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{{short description|Bishop}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox Bishop
| honorific-prefix = [[His Beatitude]]
| name = Palliveettil Mar Chandy <br> '''(Parambil Mar Chandy)'''
| honorific-suffix =
| bishop_of = Metropolitan and Gate of All India.
| image = Alexander de Campo1.jpg
| imagesize = 230 px
| diocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cranganore|Archdiocese of Angamaly]]
| ordination = 31 January 1663
| enthroned = 31 January 1663
| ended = 1687
| successor = [[Kariattil Mar Ousep|Kariattil Ousep]]
| birth_name = Chandy
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Muttuchira]]
| death_date = 1687
| death_place = [[Kuravilangad]]
| buried = [[St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church Kuravilangad]]
| nationality = Indian
| signature =
| see = Kodungallur ([[Muziris]]) of the [[St. Thomas Christians|Marthoma Nazrenes]].
| predecessor = [[Abraham of Angamaly]]
}}

'''Palliveettil Mar Chandy''' also known as '''Parambil Mar Chandy''' (''Alexander de Campo'') is the first native Syrian Catholic bishop of [[Malabar Coast|Malabar]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.syromalabarchurch.in/syro-malabar-church-cronology.php|title = Syro Malabar Church Chronology}}</ref> He is considered to be the first canonically consecrated native bishop of [[Saint Thomas Christians]]. He was the bishop of the [[East Syriac Rite]] (Chaldaean) hierarchy (also known as the ''Pazhayakūttukar'', or "Old Allegiance") after the [[Coonan Cross Oath]] in 1653. This faction became in full communion with the [[Holy See]] of Rome, it would later become known as the modern-day [[Eastern Catholic]] [[Syro-Malabar Church]]. Mar Chandy's tomb is at the [[St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church Kuravilangad|Marth Mariam Major Archiepiscopal Church at Kuravilangad]].

Palliveettil Chandy was appointed as bishop when the community was divided under the [[Padroado|Portuguese Padroado]] and his cousin [[Mar Thoma I|Thoma I]], who was the then head of the ''[[Malankara Church|Puthenkūttukar]]''. There was a plan to appoint [[Archdeacon George of Christ|George of Christ]], by [[Abraham of Angamaly]] (1568–1597) as Metropolitan of India. Thus he should have become, according to the plans of Abraham, supported by the [[Jesuits]], the first indigenous Chaldaean Metropolitan of the St Thomas Christians. However, from the last letter of Abraham, where he requests the Pope to confirm George’s election as Bishop of Palayur and his successor, is dated 13 January 1584, while from another letter of the same Abraham we learn that the consecration of George failed because of the latter’s death.<ref>{{citation|first1=Ernst|last1= Bremer|first2= Susanne|last2=Röhl|title=Language of religion, language of the people: medieval Judaism, Christianity, and Islam|page= 401}}</ref>

Palliveettil Chandy had an instrumental role in claiming eighty-four churches onto the Catholic side after the [[Coonan Cross Oath]].<ref name="Stephen Neill">{{citation|title=A History of Christianity in India: The Beginnings to AD 1707|first=Stephen|last= Neill |pages= 326–7}}</ref> After his death from 1678 till 1783 there were no native Bishops in the Catholic faction known as ''Pazhayakūr'' of the ''Malankara Church''. His cousin [[Mar Thoma I|Arkkadiyakon Thoma]], was consecrated as a bishop by 12 priests in 1653. By 1665 [[Gregorios Abdul Jaleel]], said to be a delegate of the Patriarch of Antioch (of the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]]) was able to come to Malabar and regularized the consecration of Thoma who would form the ''[[Malankara Church|Puthenkūr]]''.<ref name="Stephen Neill"/>

==Introduction==
[[File:Tomb of Palliveettil Mar Chandy Metropolitan and Gate of All India.jpg|thumb|Tomb of Palliveettil Mar Chandy, Metropolitan and Gate of All India, inside the Madbaha of Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Church, Kuravilangad.]]
[[File:Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Archdeacon Church, Kuravilangad.jpg|thumb|Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Church, Kuravilangad.]]
Historically [[Saint Thomas Christians]] were part of [[East Syriac Rite|East Syriac]] Church. They came into direct communion with the [[Latin Church|Church of Rome]] through the [[Chaldean Catholic Church|Chaldean]] [[Patriarchate]] with the arrival of Joseph Sulaqa and Elias in AD 1554.<ref>{{citation|authorlink=Father Placid J Podipara|last=Podipara|first=Dr.Placid|date= 1938|title=The Syrian Church of Malabar}}</ref> Historically, the title of the head of the Church of Saint Thomas was the 'Metropolitan and the Gate of India'. Ancient documents vouches this.<ref>{{citation|first=Placid|last= Podipara|authorlink=Father Placid J Podipara|title= The Hierarchy of Syro Malabar Church: chapter IV in Collected works of Rev Dr Placid Podipara, vol I|publisher= San Jose Publications|location=Mannanam| pages= 666–7}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.srite.de/index?id=2&cikk=84|title=SRITE|website=www.srite.de|accessdate=31 July 2017}}</ref>

