Titus II Mar Thoma

Most Rev.
Titus II Marthoma Metropolitan
Installed 5 November 1909
Term ended 6 July 1944
Predecessor Titus I Mar Thoma Metropolitan
Successor Abraham Mar Thoma Metropolitan
Orders
Ordination 1889
Consecration 9 December 1894
Personal details
Birth name P. J. Dethose
Born 6 May 1866
Maramon
Died 6 July 1944
Tiruvalla
Buried Tiruvalla

Titus II Mar Thoma Metropolitan (6 May, 1866 – 6 July 1944) was the head of the Mar Thoma Church with its center in Kerala state in south-western India. He was known as Thithoos Dwitheeyan Mar Thoma Metropolitan among his people. (Thithoos is Aramaic and Malayalam)

It was in the Malabar Coast in the 1st century CE, Thomas the Apostle arrived to preach the gospel to the Jewish community. Some of the Jews and locals became followers of Jesus of Nazareth. They were known as Nasrani people and their church as Malankara Church. They followed a unique Hebrew-Syriac Christian tradition which included several Jewish elements and Indian customs. Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian church which is known as Mar Thoma Church is still a part of this Malankara Church.

Early days

Palakunnathu Family

In the 17th century, a member of the Panamkuzhy family (a branch of the Pakalomattam family), came and settled in Kozhencherry on the banks of river Pampa. Later they moved to Maramon, and lived at Chackkalyil, on the other side of the river. The second son in that family, Mathen moved to a nearby house at Palakunnathu. He had six sons and a daughter. The daughter was married to Mallapally Pavoothikunnel family and the first four sons moved to Themoottil, Neduvelil (Kozhenchery), Periyilel and Punamadom (Othera). The fifth son was a hermit priest (sanyasi achen). As was the custom, the youngest son Mathew lived at Palakunnathu family house. (This house still exists). Abraham Malpan, leader of reformation in Malankara church was the second son of Mathew. Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan and Titus I Mar Thoma Metropolitan (Marthoma Metropolitan I) were the sons of Abraham Malpan.

A number of other Marthoma Church leaders were also born in this family. Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan and Titus I Mar Thoma Metropolitan (Marthoma Metropolitan I) were from this family. The present head of the Marthoma Church, Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan (Marthoma Metropolitan VII), is also from this family.[1][2]

Early age

P.J. Dethos (Aramaic. Titus – English) was born on 6 May 1866 as the youngest son of Maramon Palakunnathu Joseph (brother of Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan) and Mavelikara Vadakkethalackal Mariamma.

After primary education at Maramon he joined Kottayam seminary. He was at C.M.S. High school, Kottayam and at St. Joseph's school, Trivandrum, before returning home to study Syriac.

Ordination

He was ordained by Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan in 1889 and was appointed as assistant vicar in his home parish at Maramon church.

He was elected as a member of the Managing committee (now known as Sabha Council) and a Representative Assembly (now known as Prathinidhi Mandalam) of the church. During this period he took active participation in the consecration of Titus I Mar Thoma.

Consecration

Malankara throne

Malankara Throne

After the great swearing – Coonen Cross Oath in 1653 it became necessary to appoint a bishop. For this purpose a special chair was made and Mar Thoma I the first bishop of Malankara church was enthroned. This throne, used for the consecration of Mar Thoma I, is in the possession of the Mar Thoma Church and is kept at Tiruvalla, It has been used in the installation of every Mar Thoma Metropolitan, to this day, so that the continuity of the throne of Mar Thoma is ensured. This was the throne used for the consecration of Mar Thoma XVI, Titus II Mar Thoma Metropolitan.

In 1896, the Representative Assembly of the church decided to consecrate Rev. P.J. Dethos as the successor of Titus I Mar Thoma. On 9 December 1896, Rev. P.J. Dethos was consecrated by Titus I Mar Thoma with the assistance of Geevarghese Mar Koorilose (Karumamkuzhi Pulikkottil) Metropolitan of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church with the Episcopal title Thithoos Dwitheeyan Mar Thoma Metropolitan (Titus II Mar Thoma). It was held in Puthencavu palli, one of the biggest churches in Kerala at that time.[3]

As suffragan Metropolitan

He was given proper training and guidance by Titus I Mar Thoma. It was a period when the church was growing. This continued till the end of his life in 1944. For eleven years he was suffragan Metropolitan and was able to consecrate 33 new parishes.

