Indian Christianity

Mar Gregorios Abdul Jaleel
HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA : M. M. NINAN
Mar Gregorios Abdul Jaleel
Mar Gregorius Abdul Jaleel of Jerusalem was associated with the Jacobite Patriarchate of Antioch. Thus
began the relation of the Syrian Church with the Antiochene Jacobites. Antiochians followed the St.
James Liturgy used by the West Syrian Orthodox Church and hence replaced the liturgy of the Apostles
Addai and Mari which were in use in Malankara. The Church came to be known as Malankara Jacobite
Syrian Orthodox Church. From 1665 to 1816, 'Mar Thoma' Metropolitans from the Pakalomattom family
ruled over the Malankara Church as Metropolitans. In 1670 Mor Thoma I and Mor Gregorious of
Jerusalem both jointly consecrated Mar Thoma II. Mor Thoma IV became head of the church in 1688 and
administered the Church for 40 odd years.
Mar Gregorious Abdul Jaleel stayed back in India. He was instrumental in the removal of the
enforcement of celebacy of priests. Since such rules invariably led to audulterous practices as St.Paul
himself pointed out, he encouraged those who aspire for priesthood to get married before the ordination
as Kaseesa. He also led an inconoclastic movement agaisnt the idols which the Portuguese brought into
the Church. Apparently no idols were in existence before the coming of Portugal. However Orthodox
Churches itself had its own theology of iconography. Mar Gregorios consecrated two Bishops in
Malankara.
Mar Thoma I
http://www.malankaraorthodox.tv/Church%20History/Coonan%20Cross%20oath.jpg
121