Mattancherry koonan kurish
Coonan Cross
Mattancherry Orthodox Church, kerala,India.
Latinization of St. Thomas Church
The Christian Church of India ( EST - AD 52 ) is a mother church founded during the time of the Apostles of Christ. As in the case of Rome or Antioch, the church was led by Bishops who were appointed by Patriarchs. Archdeacons led the believers using the interactions during the public meetings within the churches. They followed the Eastern liturgy based on the Testament of St. Thomas.
When the Portuguese reached Kochi, the ruler of Kochi accommodated them in his palace and provided land for procuring pepper. Many warehouses came up in Kochi and Mattancherry at that time. Their remnants are still there. There are documents to show that the merchandise was given on credit. It was the threat posed by the Zamorin that prompted the ruler of Kochi to help the Portuguese (Melekandathil, Pius, Portuguese Cochin and Maritime Trade in India).
The main intention of Latinization was to take absolute control of the pepper trade and also of the pepper farmers. The visit of Menezes to the main pepper trading centers before the Synod of Diamper at Udayamperoor is significant. Historians say that the Nasranis distanced themselves from the Portuguese after the Synod of Diamper at Udayamperoor. Following the visit of Bishop Menezes after the Synod, a new trade link was established on the Atlantic Ocean. The helpless people had to yield to it. Total control of merchandise transfer thus reached the hands of the Portuguese.
The first move was the introduction of Latin rites. But the bid to force them to give up Syriac did not work. In CE 1601, Goa received a Papal Bull from Pope Clement VIII appointing Francis Ross as the Archbishop of Angamaly. This again, was a step aimed at bringing St.Thomas Christians under the Latin regime. Once the Portuguese gained control over the Persian Gulf, they were able to block the journey of Arab traders as well as of the Bishops from Mesopotamia. The Christians in Kerala were forced to break their ties with Persia. Bishops had to come to Kerala in disguise. Those who came under the protection of Rome were also imprisoned by the Portuguese.
In protest against the domination of the Portuguese, the St. Thomas Christians tied a long rope on a ‘standing cross’ on the northern side of the Mattancherry Church on Friday, January 3, 1653 and took an oath -"as long as this trial exists, we will not submit to the priests of Samballoor.” The Coonan Cross Oath (Koonan Kurissu Sathyam) which was a turning point in the case of the Christians, who held Angamaly as their headquarters, is considered to be a reaction to the Synod of Diamper
On learning about the religious uprising of the Malankara Christians, Rome sent an Italian Carmelite priest, Joseph Sebastiani, as Enquiry Commission to Kerala aiming at a compromise. Meetings were held at the churches of Mattancherry, Alangad and Kochi in 1657 for settling the dispute. Many churches relinquished allegiance to the Arch Deacon and accepted Sebastiani as the representative of the Pope. The Archdeacon had the support of some clergy including Anjilimoottil Itty Thomman Kathanar who was known as a magician, a lot of people, and 200 soldiers. But the majority accepted Sebastiani as the Bishop. Mar Sebastiani set off from Alangad to Angamaly during the Holy Week in 1662. When he reached the Eastern Church, the devotees had made all the necessary arrangements to make him comfortable since he have Portuguese military support. He purchased the Angamaly church from the king. Mar Sebastiani, who quit Kerala once the Dutch established their supremacy in 1663, brought 84 churches under Rome while 32 churches stayed with the Archdeacon.
The reforms in the Trent Council:
The Roman Church established its supremacy among the native churches only after and because the Portuguese established their colonies and successfully implemented there, a unique combination of trade and, missionary activities supporting Rome. Portugal implemented the reforms initiated by Rome on the strength of its being the colonial ruler.
The nineteenth global synod that met at Trent, a small town on the Alpine border between Germany and Italy, during the time of Pope Paul III, is known as the Trent Synod. This synod was convened at a time when colonization was gaining strength under the tutelage of the Portuguese King, with the setting up of the dioceses in Kochi, Goa, Malacca and Macau. The Portuguese King started implementing the Trent Council reforms from 1564. He called upon the missionaries and rulers to make the colonies in Asia and Africa aware of the Trent Council decisions.
