The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS

1
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian ChurchSUNDAY
SCHOOL TEACHERS TRAINING CERTIFICATEUNIT I

• Historic Setting of the Orthodox Church
• Presented by Molsey Thomas

2
YOLO

• Proud to be an Orthodox SS Teacher?
• Vbs, bible, SS dir general ?
• History is not boring It reminds us WHO WE ARE!
• Our hx doesnt 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.

3
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)
• -Monks Life of Worship and Prayer
• -Monk as a Messenger and Teacher of the Society

4
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.

5
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 (Acts15)
• 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.

6
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.
7
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.
8
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 Trajans pagan God, he
  was condemned to be thrown before wild animals in
  the Roman amphitheatre.

9
Apostolic Fathers (Contd)

• 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

10
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.

11
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 rulescelibacy,obedience,c
  hastity, 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

12
Monastic Fathers (Contd)

• 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

13
Monastic Fathers (Contd)

• 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

14
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.

15

• 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

16
Malankara Church Fathers (Contd)

• 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.

17
Malankara Orthodox Church (Contd)

• 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.

18
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!!