History of Kerala, India

There are other passages in ancient liturgies and martyrologies which refer to the work of Thomas in India. These passages indicate that the tradition that Thomas died in India was widespread among the early churches.

Rough chronology

History of Kerala
Pre-history
Pre-history of Kerala  · Edakkal Caves · Marayur
Sangam period
Sangam literature Muziris · Tyndis  Economy · Religion · Music Early Cheras Early Pandyas Ezhimalai kingdom Ay kingdom Saint Thomas Christians
[show]Medieval age
Modern age
Vasco da Gama Dutch East India Company  · Travancore–Dutch War  · Battle of Colachel Mysore–Eradi War Pazhassi Raja British East India Company  · Madras presidency  · Third Anglo–Mysore War  · Velu Thampi  · Malabar Rebellion  · Punnapra-Vayalar uprising Narayana Guru Travancore-Cochin Indian independence Madras State Kerala Communist Party of India Renaming of cities
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The Mar Thoma (Catholic) Church, Kodungaloor, Kerala, India. Believed to be one of the seven churches built by St. Thomas.

The St. Thomas (Catholic) Church Palayoor, Kerala. Believed to be one of the seven churches said to be built by Thomas.

The St Thomas (Catholic) Church, Kottakkavu, North Paravur, Kerala. Believed to be one of the seven churches said to be built by Thomas.

The St. Mary's (Orthodox) Church, Niranam, Kerala. Believed to be one of the seven churches said to be built by Thomas.

The St. Thomas (Catholic) Church Kokkamangalam, Kerala. Believed to be one of the seven churches said to be built by Thomas.

Thiruvithamcode Arappally or St. Mary's Orthodox Church, was said to be founded by Thomas in 63. It is known as Arapalli, short form of Arachan Palli (King’s Church).

Following is a rough chronology of events associated with St. Thomas Christianity.^[33]

[edit] First century

• 30 The Crucifixion.
• 40 Apostle Thomas in the service of King Gondophares in Takshasila in Pakistan
• 52 Apostle Thomas, landed at Muziris near Paravur, an ancient port city of Malabar (Present-day Kerala).
• 52–72 The Apostle founded 7 churches: Palayoor, Kodungaloor, Paravur, Kokkamangalam, Niranam, Nilackal (Chayal), Kollam^{[citation needed]} Five of the churches are preserved even now (see pictures). The church at Kollam is believed to have been submerged in sea^{[citation needed]}, possibly following tidal waves, while the actual location of the church at Chayal has not been identified conclusively. The church at Palayoor is also, identified wrongly, as historians conclude^{[citation needed]}, that the original town Palayoor is present day Arthat.
• 72 Martyrdom of Thomas in the vicinity of Mylapore, South India by Greeko-Persian King Misdeus as mentioned in Acts of Thomas .

[edit] II century

• 190 Pantaenus, the founder of the famous Catechetical School of Alexandria, visited India^{[citation needed]} and the Nasranies. He found that the local people were using the Gospel according to the Hebrews, often attributed to Saint Matthew. He took this Hebrew text back to his library at the School in Alexandria.^[34]

[edit] IV century

• 325 Archbishop John, of Persia and Great India, at the first Ecumenical Council of Nicea.^{[citation needed]}
• 345 First migration from Persia – Thomas of Cana landed at Cranganore with 72 families^{[citation needed]}.
• 340–360 By the Thazhekad Sasanam written in Pali the language the canonical language of Buddhists, the Nasranies granted special rights and privileges.^{[citation needed] [35]}
• 345 ^[36]Kuravilangad Church (Now Martha Mariam Catholic church) built by the first settlers who came from Kodungalloor.^{[citation needed]}
• Arrival of Mar Joseph of Edessa^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] VI century

• 510 Udayamperoor (Diamper) church built^{[citation needed]}
• 522 Cosmas Indicopleustes visited South India.

[edit] VIII century

• 774 Emperor Veera Raghava gives copperplate to Iravikorthan

[edit] IX century

• 824 Beginning of Kollavarsham (Malayalam Era).First Tharissapalli sasanam (Copper plate) by Stanu Ravi Gupta Perumaal to Nazranies.
• 824 from Persia. Mar Sabor and Mar Afroth at Quilon.^[37]
• 849 Deed given by King Ayann Adikal Thiruvadikal of Venad, to Easow-data-veeran (Tharisapalli plates) that grants 72 royal privileges of the Nazranies in which the Nasranis signed in three languages Hebrew Pahlavi and Kufic.^[38]

[edit] XI century

• 1123 Arakuzha church founded, Now the church is known as St Mary's Forane Church.

