Malabar Independent Syrian Church - Metropolitans

Metropolitans

Following is the list of Metropolitans of the Malabar Independent Syrian church.

Mar Cyril I (Kattumangatt Kurien)– (1772–1802).

Cyril was the first Metropolitan of the church. As a boy he impressed the visiting Bishop Mar Ivanios of Jerusalem by correcting a deacon's liturgical mistake at Mulanthuruthy Church. Ivanios later ordained both Kurien and his brother Geevarghese as deacons, then priests, before returning to Jerusalem in 1751. He later became a monk under Mar Baselios and Mar Gregorios, and was a leader in the local opposition to Malankara Metropolitan Mar Dionysius I. He was consecrated as Bishop by Gregorios, fomenting the tensions with Dionysius that ultimately resulted in the formation of the independent Thozhyur church. He died on July 10, 1802.

Mar Cyril II (Kattumangatt Geevarghese) – (1802–1807).

Known as the Younger Bava, Geevarghese was the younger brother of Mar Cyril I. He was ordained as a deacon and then priest along with his brother by Mar Ivanios. Cyril I consecrated him as bishop and named him his successor in 1794, and he succeeded his brother as Mar Cyril II in 1802. He consecrated Skaria Mar Philexenos and Joseph Mar Ivanios as suffragans. Geevarghese Mar Koorilose died on May 29, 1809, and was laid to rest at Vettical Dayara, Mulanthuruthi.

Skaria Mar Philexenos (Cheeran) – (1807–1811)

He was consecrated by Geevarghese Mar Koorilose.

Geevarghese Mar Philexenos II (Kidangan) (1811–1829)

He was consecrated by Skaria Mar Philexenos. During his period Mar Thoma IX was the Metropolitan of the Malankara Church, but because he was not accepted by the people and clergy, the Reverend Ittoop Kathanar from Kunnamkulam was selected to succeed him. However, there was no bishop to consecrate him, so members of the Malankara Church invited Mar Philexenos from Thozhyoor for the consecration. Even though his ancestors were driven out of the Malankara Church, without a grudge he accepted the invitation. The Reverend Ittoop Kathanar was consecrated on March 22, 1816, and was given the episcopal title Pulikottil Joseph Mar Dionysius. However, in November that same year, Joseph Mar Dionysius died. Because there were no other metropolitans in Malankara at that time, Mar Philoxenos was accepted as Malankara Metropolitan and the concerned governments issued Royal Proclamation. This proclamation was lifelong. On October 19, 1817, he consecrated Punnathara Mar Dionysious and returned to Thozhyoor, but Punnathara Mar Dionysious died on May 17, 1825. Mar Philoxenos was again invited and he consecrated Cheppad Mar Dionysios for the Malankara Church. Mar Philoxenos died on February 7, 1829.

Geevarghese Mar Koorilose (Kuthoorey) (1829–1856).

Mar Philexenos did not appoint any successors. So Thozhyoor church invited Cheppad Mar Dionysios of the Malankara church and it was he who consecrated Geevarghese Mar Koorilose.

Joseph Mar Koorilose (Alathoorey) (1856–1888).

Geevarghese Mar Koorilose died without appointing a successor. So Mathews Mar Athanasius, metropolitan of the Malankara Church consecrated the Reverend Joseph Kathanar and gave him the episcopal title Joseph Mar Koorilose. At that time Euyakim Mar Koorilos, a bishop sent by the Patriarch of Antioch, was also in Kerala. In 1857, he filed a civil case stating that he was the Malankara Metropolitan and he had the rights to the Thozhyoor Church and its properties. In 1862, the Madras High Court issued the final verdict stating that the Church was an Independent Syrian Church in Malabar and that Euyakim Mar Koorilos had no claim on the Church or its properties. Because of this case Thozhyoor Church was given the name Malabar Independent Syrian Church.

Joseph Mar Athanasius. (Maliyakal) (1888–1898)

Joseph Mar Koorilose consecrated his successor, Joseph Mar Athanasius. At this time, the Malankara church was split into two, the Jacobites and the Metran faction. Thomas Mar Athanasius, appointed by Mathews Mar Athanasius, died in August 1893 without appointing a successor. So Joseph Mar Athanasius consecrated Titus I as metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church.

Geevarghese Mar Koorilose (Karumamkuzhi Pulikkottil) (1898–1935)

He was consecrated by Joseph Mar Athanasios. He consecrated Poulose Mar Athanasius, assisted by Thomas Mar Athanasius of the Mar Thoma Church as suffragan. Two schools were opened during his time. He also sent deacons to study at the Cambridge National Institute and at the Serampore College. He was there for the consecrations of three Metropolitnas of the Mar Thoma Church. As a priest he attended the consecration of Titus I Mar Thoma and as metropolitan, the consecrations of Titus II and Abraham Mar Thoma.

Kuriakose Mar Koorilose (Kuthoorey) (1935–1947)

He was consecrated by Titus II Mar Thoma, assisted by Abraham Mar Thoma of the Mar Thoma Church.

Geevarghese Mar Koorilose (Cheeran) (1948–1967)

He was consecrated by Dr.Juhanon Mar Thoma assisted by Mathews Mar Athanasius of the Mar Thoma Church.

Paulose Mar Philexenos (Ayankulangara) (1967–1977)

He was consecrated by Dr.Juhanon Mar Thoma of the Mar Thoma Church. While Metropolitan, he joined the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, in union with the Pope.

Mathews Mar Koorilose (Kuthoorey) (1978–1986)

When the previous Metropolitan Paulose Mar Philexenos, joined the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, MISC was left without a hierarchy. Mathews Mar Koorilos was consecrated by Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma, of the Mar Thoma Church to replace him.

Joseph Mar Koorilose (Alathoorey) (27 August 1986)

He was consecrated by Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma, of the Mar Thoma Church. The Most Reverend Metropolitan Joseph Mar Koorilose retired on 28 May 2001.

Cyril Mar Baselius Metropolitan.

The Sabha Mandalam (church synod) of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church held on 10 December 2000 unanimously elected Rev. Fr. K. C. Sunny as the metropolitan-elect. On 3 March 2001 he was consecrated as ramban. The Very Reverend Sunny Ramban was consecrated bishop on 10 March 2001 and named Cyril Mar Baselius. On 28 May 2001 he was installed as Metropolitan Mar Baselius. . On the same day (28 May) the then Metropolitan Joseph Mar Koorilose handed over all his worldly and spiritual powers to the new metropolitan