Coonan Cross
Mattancherry Orthodox Church, kerala,India.
Latinization of St. Thomas Church
The Christian Church of India ( EST - AD 52 ) is a mother church founded during the time of the Apostles of Christ. As in the case of Rome or Antioch, the church was led by Bishops who were appointed by Patriarchs. Archdeacons led the believers using the interactions during the public meetings within the churches. They followed the Eastern liturgy based on the Testament of St. Thomas.
When the Portuguese reached Kochi, the ruler of Kochi accommodated them in his palace and provided land for procuring pepper. Many warehouses came up in Kochi and Mattancherry at that time. Their remnants are still there. There are documents to show that the merchandise was given on credit. It was the threat posed by the Zamorin that prompted the ruler of Kochi to help the Portuguese (Melekandathil, Pius, Portuguese Cochin and Maritime Trade in India).
The main intention of Latinization was to take absolute control of the pepper trade and also of the pepper farmers. The visit of Menezes to the main pepper trading centers before the Synod of Diamper at Udayamperoor is significant. Historians say that the Nasranis distanced themselves from the Portuguese after the Synod of Diamper at Udayamperoor. Following the visit of Bishop Menezes after the Synod, a new trade link was established on the Atlantic Ocean. The helpless people had to yield to it. Total control of merchandise transfer thus reached the hands of the Portuguese.
The first move was the introduction of Latin rites. But the bid to force them to give up Syriac did not work. In CE 1601, Goa received a Papal Bull from Pope Clement VIII appointing Francis Ross as the Archbishop of Angamaly. This again, was a step aimed at bringing St.Thomas Christians under the Latin regime. Once the Portuguese gained control over the Persian Gulf, they were able to block the journey of Arab traders as well as of the Bishops from Mesopotamia. The Christians in Kerala were forced to break their ties with Persia. Bishops had to come to Kerala in disguise. Those who came under the protection of Rome were also imprisoned by the Portuguese.
In protest against the domination of the Portuguese, the St. Thomas Christians tied a long rope on a ‘standing cross’ on the northern side of the Mattancherry Church on Friday, January 3, 1653 and took an oath -"as long as this trial exists, we will not submit to the priests of Samballoor.” The Coonan Cross Oath (Koonan Kurissu Sathyam) which was a turning point in the case of the Christians, who held Angamaly as their headquarters, is considered to be a reaction to the Synod of Diamper
On learning about the religious uprising of the Malankara Christians, Rome sent an Italian Carmelite priest, Joseph Sebastiani, as Enquiry Commission to Kerala aiming at a compromise. Meetings were held at the churches of Mattancherry, Alangad and Kochi in 1657 for settling the dispute. Many churches relinquished allegiance to the Arch Deacon and accepted Sebastiani as the representative of the Pope. The Archdeacon had the support of some clergy including Anjilimoottil Itty Thomman Kathanar who was known as a magician, a lot of people, and 200 soldiers. But the majority accepted Sebastiani as the Bishop. Mar Sebastiani set off from Alangad to Angamaly during the Holy Week in 1662. When he reached the Eastern Church, the devotees had made all the necessary arrangements to make him comfortable since he have Portuguese military support. He purchased the Angamaly church from the king. Mar Sebastiani, who quit Kerala once the Dutch established their supremacy in 1663, brought 84 churches under Rome while 32 churches stayed with the Archdeacon.
The reforms in the Trent Council:
The Roman Church established its supremacy among the native churches only after and because the Portuguese established their colonies and successfully implemented there, a unique combination of trade and, missionary activities supporting Rome. Portugal implemented the reforms initiated by Rome on the strength of its being the colonial ruler.
The nineteenth global synod that met at Trent, a small town on the Alpine border between Germany and Italy, during the time of Pope Paul III, is known as the Trent Synod. This synod was convened at a time when colonization was gaining strength under the tutelage of the Portuguese King, with the setting up of the dioceses in Kochi, Goa, Malacca and Macau. The Portuguese King started implementing the Trent Council reforms from 1564. He called upon the missionaries and rulers to make the colonies in Asia and Africa aware of the Trent Council decisions.