[edit] XIII century

• 1225 North Pudukkad church founded.
• 1293 Marco Polo, a Venetian traveler, visited the tomb of St. Thomas (at Mylapore).

[edit] XIV century

• 1305 St. Hormis church, Angamaly founded.
• 1325 Enammavu church founded.
• 1328 St. George church, Edappally founded.

[edit] XV century

• 1490 Two Nestorian bishops John and Thomas in Kerala.
• 1494 June 7 Treaty of Tordesillas. Division of the world and mission lands between Spain and Portugal.
• 1498 May 20 Vasco de Gama lands at Kappad near Kozhikode.
• 1499 Cabral’s fleet carried a vicar, eight secular priests, and eight Franciscans to Kozhikode,^[39]
• 1499. In Calicut, the friars reputedly converted a Brahman and some leading Nayars.^[40]

[edit] XVI century

• 1502 November 7 Vasco de Gama's second visit to Cochin.
• 1503 Dominican Priests at Kochi.
• 1503 Mar Yabella, Mar Denaha and Mar Yakoob from Persia in Kerala.
• 1503 September 27 Work commenced on Cochin Fort and the Santa Cruz church .
• 1514 Portuguese Padroado begun.
• 1514 Jewish migration from Kodungalloor to Kochi.
• 1514 June 12 Portuguese Funchal rule over Christians in India.
• 1524 December 24 Vasco de Gama buried at St. Francis Church, Fort Cochin.
• 1534 November 3 Goa Catholic Diocese erected. The Parishes of Kannur, Cochin, Quilon, Colombo and Sao Tome (Madras) belonged to it.
• 1540 The Franciscan Fr.Vincent De Lagos starts the Cranganore Seminary.
• 1542 May 6 St. Francis Xavier, Apostolic Nuncio in the East, reaches Goa.
• 1544–45 St. Francis Xavier in Travancore.
• 1548 Dominican Monastery founded in Cochin.
• 1549 Mar Abuna Jacob, A Chaldean Bishop, stayed at St. Antonio Monastery, Cochin.
• 1550 First Jesuit House in Kochi.
• 1552 December 3 Death of St. Francis Xavier.
• 1555 Mattancherry Palace was built by Portuguese for the King of Cochin.
• 1557 Pope Paul IV erects the Diocese of Cochin. Canonization process of Francis Xavier begun at Cochin.
• 1565 Archdiocese of Angamaly erected.
• 1567 Jews constructed a temple at Mattancherry^[41]
• 1568 Synagogue of White Jews built in Cochin.
• 1577 Vaippicotta Seminary of the Jesuits started.
• 1579 Augustinians reached Cochin.
• 1583 Synod at Angamaly by Bishop Mar Abraham.
• 1597 Bishop Mar Abraham, the last foreign Archbishop, died and was laid to rest at St. Hormis church, Angamaly.
• 1599 December 20 Fr. Francis Roz was declared bishop of Angamaly.
• 1599 June 20–26 Archbishop Alexis Menezes convenes the Synod of Diamper (Udayamperoor).

[edit] XVII century

• 1600 August 4 Padroado rule imposed on Nazranies.
• 1601 Francis Roz was appointed as the first Latin bishop of the St. Thomas Christians.
• 1609 December 3 Erection of the Diocese of Cranganore. The Archdiocese of Angamaly suppressed.
• 1610 December 22 The Metropolitan of Goa limits the Pastoral Jurisdiction of Nazranies to Malabar.
• 1624 Dominican Seminary at Kaduthuruthy.
• 1626 February 5 Edappally Ashram started for the Religious Community of St. Thomas Christians
• 1652 August 23 Mar Ahatallah in Madras, not allowed to enter Kerala.
• 1653 January 3 Coonan Cross Oath at Mattancherry, Cochin.
• 1653 May 22 Malankara Mooppen (Elder)Thomas Kathanar, ordained as Mar Thoma I at Alangad by the laying of hands by 12 priests.
• 1653–1670 Mar Thoma I.
• 1657 Apostolic Commissary Joseph of St. Mary OCD (Sebastiani), a Carmelite, in Malabar.
• 1659 December 3 The Vicariate of Malabar is erected by Pope Alexander VII.
• 1659 December 24 Joseph Sebastini bishop and appointed the Vicar Apostolic of Malabar.
• 1663 January 6 The Dutch conquer Cochin and destroy Catholic churches and institutions in Cochin, except the Cathedral and the church of St. Francis Assisi.
• 1665 Mar Gregorius Abdul Jaleel, believed to be from Antioch confirms the consecration of Marthoma I.
• 1670–1686 Mar Thoma II.Portuguese start campaigning to bring Nasranis again under Catholicism.
• 1682 Seminary for Syrians at Verapoly.
• 1685 Eldho Mor Baselios of Syrian Orthodox Church arrives at Kothamangalam from Persia.
• 1686 Hortus Malabaricus in 12 volumes printed in 17 years. Mathoma III ordained by Mar Ivanios Hirudyathulla (from Antioch).
• 1686–1688 Mar Thoma III.
• 1688–1728 Mar Thoma IV.

