These two then ordained Mâr Thomas Athanasius (p. 371). When Athanasius Matthew died, Thomas Athanasius and Joseph Cyril ordained Joseph Athanasius, also for Anjur. Thomas and Joseph ordained George[1] Cyril, who is now Metran of Anjur. Joseph and George ordained Titus Mâr Thomas I to be Metran of the Reformed Church in Travancore. He and George ordained Titus Mâr Thoma II as auxiliary of Titus Mâr Thomas I. Titus Mâr Thoma II is now the only Reformed bishop in Travancore. A candidate, who will be ordained in time, is being educated at the Wyclif College at Toronto.
The Reformers call themselves the "Mâr Thomas Christians."[2] They are considerably Protestantized. They have no images, denounce the idea of the Eucharistic sacrifice, pray neither to saints nor for the dead, and use the vernacular (Malayalam) for their services. Mr. Daniel[3] says they "hold views similar to those of the Church of England in matters of faith." If only we knew what the views of the Church of England in matters of faith are, it would be easier to estimate those of the Mâr Thomas Christians. However, he probably means that kind of Anglicanism which is taught by the C.M.S. They use St. James's Liturgy "with a few alterations in the prayers." The Jacobites deny the validity of the Reformers' orders, without reason, it seems.
The Christian Churches in Malabar then are these:
1. The Uniates (very considerably the majority; over 400,000; with five bishops, 371 churches besides chapels, 418 secular and 72 regular priests, seven monasteries, 13 convents).[4]
2. Jacobites of the Patriarch's party (about 200,000; four bishops, including the Patriarch's delegate).
3. Jacobites of the Metran's party (about 200,000; five bishops, including Alvarez).
- ↑ Syriac: Gewârgīs.
- ↑ Namely, they affect one of the old names of all Malabar Christians, "Christians of St. Thomas."
- ↑ Editor of the Malankara Sabha Tharaka (Star of the Malankara Church), organ of this body, to whom I am indebted for much information about the present state of Malabar.
- ↑ From the last edition of the Malabar State Manual, pp. 872-873.
