Church of the East & Abroad
Holy Church of the East and Abroad
Related to the Saint Thomas Christians, known as the Holy Apostolic Orthodox Catholic Church of the East and Abroad - Mar Thoma Nasrani (Christian Thomasines).
The Church of the East and Abroad has its roots in Israel, Persia and India, with Saint Thomas the Apostle around AD 52. This Saint Thomas Christian Church is Eastern in origin and is an autocephalous, self ruling hierarchy. The Church has been known by various names including the more popular "Iberian Orthodox Church" as it is referred to by most of the Church's membership in Portugal and parts of India, but in most areas of the world it is known either as "Saint Thomas Christian Church of the East" or "Holy Church of the East and Abroad".
Saint Thomas is the Apostle who brought the Church to the natives in India. Ma'ase Shalikh Thoma says: "At the time when all the Apostles were at Jerusalem ... we divided the various areas of the earth, so that every one of us should go to the particular area that fell to him and to the nation where the Lord sent him. According to the lot, therefore, India fell to Judas Thomas." Christian writers and historians from the 4th century refer to the evangelistic work of Apostle Thomas in India, and we ascribe the origin of our Blessed Church to the labors of the Apostle in the First Century as well as to the family of the Virgin Marta Miriam (Mary).
The Catholicos-Patriarch of the Church of the East and Abroad is heir to the Chair of Saint +Peter (Antioch), Saint +Thomas (Selucia-Ctesphion/Babylon and Kerala) as well as Saint +James the Just (Jerusalem and Selucia-Ctesphion/Babylon) because the Holy See of Saint James, as well as the entire Church of Jerusalem, fled to Mesopotamia in 135 A.D. This is recorded by Eusebius himself (See Church History of Eusebius). Israelites were no longer allowed to enter into the Holy City of Jerusalem and thus the Patriarchate, being in exile, was transferred to Mesopotamia. From 90 A.D. until 203 A.D., the Family of the Virgin Marta Miriam (Mary) and the family of her husband Joseph governed the Church of the East and Abroad as patriarchs. This united the Apostolic Succession of James the Just with the Apostolic Succession of Saint Jude Thomas (+Mar Thoma).
In 170 A.D. the Successor of Saint +James the Just, Mar +Yakov I ascended the Patriarchal Seat of the exiled Church of Jerusalem in Mesopotamia as well as the whole Church East of Roman Dominion. Therefore our Catholicos-Patriarch is the Apostolic Successor of Mar +Ehoda Thoma (Saint Jude Thomas), Mar +BarTulmay (Saint Bartholomew), Mar +Taddai (Saint Thaddeus), Mar +Shimun Kepa (Simon Peter) and Mar +Yakov haTzadiq (Saint James the Just).
In 135 Caesarea and Antioch colonized the New Roman City of Alea Capitolina built atop the ruins of Jewish Jerusalem. They installed their own Greek bishop over this transplanted church, and his name was Markos I. His Apostolic Succession is from these two episcopal sees, not from Saint James. This is why Post Apostolic Jerusalem takes last place in the 5 Patriarchates of the Roman World, because it is a transplant. The Nasrani Church of Jerusalem, Judaea and Galilee fled into Parthian dominions of the East. Her Apostolic Lineage has been preserved and perpetuated in the Church of the East.
In 635 A.D. the Church organized a missionary and educational post in China, and in 781 A.D. in Burma (Myanmar). In the 17th Century Portuguese prelates representing the Western Church (Rome) came to India and attempted to convert the Thomas Christians to Roman Catholicism. +Mar Dalin I was consecrated by Catholicos Patriarch +Mar Shimun. In the 1800's the "Portuguese-Indian Rite" was formalized in China and India under +Mar Dalin I and +Mar Dalin II with authority being given by Catholicos Patriarch Shimun. The goals of the Portuguese-Indian Church was to bring together the richness of the West (the invading church of the 17th Century in India) with that of the traditions and heritage of the East (Saints Peter, James and Thomas) within a single Ecumenical Mission.
In 1921, because of persecution and political issues, the Dalins believed it wise to transfer the Patriarchate to Portugal and this became a reality between 1931 and 1932. It was during this time that the Church began using the name "Iberian Orthodox Church". +Mar Dalin III communicated often with +Mar Eshai Shimun XIII of the United States. The Thomasine Historical Society possesses numerous letters and other communications from various Patriarchs and clergy of other jurisdictions.
With the passing of +Mar Dalin III in 1991, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem was transferred to North America, which is now under the direction of H.H. Catholicos Patriarch +Mar Michai.
See also
