Abraham Mar Thoma

Abraham Mar Thoma XVII Metropolitan (born Maret Ninan Abraham) (30 October 1879 – 1 September 1947) was the Metropolitan of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church from 1944–1947. He was called Maret Kochu Thirumeni by his people. Among the bishops of Malankara Churches Including Mar Thoma Church, Abraham Mar Thoma was the first to earn a Doctoral degree.

His Beatitude The Most Reverend Aboon Dr.

Abraham Mar Thoma

Mar Thoma XVII, Mar Thoma Metropolitan
of the Apostolic Throne of St Thomas
Installed1944
Term ended1 September 1947
PredecessorTitus II Mar Thoma
SuccessorJuhanon Mar Thoma
Orders
Ordination5 December 1914
Consecration24 December 1916
RankMar Thoma Metropolitan (Ecclesiastical Title of the Head of the Ancient Indian Church)
Personal details
Born
M. N. Abraham

30 October 1879
Kalloopara
Died1 September 1947(1947-09-01) (aged 67)
Tiruvalla
BuriedTiruvalla
NationalityIndian
In this Indian name, the name Maret Ninan is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Abraham.

Early life

Bishop Abraham was born on 30 October 1879 and was the only son of Ninan and Mariamma. Ninan was the son of Abraham of the Maret house. Mariamma was the eldest daughter of Oommachen, Karikattu. Eraviperoor. Mariamma's mother was from Chemmarapallil, Puthupally, Kottayam.[1]

Bishop Abraham was named after his paternal grandfather Abraham. He had two elder sisters. His parents called him Kochavarachen. His school record shows his name as M. N. Abraham.[2][3]

Education

He was not a bright student. Many times he failed in his school final and degree examinations. That helped him in later years to encourage the students who failed in their examinations and showed them the path to success.[4]

Ordination

M. N. Abraham and M. P. Pothen (Philipose), Velliyampallil, Mallappally, were the first Indians with university degrees to be ordained as deacons in the Mar Thoma Church. Titus II Mar Thoma ordained them on 30 April 1912.

On 5 December 1914, at his native place Eraviperoor, Deacon Abraham, and Deacon Pothen were ordained as priests. Abraham was appointed as Kayamkulam divisional secretary.

Politics

The Metropolitan was a staunch nationalist who stood for the people's democratic rights. He resisted the undemocratic and dictatorial actions of Dewan Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer and was instrumental in getting a resolution passed by the Sabha Council (church council) condemning Sir C. P.'s move to proclaim Travancore as an independent state.[5]

See also

References
  1. Daniel, K. N. Dr. Abraham Marthoma Metropolitan – Biography, pp. 9, 10.
  2. Daniel, K. N. Dr. Abraham Marthoma Metropolitan – Biography, p. 11.
  3. Mathew, N. M. History of the Marthoma Church, Volume II (2007), pp. 210–213.
  4. Zac Varghese Dr. & Mathew A. Kallumpram. Glimpses of Mar Thoma Church History, pp. 125–129.
  5. Mar Thoma Sabha Directory (1999), pp. 26–27.

Bibliography

English

  • Juhanon Marthoma Metropolitan. (1952). Christianity in India and a Brief History of the Marthoma Syrian Church. Pub: K.M. Cherian.
  • Zac Varghese Dr. & Mathew A. Kallumpram. (2003). Glimpses of Mar Thoma Church History. London, England. ISBN 978-81-900854-4-1.
  • Zac Varghese Dr. & Mathew A. Kallumpram. Metropolitan Abraham Mar Thoma. "Light of Life", Vol. 3, Issue 11, September 2004.

Malayalam.

  • Eapen, Prof. Dr. K. V. (2001). Malankara Marthoma Suryani Sabha Charitram (History of Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church). Pub: Kallettu, Muttambalam, Kottayam.
  • Mar Thoma Voluntary Evangelistic Association, (1998). Abraham Mar Thoma
  • Mathew, N. M. Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram (History of the Marthoma Church), Volume I (2006), Volume II (2007), Volume III (2008). Pub. E.J. Institute, Thiruvalla.
  • Varghese, (1950) Dr. Abraham Mar Thoma Metropolitan.
  • Daniel, K. N. Dr. Abraham Marthoma Metropolitan – Biography. V.V. Press, Kollam. 1948.
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