The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS’ TRAINING CERTIFICATE

UNIT I

Historic Setting of the Orthodox Church

Presented by: Molsey Thomas

YOLOProud to be an Orthodox SS Teacher?

Vbs, bible, SS dir general

History is not boring – It reminds us WHO WE ARE!

Our hx doesn’t start in 18th century or even in 16th century…

It goes all the way to the FIRST century!!!

•To be an American citizen….• As a proud Indian, we know……….. •To be a proud Orthodox (original & oldest church) SS teacher, we must have an understanding of the fundamental doctrines of our church, importance of our Fathers, the struggles we faced historically and how we found solutions through ecumenical councils.

Topics covered:• The Three Great Councils -The Council of Nicea, Constantinople & Ephesus

Church Fathers -Apostolic Fathers (2)

-Defender of Orthodoxy (1)

-Great teachers of the church (4)

-Oriental Fathers (4)

-Local Fathers (2)

-Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Fathers (3)

Monasticism -Fathers of Monasticism (2)

-Monk’s Life of Worship and Prayer

-Monk as a Messenger and Teacher of the Society

Introduction

Early struggles of the church:•Persecution (by Jews & Romans) (first 3 centuries)Roman Emperor Constantine became a Christian thru his mother Queen Helena.

Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire.

•Heresies– Arianism – Christ is not the same as God the Father– Mecedonian heresy – Holy Spirit was created– Nestorian heresy – St. Mary is not the mother of God because

Christ was not God when he was born.

The Ecumenical Councils• What is an Ecumenical Council?

– It is an invited meeting of the bishops and leaders of different churches to discuss and decide on controversial teachings within the church and matters concerning faith.

– Resulted in our doctrines, creed and faith (Theotokos,One United Nature, Holy Trinity, Christology etc.)

• Jerusalem Council – The first council of the Christian Church– Assembled in Jerusalem at the time of the apostles ~50 A.D– Mentioned in Bible (Acts:15)– Controversy re converting Gentiles to Christians. Some Jewish

Christians in the church of Antioch argued that Gentiles must first follow Moses’ law and become a Jew first before he can receive baptism and membership in Christian church.

– Apostles of the Gentiles: Paul and Barnabas, James (first Bishop of Jerusalem), Peter and leaders of many churches attended this council.

– Decision was made NOT to give any extra burden to Gentiles.

Three Great Councils

Place & Date Defenders

Of faith

Heresey Heretics Outcome

Nicea, 325 A.D St.Athanasius Jesus was not the same as God the Father.

Arius Defined that Christ is the same as God the Father in substance and in One Essence with the Father.

Created first part of the creed.

Constantinople,

381 A.D

St.Gregory, the Theologian

St.Gregory of Nyssa

Holy Spirit was not coexistent; but created

Mecedonius Defined teaching on Holy Trinity. Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Life Giver. Completed the creed

Ephesus, 431 A.D St. Cyril of Alexandria

Christ was not God when He was born and therefore St.Mary is not the mother of God.

Nestorius Defined teaching on Theotokos.

Forbade any changes to our creed in the future.

Some Other Councils mentioned in our book (not recognized by Oriental Orthodox Churches)

Place and Date Heretic Heresy Defender of Orthodoxy

Outcome

Second Council of Ephesus,

441 A.D

Eutyches

(to discuss his excommunicatio)

St.Dioscorus Eutyches denied his heresy and therefore accepted by the council.

Did not read Tome of Leo

Council of Chalcedon,

451 A.D

Bishop Leo Tome of Leo

- Dual nature of Jesus

St.Dioscorus St. Dioscorus was excommunicated and exiled.

Counter Council of Chalcedon

Bishop Leo Dual nature of Jesus

St.Timothy(Aelerus)

Refuted and cancelled the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon.

Great Fathers of our Church

• Fathers who played an important role in the history of the church and in confirming the orthodox faith.

• We remember these holy fathers in our Thubden #5.

• Apostolic Fathers

– Holy Fathers who were contemporaries of Jesus and disciples. They were persecuted for their faith. Many of them became martyrs. Their faith and courage strengthened church. They wrote letters to churches to encourage other members to be steadfast in their belief.

• St.Ignatius – Theophorus (= The Bearer of God)

• He is said to be the child Jesus picked as an example of humility

• Was the 3rd bishop of the Church of Antioch (St.Peter, St.Evodius)

• After his encounter with Emperor Trajan and refusing to sacrifice for Trajan’s pagan God, he was condemned to be thrown before wild animals in the Roman amphitheatre.

Apostolic Fathers (Cont’d)

– St. Clement

• Was a Roman noble who received Greek education, similar to

St. Paul.

• Became a Christian through St. Paul

• Was a bishop of Rome (Rome was one of the ancient Patriarchate/holy see)

• Wrote biographies of the disciples and letters to confirm Christians in their faith.