Enthronement

Titus I Mar Thoma, died on 20 October 1909. The enthronement of Titus II Mar Thoma took place on 20 October 1909 at Kozhencherry Mar Thoma church.

Administration

Church

A number of important decisions were taken during this time.

The faction of the Malankara church that was known as Metran Kakshi decided to have the name Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church.(Synonym: Mar Thoma Church.Eponym of St. Thomas disciple of Jesus Christ)[4]
Poolatheen, residence of the Metropolitan was built at Tiruvalla, To grow into a megachurch status, now the Poolatheen is rebuild with luxury of 5 star hotels and other amenities.
After losing the Seminary case in 1889, the church lost possession of most of the churches. So most of the parishioners had their worship services in temporary sheds. During the time of Titus II permanent buildings were constructed for the parishes.

Parishes

Many of the parishes of the Mar Thoma Church were established by the laity. After forming a congregation, they inform the Metropolitan for approval as a parish and to send a priest. The first such parish formed outside India was the Klang parish in Malaysia in 1936.

Finance

In 1937, Mar Thoma Church made an unusual decision, that all activities of the Church should be carried out by voluntary contributions from its members. Though there was some scepticism in the beginning, it was a great leap forward for the church.

Organizations

A number of organisations were started during his tenure. Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association (1888), Maramon Convention (1895), Mar Thoma Sunday School Samjam (1905), Mar Thoma Suvisesha Sevika Sanghom (1919), Mar Thoma Voluntary Evangelists' Association (1924), Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam (1933).[5]

Schools & colleges

Some of the schools that were opened during his time: S.C. Seminary School, Tiruvalla (1902), Kozhencherry School (1904), Maramon School (1918, Kottayam Theological College (1923) Tiruvalla S.C. Training School (1925).[6]

Union Christian College Aluva, one of the prominent educational institutions in Kerala state in South India was founded in 1921 as a joint effort of four churches in Kerala: Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Church of South India and Mar Thoma Church.

Successors

Even before Marett Rev. M. N. Abraham was ordained as a deacon in 1911, the church leaders unanimously decided to select him as a bishop of the Mar Thoma Church. He was consecrated as an episcopa on 27 December 1917 at Tiruvalla and was given the episcopal title, Abraham Mar Thoma Suffragan Metropolitan.

Because the number of parishes increased, the Representative Assembly (Mandalam) decided to have two more bishops. They selected Ayroor Cherukara Rev. C. M. John and Ayroor Kurudamannil Rev. C. T. Mathew. They were consecrated as episcopas on 30 December 1937 at Tiruvalla. Rev.C.M.John was given the title Juhanon Mar Timotheos and Rev. C. T. Mathew was given the title Mathews Mar Athanasius.

Last days

Titus II Metropolitan was a diabetic for a long time. By 1941 he lost his eyesight also. At this time, he was helped by the other Metropolitans. On Thursday 6 July 1944,Titus II Metropolitan died. He was interred in the Bishops' cemetery in the SCS Compound, Tiruvalla.

Preceded by
Titus I Mar Thoma (Mar Thoma XV)		 Metropolitan of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church
1909–1944 		Succeeded by
Abraham Mar Thoma (Mar Thoma XVII)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Cherian Cherian. Maramon Pakalomattom Chackalyil Kudumba Charitram. (Family History of Maramon Pakalomattom Chackalyil).
  2. ↑ N. M. Mathew, History of Palakunnathu Family.
  3. ↑ Malankara Sabha Tharaka, 1899, p. 67.
  4. ↑ George, Rev. Dr. K. K. Naveekaranathinte Thritheya jubilee, (Third Jubilee of reformation), p. 63.
  5. ↑ Mathew, N. M., Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram, (History of the Marthoma Church), Volume 3, pp. 85–129
  6. ↑ Mathew, N. M., Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram (History of the Marthoma Church), Volume 2, pp. 185–190.

Further reading

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