After the [[Synod of Diamper]] in 1599, the Church of [[Saint Thomas Christians]] became subjected to Latin Church Bishops. The Latin missionaries broke the historic connection of Thomas Christians with the [[Patriarchate of Babylon]] and downgraded the ancient Church of Christians of Saint Thomas into a mere suffragan of the archdiocese of Goa of the Latin Church. Later, the Metropolitanate was reinstated and the Archdiocese of Angamaly was renamed as Archdiocese of Kodungalloor and its seat moved to Kodungalloor with Latin Prelates.<ref>{{citation|first=Joseph|last=Thekkedathu|title= History of Christianity in India, Vol II| page=75}}</ref>

Even though the Thomas Christians were subjected to Latin Church prelates in the hierarchy, the community consolidated under the leadership of the Archdeacons as a separate rite with its own liturgy and traditions. The Missionaries began to impose Latinisations in their rite of worship and tried to eliminate the authority and status of the Archdeaconate and thereby dishonour the status of their [[Syro-Malabar Church|ancient Church of Malabar]]. The community secretly tried to get prelates from the Patriarchate of the [[Chaldean Catholic Church|Chaldeans]] and the Patriarchate of the [[Assyrian Church of the East|Assyrians]].

The missionaries used their political power to prevent Thomas Christians from contacting with any Oriental Churches and they even arrested and deported [[Ahatalla]], a bishop of West Syriac Rite arrived in [[Mylapore|Mailappore]].<ref>{{citation|first=Joseph |last=Thekkedathu|title=opus cit|pages=94–5}}</ref> Thomas Christians rose up and revolted against the Portuguese in AD 1653 and consecrated (invalidly) the Archdeacon [[Parambil Thoma]] as the Bishop of Thomas Christians. This revolt was nearly complete and that changed the politics.

A protest took place in 1653 with the [[Coonan Cross Oath]]. Under the leadership of Archdeacon Thomas, the Thomas Christians publicly took an oath that they would not obey the Jesuit bishops.'''<ref>{{citation|title=A History of Christianity in India: The Beginnings to AD 1707|first=Stephen |last=Neill|pages= 319–20}}</ref><ref>{{citation|first=Eugene Cardinal|last= Tisserant| title=Eastern Christianity in India}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=Malabar manual, Volume 1|first=William |last=Logan|page=206}}</ref>

The situation is best explained by the [[Stephen Neill]] (an Anglican missionary from Scotland) in his book "''A History of Christianity in India: The Beginnings to AD 1707''".

{{Quote box
|title =
|quote = ''"In January 1653 priests and people assembled in the church of Our Lady at Mattanceri, and standing in front of a cross and lighted candles swore upon the holy Gospel that they would no longer obey Garcia, and that they would have nothing further to do with the jesuits they would recognise the archdeacon as the governor of their church. This is the famous oath of the ‘ Koonen Cross ` (the open-air Cross which stands outside the church at Mattnchery.''

''The Thomas Christians did not at any point suggest that they wished to separate themselves from the pope. They could no longer tolerate the arrogance of Garcia. And their detestation of the jesuits, to whose overbearing attitude and lack of sympathy they attributed all their troubles,breathes through all the documents of the time. But let the pope send them a true bishop not a jesuit, and they will be pleased to receive and obey him."''
|source = A History of Christianity in India: The Beginnings to AD 1707 By Stephen Neill page 326-327
|fontsize = 18
|bgcolor =Cornsilk
|title_bg =BlanchedAlmond
|title_fnt = SaddleBrown
}}

