[I].  PRESENT PRIMATES OF THE CHURCH IN INDIA

http://syrianchurch.org/bio/MalankaraPrelates/MalankaraBishops.htm

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[II]   Bishops who have Presided over the Malankara Church since Koonen Kurisu Oath until the middle of the 19th century

In the absence of any reliable record evidencing the elevation of a native of Malabar to episcopacy prior to the Portuguese period, Mar Thoma I, consecrated by the Antiochean delegate Mor Gregorios Abdul'Jaleel in 1665, has to be regarded as the first bishop from the Syrian Christian community of Malabar.

1.  Mar Thoma V is said to have been consecrated by laying on his head, the hands of the unconscious predecessor (Mar Thoma IV) who was lying at the point of death and hence difference of opinion on his powers to administer the Malankara Church existed among the faithful.  BACK

2.   Mar Thoma VI was re-consecrated with the title 'Mor Dionysius I' in 1770 by the Patriarchal delegates as there existed confusion among the faithful over the validity of his consecration by his predecessor 'Mar Thoma V' who in turn was not ordained properly.  BACK

3.  Mar Thoma VIII too is said to have been consecrated by laying on his head the hands of the unconscious Methran (Mar Thoma VII) who was lying at the point of death and hence one party in the Church contended that both his as well as his successor's (Mar Thoma IX) consecrations cannot be considered as valid.  BACK

4. Mor Philexinos falls 4th in line of the separated Thoziyoor Church, of which Kattumangatt Mor Kurillos was their first bishop.  Mor Kurillos who is popularly known as Kattumangatt Valiya Bava, was ordained by one of the Patriarchal delegates (Mor Gregorios) residing in Malankara at that time. But there were also serious allegations regarding the said consecration as it was supposed to be done by Mor Gregorios under pressure.  While his stay at Mulanthuruthy, Mor Gregorios had to entirely depend on Mor Kurillos as he become blind following a serious illness and hence the genuineness of the said consecration of Kattumangatt Mor Kurillos remains under cloud.

(However for the Thoziyoor Church (Malabar Independent Syrian Church) and as well as for the Marthoma Syrian Church, the consecration remains valid and they consider that the apostolic line from the Holy See of Antioch continued through Mor Kurillos since he was said to be ordained by the Patriarchal delegate). 

Because of the doubt on the validity of consecration of Mor Kurillos, the Malankara Syrian Church was reluctant to recognize the consecrations done by his (Kurillos) successors in the Thoziyoor Church. But due to certain interference from the ruling British Government in early 19th century, the Malankara Church was in urgency of bishops for its very existence. Because of the restrictions imposed by the British, the Patriarch could not help his Syrian flocks in India at that stage. So the Malankara Church was forced to make requests to Mor Philexinos for consecrating those chosen by the Malankara Syrian community. Mor Philexinos who is alleged to had some vested interests, readily accepted the offer. Thus the three successive Metropolitans of Malankara Syrian Church; Mor Dionysius II, Mor Dionysius III and Mor Dionysius IV had to receive consecration from Mor Philexinos of Thoziyoor Church.  But Mor Dionysius II (Pulikottil Sr.) never styled himself as a Bishop as he himself was doubtful over the canonical validity of his consecration by a Thoziyoor bishop.  [Mor Dionysius II mentioned here is the first in line of the two bishops from Pulikottil family of Kunnamkulam. He is the founder of the Syrian Seminary (now known as Old Seminary) at Kottayam and is venerated as a saintly father.]

As the validity of  the above said consecrations remained under cloud, the Malankara Church requested the successive Patriarchs of Antioch for the proper recognition of these bishops. It was thus a letter of the Patriarch was issued, confirming the status of Mor Dionysius IV as a prelate of the Malankara Syrian Church and the copy was handed over to the British Government as well.  BACK

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[III].  Former Prelates of Malankara Church from 1865

(includes Catholicos's, Malankara Metropolitans and Bishops)

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[IV].   Delegates from the Holy See of Antioch who came to the

Church in Malabar since 16th century