St. Thomas Christians under
the Portuguese Padroado
What was thought to be a
strengthening point in the
history of the St. Thomas
Christians turned out to be
the beginning of a turbulent
time? The Portuguese had come
to political power. They got a
chance to realize their dream
of bringing the Thomas
Christians under Padrado
jurisdiction. In 1597 Mar
Jacob, the Chalean
Metropolitan of the Thomas
Christian community died. The
Portuguese immediately tried
to tighten their hold on St.
Thomas Christians. Meanwhile
Archbishop Menezes of Goa had
obtained from Rome the power
to appoint a successor to Mar
Jacob.
Without any respect for the
feelings of St. Thomas
Christians and to the request
of Mar Jacob Archbishop
Menezes nominated Fr. Ros S.J.
As successor of Mar Abraham to
the see of Angamaly on Nov.5,
1599.In 1600 the Metropolitan
status of the see of Angamaly
(metropolitan of ALL INDIA, or
Gate of India)was abolished
and bishop Ros was made
suffragon to Goa, with far
reaching consequences. In the
same year the Padroado (patronage)of
the king of Portugal was
extended over St. Thomas
Christians. The news of the
reduction of the see of
Angamaly from the Metropolitan
to a suffragan caused much
unrest among the St. Thomas
Christians. They lost the
title of “ALL INDIA ” which
belonged to the prelates of
St. Thomas Christians for many
centuries. The Metropolitan
status was restored to the see
of Angamaly but never the
title “All India ”. St. Thomas
community was “Indian in
culture, Christian in faith
and Syro-Oriental in worship.
This community lived in peace
till the arrival of the
Portuguese. The Portuguese
changed their Liturgy into
Latin (Syriac translation of
the Latin Liturgy). |
