Acts of Apostle Thomas

XX RECENT HISTORY : M. M. NINAN
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x. The prayer: "Thou are the hard rock which was set against the tomb of our Redeemer" (referring to the
Eucharist bread), was replaced by: “Thou art that tested and precious hard rock rejected by the builders”
(converted it into a reference to Christ).
The following changes were made to the practices of the Church:
It was decided that the Eucharist should be administered in both kinds.
The practice of auricular confession and obtaining absolution from the priests was abolished.
The practice of celebrating the Eucharist when there was nobody to partake of it was abolished
The missionary oriented Marthomite Church though started as a small church grew strong in time. The Sunday
school Samajam (The institution of Sunday School) and the Suvisesha Sangham (evangelism board) have played
a big role in this reformation. Punchamannil Mammen Upadeshi, Edayaranmula Sadhu Kochu Kunju Upadeshi,
Pennamma Sanyasini and several preachers led the revival in Marthoma Church at the dawn of the 20th century, I
n 1895, the Maramon Convention was started in the sands of Pampa, which became the biggest convention in the
world.
AD 1912 – 1972
Malankara Orthodox church
Malankara Jacobite Church
Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
Though the acceptance of the Antiochian supremacy was expedient for those opposing the reformation, not all
members of the church were happy with it. This group sent a request to the Patriarch of Syria to ordain a
Catholicos for Malankara. Patriarch Abdul Messiah of that time denied the request. Few years later the next
Patriarch, Abdulla came to Kerala and wanted Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysios to sign a document
declaring that the Patriarch had temporal powers over the Malankara Church. Mar Dionysios refused to sign this
document and he was therefore excommunicated by the Patriarch.
The church consequently split into two groups, one group supporting the Patriarch and called themselves the
"Bava party" and the group of supporting Mar Dionysios called themselves the "Metran party". Following a
request by Mar Dionysios in 1912 to Patriarch Mar Abdul Messiah to come to Kerala and enthrone a Catholicos
in 1964 a Catholicos was ordained as Catholicos Augen I. In 1972 the "Bava party" with their own Catholicos and
bishops separated themselves and formed the Malankara Orthodox Church. The Other group is known as the
Malankara Syrian Church. or commonly called as Jacobite Church.
Malankara Metropolitan had deposited about 3,000 Poovarahan (gold coin currency of Kerala at that time) on 8%
interest, with the British government. This desposit money is known as Vatti paanam. As the Church got
seperated a raging court case ensued which prolonged over many years in bitterness to both groups.
In the midst of these power struggle in AD 1930 A group of people left the Jacobite church together with Mar
Ivanios and Mar Theophilos to join the Roman Catholic following the Syro-Malankara Rites and Liturgies. This
Church is commonly known as Reeth Sabha. Later two other Bishops, Mar Savarios and Thomas Mar Diyascorus
also joined with the Syro Malankara Rites.
The Pentecostal Movement
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