https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Placid_J._PodiparaPlacid J. Podipara - Revision history2026-11-01T11:11:44ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Placid_J._Podipara&diff=525695&oldid=prevSabari2398: New the info added tags2026-03-15T03:52:43Z<p>New the info added tags</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Indian Syro-Malabar Catholic priest (1899–1985)}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Mar Podipara Ouseph Placid Malpan<br />
| image =<br />
| birth_name = Ouseph <br />
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1899|10|3}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Mannanam]], India<br />
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1985|4|27|1899|10|3}}<br />
| death_place = [[Chethipuzha]], India<br />
| resting_place = [[Chethipuzha]], India<br />
| citizenship =<br />
| known_for = Theology, writings<br />
| education = Ph.D. in Theology, Canon Law and Philosophy<br />
| notable works = <br />
| occupation = Teacher, writer<br />
| years_active = <br />
| parents = <br />
}}<br />
<br />
Mar '''Podippara Ouseph Placid Malpan''', also known as '''Placidachan''' (3 October 1899 – 27 April 1985) was an Indian Syriac Catholic priest and scholar of the [[Saint Thomas Christians|St. Thomas Christian community]]. He was a scholar in East Syriac language and liturgy. A book published on the tenth anniversary of his death calls him one of the greatest [[ecclesiastical]] luminaries of the 20th century in [[India]].<ref name="pathi">{{cite book |last= Pathikulangara |first= Varghese|title= Placidachan, A Souvenir to commemorate the tenth death anniversary (April 27, 1995) of Very Rev.Prof.DDDr.Placid Joseph Podipara CMI |publisher= Denha Services, [[Kottayam]] |year= 1995 |isbn= 81-904135-7-0}}</ref> He was a member of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]] and was ordained a priest from the [[religious institute]] of the [[Carmelites of Mary Immaculate]] (C.M.I.). He was also a theologian, liturgist, orator, professor, ecumenist, and author.<br />
<br />
He worked hard to remove the [[liturgical latinisation]] of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church and played a significant part in the establishment of the [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Church]] in the [[Catholic Church]]. He wrote more than thirty seven books and numerous articles on [[Saint Thomas Christians]] in languages including English, Malayalam, German and Latin. He was a Member of the Pontifical commission for codifying Canon Law, [[Syriac Language]] examiner of [[Kerala University]], Consultant to the [[Congregation for the Oriental Churches]], Member of Pontifical commission for restoring the [[Holy Qurbana of Addai and Mari|Holy Qurbana]] of Syro Malabar Church, uniting Malankara Church to Catholic Church, Professor of [[Pontifical Oriental Institute]] and [[Pontifical Urbaniana University]], Rome, Consultant for preparing the agenda of [[Second Vatican Council]]. He had doctorates in [[Philosophy]], [[Theology]] and [[Canon Law]] which he acquired during his time in [[Rome]].<ref name="nsc">{{cite web|url=http://nasrani.net/2009/07/07/the-thomas-christians-by-placid-podipara/ |title=NSC NETWORK – 'The Thomas Christians' by Placid Podipara |publisher=Nasrani.net |date= 7 July 2009|accessdate=2012-08-25}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Early life ==<br />
Placid was born Joseph (Kochauseppachan) into the Podipara family as the fifth and last child of Chacko and Rosamma in the village, [[Arpookara]], near [[Kottayam]] in the Southern [[India]]n state of [[Kerala]]. He lost his mother at the age of four and his father at the age of seven. He completed his schooling from St. Ephrem's High School, Mannanam which was run by Syrian Carmelite fathers (later [[Carmelites of Mary Immaculate|CMI]]). He entered the novitiate in 1918 and was given a new name, Placid of St. Joseph. Later he was sent to [[St. Joseph's Seminary, Mangalore]] run by the Italian [[Jesuit]]s, for his ecclesiastical studies where he did two years of philosophy and four years of theology. He was ordained priest on 3 December 1927 at Mangalore and celebrated his first [[Holy Qurbana]] in [[St. Joseph's Church, Mannanam|St. Joseph's Monastery chapel, Mannanam]]. As his superiors needed someone qualified to teach in the major seminary, he was sent to Rome for further studies. During his first stint in Rome, which lasted only two years, he acquired doctorates in the fields philosophy, theology and canon law.<ref name="nazrani">{{cite web|url=http://thenazrani.org/placidachan.htm |title=The truth will make you free |publisher=The Nazrani |date= |accessdate=2012-08-25}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Final years ==<br />
<br />
He met with an accident in 1960 which left him with a limp until the end of his life. He returned from Rome in 1980 and continued his studies from Chethipuzha. Towards the last days he was bed-ridden due to partial paralysis which affected his power of speech. He died on 27 April 1985.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kuriancmi.blogspot.com/2009/07/fr.html|title=Fr. Placid Podipara: Portrait of an Unsung Hero}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Legacy ==<br />
<br />
Father Placid's description of the St. Thomas Christians as "[[Hindu]] in Culture, [[Christianity|Christian]] in Religion and [[Oriental]] in Worship" continues to be quoted.<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
<br />
{{Christianity in Kerala}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Podipara, Father Placid J}}<br />
[[Category:Syro-Malabar priests]]<br />
[[Category:Writers from Kottayam]]<br />
[[Category:Malayali people]]<br />
[[Category:1899 births]]<br />
[[Category:1985 deaths]]</div>Sabari2398