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In the name of Father, Son and Holy Ghost the one true
God, Padiyola (agreement) drawn up in the year of our Lord 1836 corresponding
5th Makarom 1011 at the church dedicated to the Virgin Mother of Lord at
Mavelikara, between Mar Dionyosious Metropolitan of the Jacobite Syrian
Church of Malankarai subject to the supremacy of Mar Ignatius Patriarch,
the Father of Fathers, and the Chief of Chiefs ruling the throne of St.
Peter of Antioch, the mother of all Churches and his successor Mar Kurilos,
and the vicars, priests and parishioners of Ankamali and other churches
under the charge of the said Metropolitan. That whereas an interview
held at Kottayam between the Rt.Rev. Daniel, Lord Bishop of Calcutta and
the Metropolitan, in Vrischikam last, it was proposed by the former that
certain changes should be introduced in the Liturgies and ordinances of
our Syrian Church and whereas it was stated in reply that a conference
of all the churches would be held on the subject and its determination
made known, we the Jacobite Syrians being subject to the supremacy of
the Patriarch of Antioch and observing as we do the Liturgies and ordinance
instituted by the prelates sent under his command, cannot deviate from
such Liturgies and ordinances and maintain a discipline contrary thereto,
and a man of one persuasion being not authorized to preach and admonish
in the church of another following a different persuasion without the
permission of the respective Patriarachs, we cannot permit the same to
be done against us, and our churches being built by the aid of the pre-lates
sent under the order of the Patriarch and on the wishes of the people
of each parish and ornamented by their money, and as the accounts of the
annual income according to our churches under the head of voluntary contributions
offerings etc, are as required by the rules furnished to our bishops,
as is the custom in the churches of Antioch as well as in the churches
of this and other countries following different persuasions we are without
the power, and feel disinclined, to follow and cause to be followed a
different procedure from the above.
That the Honourable Colonel Macaulay having taken a loan of 3000 star
pagodas from (Valia) great Mar Dionysius who died in 983, gave him a bond
for the same. The interest on the amount having fallen in arrears, Mar
Dionysius Metropolitan who died in 992 made a representation to Col. Munro
and received the interest with which he (Dionysius) built the Seminary
at Kottayam. Having also collected at the Seminary the money brought by
the prelates that had come here from Antioch and the property left by
the late Bishops of the Pakalomattom family, Mar Dionysius laid out a
portion of this together with the donation made by HIS HIGHNESS THE MAHARAJA
on behalf of the Syrian Christian Youths, on Kanom and therewith met the
expense of their education. The Reverend the missionaries who have come
down to Kottayam, in their profuse benevolence taught the youth at the
Seminary, English and other languages, protected our children like loving
fathers, caused books to be printed for the benefit of all classes, rendered
all necessary help in maintaining the prevailing discipline of the Syrian
Church caused the annual interest due, to be drawn on the receipt of the
Metropolitan, had superintendence over the affairs of the Seminary and
caused ordination to be made agreeable to the request of the people and
the power of the prelates. While affairs were being thus conducted the
Missionaries took to managing the Seminary without consulting the Metropolitan,
themselves expended the interest money drawn annually on the receipt of
the Metropolitan, dispersed the deacons instructed in the Seminary, conducted
affairs in opposition to the discipline of the church and created dissensions
amongst us, all of which have occasioned much sorrow and vexation. For
this reason we do (would) not follow any faith or teaching other than
the Orthodox faith of the Jacobite Syrian Christians, to the end, that
we may obtain salvation through the prayers of ever happy, holy, and ever-blessed
Mother of God, the redresser of all complaints and through the prayers
of all Saints. Witness, Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
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