Decision To Go To Antioch
It was at this time Deacon Mathen returned from Madras. He realized the problems that faced him, his friends, his uncle Abraham Malpan and the clergy who wanted a reformation in the Church. Deacon Mathen remembered his decision, "I shall live to pull out the weeds in my Church and bring it back to its original glory and pure undiluted faith."
The synod convened by the Mar Dionysius at Mavelikkara on January 16, 1836 at Mavelikkara, accepted the supremacy of the Church of Antioch. They also decided that only bishops permitted by the Patriarch, had the authority over the Church. This made Deacon Mathen to decide to go to see the Patriarch. Abraham Malpan was willing to sacrifice anything for the Church. So he agreed to this decision. Because of the difficulties of traveling from Kerala to Antioch, no one from Malankara Church had ever attempted to go to Antioch. Deacon Mathen was the first one to attempt this tedious journey.
Read more about this topic: Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan
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