• He is referred by St. Paul in his letter to Philippians

• Emperor Trajan martyred him by throwing him into the Black Sea bound to an anchor

Fathers of the Council

– Church Fathers who lived in the 4th and 5th centuries and defended our orthodox faith in the Great Councils

– St. Athanasius – the defender of orthodoxy• Born of pagan parents in 296 A.D.• He was the young deacon who debated against priest Arius

in the Council of Nicea• Both Arius and Athanasius were from Alexandria.(one of the

ancient Patriarchate/Holy See)• All his life, Athanasius had to continually defend, denounce

and fight against Arius and his heresy. Because of his fight against Arianism, Athanasius’ life was like the whole world turned against him and he turned against the world. So, he was called Athanasius Contra-Mondum.

• Because of his continuous suffering and struggle for the faith, he deserved to be called “Apostolic” in likeness to the divine apostles.

Monastic Fathers

– Monks/ Hermits of our church who were great teachers, missionaries, writers, translators and national leaders.

– St. Antony – Father of Monasticism• Lived in Upper Egypt Mid 3rd century• Received his calling while listening to the Gospel reading in church• Lived alone 20yrs as a hermit.• Closely associated with to St. Athanasius in fighting Arianism.

– St. Pachomius – Father of Communal/Coenobitic Monasticism• Lived in Upper Egypt end of 3rd century• Born of pagan parents/was serving in the Roman army• Founded many monasteries/gained reputation because of his monastic

rules:celibacy,obedience,chastity, povery & devotion.

– St.John Chrysostom – the Golden Mouthed• St. John Chrysostom is remembered for “Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom” and as a

great teacher/preacher of our church.• Mor Ivanios

Monastic Fathers (Cont’d)

St.John Chrysostom – the Golden Mouthed (Mor Ivanios)• St. John Chrysostom is remembered for “Liturgy of St. John

Chrysostom” and as a great teacher/preacher of our church.• St.Basil the Great

–One of the Cappadocian fathers

–Friend of St.Gregory Nazianzen

–Brother of St. Gregory of Nyssa and Sister Makrina

–Wrote “The Longer Rule and The Shorter Rule” for monks

–Established a tradition for the church to be responsible to help those are in need. (The Basileiad)

–He is also remembered for the “St.Basil Liturgy.”

• St. Gregory the Theologian, Nazianzen–One of the Cappadocian fathers

–Friend of St. Basil

–Defender of the teachings of the church on Holy Trinity at the Council of Constantinople

Monastic Fathers (Cont’d)

• St. Gregory of Nyssa– Brother of St. Basil & Sister Makrina– One of the three Cappadocian fathers– He was an eminent theologian– Along with St.Gregory the Nazianzen, he defended orthodox

faith against the Mecedonian heresy at the second council

Oriental Church Fathers

These are the local church fathers from the oriental churches: • St. Dioscorus - Patriarch of Alexandria

- Disciple of St.Cyril and became his successor.

–Defended orthodox faith in both Second Council of Ephesus and at the Council of Chalcedon.–St. Severus (465-538) - a monk - defender of the One United Nature of Christ – Patriarch of Antioch–St. Timothy (Aelurus) –Patriarch of Alexandria - held a council to cancel the decisions made in the ill famous Council of Chalcedon.

– Military/Soldier Saints – not mentioned in Thubden #5.• St. Menas of Egypt• St. George of Cappadocia – April 23rd is the feast day

– Syrian Church Fathers– St. Philoxenos of Mabbug (440-524) – He attacked

Nestorian heresy– Malankara Orthodox Church Fathers

• St. Gregorios of Parumala– Born on June 15, 1848 in Chathuruthy family, Mulanthuruthy

– Left his earthly abode on Nov. 2, 1902 – on a Koodosh Etho Sunday.

– Canonized as the first Saint of Indian Orthodox Church in 1947

– He started the monastery/dayara at Parumala

Malankara Church Fathers (Cont’d)

• St. Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril– Known as Malankara Sabha Bhasuran or the great

luminary– Born on 10/31/1858 in Vattasseril family, Mallappally– Ordained as priest by Parumala Thirumeni– Great scholar and authority in Syriac, church history, faith

and doctrine, the church fathers and theology– He was Malankara Malpan and wrote Doctrines of the

Church– He was instrumental in establishing the Church

Constitution– He was called Moses of the Malankara Church– He was Malankara Metropolitan from 1909 until his death

in 1934.

Malankara Orthodox Church (Cont’d)

• Eldho Mar Baselios (Kothamangalam Baava)– Born in Iraq in A.D. 1593– Became the Maphryono (Catholicose) in 1678– Came to Kothamangalam in 1685 at the age of 92– He came to India to train Syrian Christian in their ancestral faith

and get them out of the influence of the Portuguese(Roman Catholics)

– He consecrated Mar Ivanios as Episcopa– He departed for his heavenly abode on September 29, 1685– His feast is celebrated on October 2nd and 3rd.

A song of devotion to our Church

Malankara Sabhaye Parishudha Sabhaye

Masihayude Manavaatti Sabhe…

Punya puraathana sabhaye nirayanam

Ulakengum nin apadhaanam

Malankara Church, Holy Church

Bride of the Messiah….

Sacred and Ancient Church,

let Your fame be filled all over the world!!