The Feast of Mor Ahathulla

In 1599AD, the Roman Catholic Archbishop Alexis De Menezes convened the Synod of Diamper (Udayamperoor Synodus), an illegal Synod which forcibly brought the Syriac Orthodox Church of India (Malankara) under the control of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. Using the military power of the Portuguese Padroado, Archbishop Menezes systematically tried to wipe out all traces of Syriac tradition & Latinize the Malankara Church by destroying prayer books, historical documents & other important manuscripts. He also changed the name of many parishes to suit Roman Catholic tradition, This imposition of Roman Catholic supremacy would go on for decades under various other Roman prelates.

As the situation became intolerable, the St. Thomas Christians (Syriac Christians of India), under the leadership of the Archdeacon (Arkadiyokan) sent several letters to their mother Church in the Middle East, & also sister churches. One letter reached the Patriarch of Alexandria. Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Mor Ignatius Hidayath Aloho (Mor Ahathulla) was in Alexandria at the time visiting the Syriac faithful of Egypt. On receipt of the letter, Mor Ahathulla made arrangements to visit Malankara for the sake of the languishing spiritual children. The Portuguese military had appointed sentries in all possible places where the bishops from the Middle East could arrive. Mor Ahathulla secretly arrived in Surat, then later made his way to Mylapore where he was captured by the Portuguese & imprisoned. Deacons Chengayil Itty from Chengannur & Kizhakkedath Kurian from Kuravilangadu who were on a pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Thomas secretly met Mor Ahathulla. Knowing that there was no escape from imprisonment & possible death, Mor Ahathulla had to take drastic measures to safeguard the Syriac Orthodox Church in Malankara. He gave the deacons an encyclical (Kalpana) authorizing the consecration of Archdeacon Thoma on the stipulation that the Archdeacon would be limited to administrative authority, but ecclesiastical duties of ordination & Consecration of Holy Chrism was prohibited until Apostolic Consecration by another Syriac Orthodox prelate. Mor Ahathulla was soon brought to Cochin port en route to Goa (where the cruel Inquisition was actively taking place). At Cochin port, thousands of Malankara Jacobite faithful arrived clamoring for their prelate to be freed. They went to the Cochin Raja, who initially agreed to support his Syriac subjects, but later recanted under pressure of the Portuguese colonial powers; he would later die soon after.

News spread that Mor Ahathulla was drowned in the sea after having a millstone tied to his neck & thrown overboard. Thus Mor Ahathulla attained the crown of martyrdom. (Latin historians record that the Portuguese fearing the sudden gathering of the Syriac Christians, dispatched Mor Ahathulla to Goa where he was condemned as a heretic & burnt alive at the stake in the Inquisition) As the news of this cruelty spread, the Syriac Christians were ready to wage war with their oppressors. But realizing the superiority of the Portuguese military power, Arkadiyokan Thoma & Itty Thommen Kathanar prevented the huge gathering assembled there from a direct clash which would have resulted in great bloodshed.

In the mean time, more faithful rushed to the spot from various parishes of Malankara. On 3rd Makaram of 1653AD, the faithful under the advice of Fr. Itty Thommen tied a huge rope around the ancient stone cross in the courtyard yard of Mattancherry Church & everyone at the large gathering, numbering about 25000 held on to it, & pledged that they, & their future generations, will never accept the Roman Catholic faith that the Portuguese tried to forcibly introduce & also they vowed to forever remain steadfastly loyal to the Holy Apostolic See of Antioch and all the East, maintaining the ancient rites & traditions of their forefathers. The weight of the believers pulling on the rope caused the stone cross to bend. Hence this historic event is known as the Koonan Kurishu Sathyam (Oath at the Leaning Cross). It is the first recorded mass revolt against the Western colonialism & forced Roman Catholic supremacy in history!

The Koonan Kurishu Sathyam cemented the reinvigorated faith of the Syriac Christians of Malankara & their unflinching loyalty to the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East. This monumentally historic event would pave way for the reestablishment of the Syriac Orthodox hierarchy in Malankara as had been present since the earliest days of Christianity in India.

Sources: ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’, ‘The Indian Church of St. Thomas’, Syriac Christianity

May the intercession of Mor Ahathulla & the sacrifices of our forefathers to steadfastly remain loyal to the Holy Apostolic See of Antioch, strengthen the Church in Malankara during troubling times.

Antiochia Malankara bendham Neenaal Vazhatte! (May the fraternity between Antioch and Malankara forever prosper)