History:

The Malabar Independent Syrian Church (Thozhiyur Sabha) is an ancient in church the Syrian Orthodox tradition in South India. The Church is located in Thozhiyoor Thrissur District, Kerala State. The Cathedral is at Thozhiyur, a small village near Kunnamkulam and Guruvayur .

Most.Rev. Cyril Mar Baselius Metropolitan is Consecrated as Metropolitan , Supreme Head and Permanent Trustee of Malabar Independent Syrian Church since 28.05.2001

CHURCH HISTORY:

Christianity came to India in A.D.52, when St Thomas came to Kerala. He founded 7 churches and Passed Away in Madras. The churches he founded are called Syrian churches because Syriac is the traditional liturgical language.

This was compromised when the Portuguese tried to bring the indigenous church under Latin rule. Those who asserted their historic independence at the Coonan Cross, followed the West Syrian tradition.

In 1772 Mar Gregorios consecrated Abraham Mar Koorilose as bishop. This was not appreciated by his fellow bishop, who hindered his ministry. Mar Koorilose eventually retired to Thozhiyur where he led a life of prayer. He has been recorded as doing one miraculous healing of a Muslim boy and many others

The episcopal line was maintained and the church faithfully continued in its worship and prayers. When the orthodox church ran out of bishops, MISC consecrated three bishops for the Malankara Church.

MISC also consecrated a bishop for the Mar Thoma Syrian Church, which remains a sister church. When MISC had a no bishops, the Mar Thoma church consecrated a bishop for MISC. keeping all traditional worships and prayers, the MISC has developed and interchurch relationship with the Mar Thoma Syrian Church and it is considered as sister church .

The church today is expanding out of its centre in Thozhiyur. A new church was recently consecrated in Cochin. New congregations are also developing in the heartland.

MISC is the member of NATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONFERANCE OF ASIA COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN INDIA AND KERALA COUNCIL OF CHURCHES .

There have been other developing links, not least with the Anglican and Lutheran churches. This has been facilitated through a Support Group based in England, where it is a registered charitable trust.

MISC runs a hospital and a number of schools as the symbol of its social committment keepimg up . This is as a part of Christian service to all those around.


Malabar Independent Syrian Church (Thozhiyur Sabha) was founded by Kattumangattu Abraham Mar Koorilose, Metropolitan of Malankara in 1772. He was a metropolitan consecrated by Mar Gregorios of Jerusalem at Mattancherry.As the then church leaders tortured him, he could not live in the state of Travancore .As a result he went to Malabar and settled at Anjoor in Thrissur district. A local chieftain of Anjoor Hydrosekutty Moopan was impressed by his devotion and donated a coconut grove to the metropolitan. There the headquarters of the Church was established, Koorilose Bava died on July 10, 1802 .
Most.Rev. Joseph Mar Koorilose Metroploitan renounciated(Retaired) on 28.05.2001. on the same day Most.Rev. Cyril Mar Baselious Metropolitan Was consecrated as metropolitan , Supreme head and Permanent Trustee Malabar Independent Syrian Church. The Sabha Mandalam Of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church held On 10 th December 2000 And unanimously elected Rev. Fr. K.C.Sunny aS the designate of metropolitan.On 3 rd March 2001 he was consecrated as Ramban- as Very.Rev Sunny Ramban consecrated On 10 th March 2001as The Episcopa named as Cril Mar Baselius and on 28th May 2001 Consecrated as Mar Baselius Metropolitan on The same Day ( 28.05.2001)the then Metropolitan Joseph Mar
Koorilose handed over , all his wordly and spiritual powers to Most.Rev. Cyril Mar Baselious Metropolitan. Kerala is on the south-east coast of India. It is divided into various districts of which Trichur is one.

Christianity has been long established in Kerala, with the arrival of St Thomas the apostle in AD52. Christians form about 30% of the population, the rest being Hindu and Muslim. There's also a small Jewish community in Cochin.

Kerala is famous for its spices. Pepper, cardamom, and ginger are all grown here. Tea is grown in the mountains, and rubber is an important crop in the hills. Rice is grown in many places, and coconuts are particularly important on the coast. There are rich fisheries both at sea and in the rivers and lakes.

Kerala is densely populated, and many of the inhabitants have gone to work outside of the state. It is famous for having elected a communist government in and out of power. The Malabar Independent Syrian Church is located in Thrissur District. The Cathedral is at Thozhiyur, a small village near to Kunnamkulam and Guruvayur. There are congregations in Chennai , Coimbatore, and Cochin.Thozhiyur is a place of coconut trees, being on the sandy coastal plain

Former Metropolitans
1. Kattumangattu Abraham Mar Koorilose I (1771-1802)

2. Kattumangattu Geevarghese Mar Koorilose II (1802-1807),

3. Skaria Mar Philexenos I (1807-1811),

4. Geevarghese Mar Philexenos II (1811-1829),

5. Geevarghese Mar Koorilose III (1829-1856),

6. Joseph Mar Koorilose IV (1856-1888),

7. Joseph Mar Athanasios I (1888-1898),

8. Geevarghese Mar Koorilose V (1898-1935)

9. Kuriakose Mar Koorilose VI (1935-1947),

10.Geevarghese Mar Koorilose VII (1948-1967),

11. Paulose Mar Philexenos III (1967- 1977),

12. Mathew Mar Koorilose VIII (1978-1986),

13. Joseph Mar Koorilose IX (Aug.27, 1986).

14.Most.Rev. Cyril Mar Bbaselius Metropolitan (28.05.2001)


 

Metropolitan

OFFICIAL ADDRESS
MOST.REV. CYRIL MAR BASELIOUS METROPOLITAN
MALABAR INDEPENDENT SYRIAN CHURCH SABHA
Bishop Palace
THOZHIYOOR P.O. THRISSUR (DIST)KERALA, INDIA,
PINCODE 680520
Phone: office 0487 2681085

mobile +919447992783
e mail ID: bishopcyril@gmail.com