[edit] XVIII century

• 1709 March 13 Vicariate of Malabar is suppressed and the Vicariate of Verapoly is erected by Pope Clement XI.
• 1718–1723 Ollur St. Anthony's Forane Church was established.
• 1728–1765 Mar Thoma V.
• 1765–1808 Mar Thoma VI (Dionysius I)
• 1772 First Malayalam book Sampskhepa Vedartham (Rome) by Clement Pianius.
• 1773 Pope Clement XIV suppresses the Jesuit Order, except in Russia and Prussia.
• 1782 December 16 Kariyattil Joseph elected Archbp. of Cranganore; Consecr. Lisbon 1783; Died Goa on the way back to Malabar,9th Sept. 1786.
• 1785 Varthamanappusthakam, the first written travelogue in India by Paremakkal Thomma Kathanar.
• 1795 October 20 Conquest of Cochin by the British.

[edit] XIX century

• 1808–1809 Mar Thoma VII.
• 1809–1816 Mar Thoma VIII.
• 1816 Mar Thoma IX.
• 1815 March – The first educational institution in Kerala, Syrian Seminary, opens at Kottayam with Abraham Malpan, (Syriac), Konattu Varghese Malpan (Syriac) and Kunjan Assan (Sanskrit) as teachers.^[42]
• 1816 for 9 months. Mar Thoma X – Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious I (Dionysious II).
• 1816–1817 Mar Philoxenos II, Kidangan, of Malabar Independent Syrian Church (Thozhiyoor Sabha) as Malankara Metropolitan.^[43]
• 1817–1825 Mar Thoma XI- Punnathra Mar Dionysious (Dionysious III).
• 1818 C.M.S missionaries in Kerala.
• 1825–1852 Mar Thoma XII – Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius (Dionysius IV).
• 1838 April 24 Dioceses of Cochin and Crnaganore are annexed to the Vicariate of Verapoly.
• 1838 The Queen of Portugal suppressed all religious Orders in Portugal and in her mission lands.
• 1840 April 10 Kerala Catholics came under the archdiocese of Verapoly.
• 1852–1877 Mar Thoma XIII -Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan.
• 1861 May 20 Bishop Rocos sent by the Patriarch of Chaldea reaches Kerala.
• 1864–1909. Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious II (Dionysious V) Malankara Metropolitan, Jacobite Church.
• 1867 May 7 Property donated by Syrians to the King of Portugal to start a Seminary at Aluva. It was administered by the Diocese of Cochin.
• 1867 The Portuguese Missionaries start a seminary at Mangalapuzha for Syrian students.
• 1874 Bishop Mar Elias Mellus sent by the Patriarch of Chaldea reaches Kerala – Mellus Schism.
• 1875 June-HH Patriarch of Antioch Peter III arrives in Kerala.
• 1876 June 28–30 HH Patriarch of Antioch Peter III convenes the Mulanthuruthy Synod. A section of Saint Thomas Christians came under his jurisdiction^[44]
• 1877– 1893 Mar Thoma XIV – Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan, Malankara Marthoma Metropolitan.
• 1886 The Archdiocese of Cranganore is suppressed.
• 1887 May 19 The St. Thomas Christians are totally segregated from the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Verapoly and from the Padroado.
• 1893–1910 Mar Thoma XV – Titus I Mar Thoma Metropolitan, Malankara Marthoma Metropolitan.

[edit] XX century

1909–1934 St. Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril (Dionysius VI), Malankara Metropolitan, Jacobite Church.

