14-January-2007
SOCM News Bureau dt. 14th Jan 2007
His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch & All the East of
the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, decorated the Catholicos of India H.B.
Baselius Thomas I with the title of 'Jacob Baradaeus of Malankara'.
The decoration title will be given to the Catholicos on 12th February 2007,
during the public meeting convened at Manjanikkara. The Patriarch authorized the
Malankara Jacobite Episcopal Synod Secretary Dr. Joseph Mor Gregorios for
delivering the title.
It was earlier planned that The Patriarch will be attending the 75th Dukrono
Perunal of St. Ignatius Elias III at Manjanikkara, but the visit is now
postponed for another time due to helath problems. The Patriarch authorized H.B.
Baselius Thomas I, to perform all the services in Manjanikkara, in HH's absence.
Four Bishops from the Middle East will be attending the Platinum Jubilee
celebrations, on behalf of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church.
During the sixth century, the Syriac Orthodox Church endured persecution under
the Byzantian Empire because it upheld its faith. It was at this time that St.
Jacob Baradaeus emerged on the scene. He journeyed all over the East ordaining
priests and deacons thus reviving the church from the brink of extinction. Jacob
Baradaeus is considered as a great Saint of the Syriac Orthodox Church, but not
its founder. Hence, the Church rejects the name Jacobite. This is a name used by
the adversaries of the church who attempt to belittle the church by suggesting
that the church was founded by St. Jacob Baradaeus. It should however be noted
that Syriac Orthodox Christians in Malankara (India) innocently refer to
themselves as Jacobites. For several centuries Christians in Malankara were
referred to by the term Nazarani. The term Jacobite was introduced into
Malankara in the nineteenth century by Anglicans. Christians who remained in the
mother church following schisms influenced by the Anglicans adopted the term
without realizing its negative connotations.
Mangalam dt. 14th Jan 2007
Biography of His Beatitude Mor Baselios Thomas I
(external link)
http://saintgregorios.org/PARUMALA/Catholicos_ThomasI.htm