[[File:Alangad Syro-Malabar Church.jpg|thumb|St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Church, Alangad]]
Rome intervened and Carmelite Missionaries were sent to win the Thomas Christians back. Carmelites could convince the majority that the local church needs bishops and the consecration of the Archdeacon Thomas was claimed to be invalid by the Catholics as the consecration was conducted not by any bishop, but by twelve priests. Many leaders of the community rejoined the missionaries and later, due to political reasons, Portuguese Missionaries had to leave the country and they consecrated Palliveettil Chandy kathanaar as the Bishop for the Catholic [[Saint Thomas Christians|Thomas Christians]] on 1 February 1663. He applied the historic title ''The Metropolitan and the Gate of all India''. This title denotes a Quasi Patriarchal status with all India jurisdiction. He could convince a good number of people in his favor, because the then archdeacon (Thoma I) was consecrated by priests whereas he was consecrated by an authoritative bishop. This resulted in the first split in the ''Malankara Church'' history. The ''Puthenkūr Church'' later entered in spiritual relation with the Syriac Orthodox Church, a [[Miaphysitism|miaphysite]] [[Syro-Antiochene Rite|West Syriac Church]].
<ref>{{citation|first=Joseph|last=Thekkedathu|title=opus cit|pages=96–100}}</ref><ref>{{citation|authorlink=Father Placid J Podipara|last=Podipara|first=Dr.Placid|title=The Hierarchy of Syro Malabar Church, in Collected works of Rev Dr Placid Podipara CMI, Vol I| page= 719}}</ref>

==Early life and ordination==
[[File:Kuravilangad Cheria Palli .jpg|thumb|right|250px|This church dedicated to the holy name of St. Sebastian, was built by the Parambil Chandy Kathanar – Later Bishop Parambil Chandy, while he was the vicar of Kuravilangad parish (c.1640-1663)]]
He belonged to the Palliveettil branch of [[Pakalomattom family]] at [[Muttuchira]]. The parambil building of Parambrem Kara existed there till two centuries back. Parambil Kuriakose married into Kudukkasserry and the son born to the couple later became the Bishop. "Alexander De Campo" is a Portuguese designation translated as "Alexander of the field". He was Vicar of Kuravilangad Parish and later had Kuravilangad as his headquarters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pakalomattamfamily.org/bishop.asp |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-01-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108064513/http://www.pakalomattamfamily.org/bishop.asp |archivedate=8 November 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

He was a native of Muttuchira parish, in the present central Kerala. As a priest his original name was Father Parambil Chandy. He was consecrated Titular Bishop of [[Megara]] in [[Achala]] and [[Vicar Apostolic]] and Administrator of the Archbishopric of [[Cranganore]] on 31 January 1663, at [[Kaduthuruthy]]. He celebrated his first pontifical mass at Muttuchira Church.<ref name="J. P. M. van der Ploeg">J. P. M. van der Ploeg,The Christians of St. Thomas in South India and their Syriac manuscripts page 30</ref> His appointment followed representations for the appointment of native Indians as bishops following the split in the church on account of the [[Coonan Cross Oath]].

===Later years and death===
In 1674, Palliveetil Chandy requested Rome to elect a coadjutor and proposed his nephew, Mathew Kunnel for the position. Carmelites arrived in India in 1676, with special Dutch passports (as Dutch wouldn't allow any other European to work in their areas) and they were asked by Rome to elect an Indian. They elected Raphael Figueredo in 1677, who was not a Roman Syrian Catholic but born as an Indian in the sense that he was a half caste Portuguese. This election shook the confidence Roman faction had in Carmelites and quarrels started to arise. Palliveettil Chandy died in 1687 and was buried at Kuravilangad.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasrani.net/2007/02/13/kerala-syrian-christian-the-tomb-of-the-apostle-persian-church-syond-of-diamper-coonan-cross-oath-divisions/|title=Kerala Syrian Christian, Thomas the Apostle in India, The tomb of the Apostles, Persian Church, Syond of Diamper - Coonan Cross Oath, Subsequent divisions and the Nasrani People|date=13 February 2007|website=Nasranis|accessdate=31 July 2017}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Kadavil Chandy Kathanar]]
* [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]
* [[List of Syro-Malabar Catholics]]
* [[Timeline of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]
* [[Christianity in India]]
* [[Saint Thomas Christians]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110411230832/http://cs.nyu.edu/kandathi/parambil.html Mar Chandy Parambil]
* St Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India - Edited by George Menachery (1998).
* History of Christianity in India - Mundadan, A. Mathias (1984).

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Palliveettil Chandy}}
[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholics]]
[[Category:Christian clergy from Thrissur]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]
[[Category:1687 deaths]]
[[Category:17th-century Eastern Catholic bishops]]
[[Category:17th-century Indian scholars]]

Palliveettil Chandy - Revision history

Thefacecentre: Content refined for better accuracy

UpdateBot at 02:49, 21 May 2022

imported>Kokkarani at 13:01, 25 August 2021