• 1910–1944 Mar Thoma XVI – Titus II Mar Thoma Metropolitan, Malankara Marthoma Metropolitan.
• 1911–1917 H.G. Paulose Mor Koorilose Kochuparambil. Malankara Metropolitan of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church.)
• 1912–1914 H.H. Moran Mor Baselios Paulose I, Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Catholicos
• 1912 Re-instatement of Persian Orthodox Catholicos of the East in India by HH Abdul Messiah, Patriarch of Antioch.
• 1917–1953 St. Paulose Mor Athanasius (Valiya Thirumeni, Malankara Metropolitan of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church.)
• 1923 December 21 Establishment of the Syro-Malabar Hierarchy with Ernakulam as the Metropolitan See, Archbishop Mar Augustine Kandathil as the Metropolitan and Head of the Church, and Trichur, Changanacherry and Kottayam as Sufragan Sees.
• 1925–1928 H.H. Moran Mor Baselios Geevarghese I, Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Catholicos.
• 1927 March 19 Fr.Varghese Palakkappillil (Payapilly) founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Destitute.

• 1929 October 5 Death of Varghese Palakkappillil.
• 1929–1934 H.H. Moran Mor Baselios Geevarghese II, Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Catholicos.
• 1930 September 20 Syro-Malankara Catholic Church separates from Malankara Syrian Church by accepting Pope of Rome, under the leadership of Archbishop Mar Ivanios.
• 1932 June 11 The establishment of the Syro-Malankara Hierarchy by Pope Pius XI. Mar Ivanios becomes Archbishop of Trivandrum, and Mar Theophilus Bishop of Tiruvalla.
• 1934 Malankara Syrian Church accepts new constitution.
• 1934–1964 H.H. Moran Mor Baselios Geevarghese II, Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Catholicose of the East & Malankara Metropolitan).
• 1944–1947 Mar Thoma XVII – Abraham Mar Thoma Metropolitan, Malankara Marthoma Metropolitan.
• 1947–1976 Mar Thoma XVIII – Juhanon Mar Thoma Metropolitan, Malankara Marthoma Metropolitan.
• 1947 November 2 Bishop Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala declared first native Indian saint along with Catholicos Baselios Eldho.
• 1950 July 18 The Portuguese Padroado over the Diocese of Cochin (from 1557 February 4 till 1950 July 18) suppressed and the Diocese of Cochin handed over to native clergy.
• 1952 December 28–31 Jubilee Celebration of St. Thomas and St. Francis Xavier at Ernakulam.
• 1961 January 26 St. Thomas Evangelical Church was inaugurated (Separated from the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar)
• 1964–1975 H.H. Moran Mor Baselios Augen I, Malankara Orthodox Catholicose of the East & Malankara Metropolitan).
• 1972 Fraction split in Malankara Syrian Church as 'Jacobite fraction' (in favour of full submission to the Antiochian Patriarch) and 'Orthodox fraction' (in favour of autocephaly).
• 1972 December 27, The 19th Centenary of the Martydom of St. Thomas the Apostle is celebrated at Ernakulam under the auspices of Orthodox, Catholic, Jacobite, Marthoma and C.S.I. Churches.
• 1973 July 3 The Governor of Kerala and the Cardinal release the St. Thomas Stamp and the T.En.II for sale.
• 1975–1991 H.H. Moran Mor Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I, Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Catholicose of the East & Malankara Metropolitan).
• 1975–1996 Aboon Mor Baselios Paulose II, Malankara Syriac Orthodox (Jacobite) Catholicoi and Malankara Metropolitan
• 1976-1999Mar Thoma XIX – Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan, Malankara Marthoma Metropolitan.
• 1986 February 1–10 Visit of Pope John Paul II to India.
• 1986 February 8 Fr. Chavara Kuriakose Elias and Sr. Alphonsa are proclaimed blessed by Pope John Paul II.

• 1991–2005 H.H. Moran Mor Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II (Catholicose of the East & Malankara Metropolitan).
• 1999–2007 Mar Thoma XX – Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Metropolitan, Malankara Marthoma Metropolitan.

[edit] XXI century

• 2002 Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I enthroned as Malankara Syriac Orthodox (Jacobite) Catholicoi and Malankara Metropolitan.
• 2005 H.H. Moran Mor Baselios Mar Thoma Didymos I, enthroned as Catholicose of the East & Malankara Metropolitan.
• 2005 February 10 Pope John Paul II elevated the Archdiocese of Trivandrum to a Major Archdiocese, elevating the Archbishop to Major Archbishop (called Catholicos by Syro-Malankara Catholics)
• 2007 Mar Thoma XXI – Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan enthroned as Malankara Marthoma Metropolitan.
• 2007 December 25 Different fractions were merged in St. Thomas Evangelical Church(Church and Fellowship fraction)
• 2009 September 6 Varghese Palakkappillil declared Servant of God.
• 2010 November 1 H.H. Moran Mor Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II, enthroned as Catholicose of the East & Malankara Metropolitan.

[edit]