Mathews Athanasius

However in 1865, he was deposed by the traditionalist faction of the Malankara Church and Pulikkottil Joseph Dionysius became their leader.He worked to repair the rift in the church, but continuing unrest ultimately led to a permanent split.The daughter was married to Pavoothikunnel family and the first four sons moved to Themoottil, Neduvelil, Periyilel, and Punamadom.Saying, "It is impossible to restore the Malankara Church," Deacon George decided to join the Anglican C.M.S."[9][10] By this time, Deacon Mathen's uncle (father's brother) Abraham Malpan had already begun reformation in the church and made the following changes: The use of the revised liturgy and the changes Abraham Malpan brought about in practices offended Cheppad Philipose Dionysius, who threatened him with excommunication.He realized the problems that faced him, his friends, his uncle Abraham Malpan, and the clergy who wanted a reformation in the Church.Deacon Mathen stood with his decision, "I shall live to pull out the weeds in my Church and bring it back to its original glory of pure undiluted faith."The synod convened by the Dionysius at Mavelikkara on 16 January 1836 accepted the supremacy of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch.Mathews Athanasius Metropolitan returned to Kerala on 17 May 1843 and was received by a number of parish priests and laymen.St. Addai and St. Mari, and which practiced prayers to and for the dead, veneration of icons, believed in the seven sacraments and the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.His whole time he spent in bringing his Church to the Bible and to its "original purity" as evoked by Abraham Malpan.They later wrote to Antioch their objections, and as a result, the Patriarch realizing that Mathews Mar Athanasius had hidden his intentions to conduct an Anglican modeled reformation from him, so the patriarch sent Euyakim Coorilos Metropolitan to Kerala, and from then on the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch introduced the "registered deed of submission" as an element of consecration as a metropolitan bishop.Athanasius was approved by the governments of Travancore and Cochin as Malankara Metropolitan on 30 August 1852. after Cheppattu Philipose Dionysius abdicated due to ill health.In 1856, Athanasius ordained Ouseph Coorilose as Metropolitan of Malabar Independent Syrian Church.Ouseph Kathanar from Kunnamkulam, who objected to reformation, went to Antioch and was consecrated as Joseph Dionysius on 3 April 1865.Mathews Mar Athanasius remained as the head of this faction until his death in 1877 The traditionalist party sent Fr.Joseph (Ouseph Kathanar) of Pulikkottil family to Antioch.