre-portuguese theological position of the Syrian Church
titled Were the Syrian Christians Nestorians? He could arrive at a
decisive conclusion that the Malankara Church could not have been
anything but Jacobite before the fifteenth ce?itury.
These books in its English rendering were out of print for
almost a century. It is my earnest conviction that these books in
6
its originality will bear much light to the exact understanding of
the history of the Syrian Church.
MorAdai Study Centre is presenting in two volumes of these
books.
1. The Syrian Christians in India by Claudius Buchanan, The
Ancient Syrian Church in Mesopotamia by O.H. Parry, Were the
Syrian Christians Nestorians? by Rev.Dn. P.T. Geevarghese and the
article of the Hon. Justice K.K. Lukose titled Christians in Malabar.
2. The famous book The Indian Church of St. Thomas by
E.M. Philip.
We are sure these books will help all those who are interested
in the history of this ancient Church.
Dedicating to the glory of God and the adoration of the holy
and universal church.
Kuriakose Corepiscopa Moolayil
Fr. Dr. George Mathew NalunnakaJ
Cheeranchira Directors
11 06-2002 Mor Adai Study Centre
-
Four Historic Documents
Part I
Chapter on
The Syrian Christians in India
from
Rev. Dr. Claudius Buchanan's
Christian Researches in Asia
Editor's Note
The visit of Dr. Claudius Buchanan to the Syrian Church in
India is an epoch making event in the history of the Syrian Church.
His travelogue on this journey attracted historians of all times.
The preliminary discussions on the translation of the Bible,
the presentation of the very ancient Syriac manuscript, written
during the time of Patriarch Michael Rabo, by the venerable
Metropolitan Mor Dionasius and the conversations recorded at
various places are rich resources to connect the faith, culture and
history of the Syrian Church in earlier centuries.
The Chapter on 'The Syrian Christian in India' in the book,
'Christian Researches in Asia' is reproduced here. I am sure all the
students of Church History will most cordially welcome this
publication.
I am indebted to my friend, Mr. Kurian Thomas for helping
me to find the rare copy of this most valuable document. I express
my sincere gratitude.
Dedicating this part to the honour of Dr. Claudius Buchanan,
who loved the Syrian Church and its members by supplying copies
of the Syriac Bible on the gospels in Malayalam. May God give
him rest and peace.
Kuriakose Corepiscopa Moolayil