Kariattil Ousep

Mar Joseph Kariattil, alternatively written as Kariattil Ouseph, (5 May 1742 – 10 September 1786) was the first native Indian to be appointed as Archbishop of Kodungalloor (Cranganore) for Syrian Catholics in the territory now comprising Kerala, India.[1]

His Excellency Archbishop Mar Joseph Kariattil

His Excellency Archbishop Mar Joseph Kariattil

The only known Martyr of Ecumenism of Marthoma Nazranis in India.
Metropolitan of Archeparchy of Kodungalloor(Cranganore)
Native name
Kuriap
ChurchSyro-Malabar Catholic Church
ArchdioceseKodungalloor
Appointed16th December 1782
Term ended10th September 1786
PredecessorParambil Mar Chandy
SuccessorMar Thoma Paremmakkal
Other postsApostolic Missionary from Urban university Rome
Orders
Ordination25th March 1766
Consecration17th February 1783
RankMetropolitan Archbishop
Personal details
Birth nameJoseph
Born5th May 1742
Alangad/Mangat
Died10th September 1786
Goa
BuriedSt. Mary's Syro-Malabar Church, Alangad
NationalityIndian
ParentsPailey and Mariam
Previous postEast Syriac Aramaic Malpan of Alangad Malpanate.
EducationDoctorates in Philosophy,Theology and Canon Law.
Alma materPontifical Urban University, Rome
St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Church, Alangad houses the tomb of Kariatil Mar Ouseph

Joseph Kariattil was born at Alengad, near Aluva in present-day central Kerala. He had his initial religious education at the Seminary at Alangad. Later he was sent to the Propaganda College of Pontifical Urban University, Rome, in 1755 when he was barely 13 years old. There he was ordained as a priest, and he took doctorate in Philosophy,Theology and Canon law from there. He was the first Indian national in history to receive multiple doctoral degrees in 18th century. [2] He returned to India in 1766. He was then appointed as a Malpan at Alangad Malpanate Seminary.

Kariattil Malpan took great efforts for the reunion of the Saint Thomas Christians (also known as Syrian Christians or Mar Thoma Nazranis) who had split following the Coonen Cross Oath. It was only by the efforts of Rev Malpan Joseph Kariattil and prominent Nazrani laity leader Thachil Mathu Tharakan the bishop of Varapuzha apostolic vicariate bishop Francis De Sales, who pleaded to Malpan for help was able to get settled in Alangad Church in year 1776. On March 18th 1777, the bishop of puthenkoor Jacobite faction Mar Thoma VI met with Mar Joseph Kariattil to discuss about the reunification of puthenkoor with pazhayakoor and to be part of Catholic family. He made the historic journey to Rome in 1778 together with Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar to represent the matter with the church authorities there.[3] His Excellency met the Queen of Portugal and royal patron of padroado your Majesty Maria Francesca (Maria I) and submitted an official request on August 1779. The padroado missonaries were totally against reunification of Nazranis and propaganda missionaries didn't promote either. Her Majesty and authorities of Portugal were really impressed with the humility, personality,religious zeal and intellect of Kariattil Joseph Malpan and hence he was appointed as the Archbishop of Kodungalloor at Lisbon in 16th July 1782. On 17th February 1783 His Excellency was consecrated as Archbishop of Cranganore (Kodungalloor) by Emeritus Archbishop of Goa Mar Francisco De Abasouda , Bishop of Macau Mar Alexandreous and Bishop of Mayya Mar Warthulma at Sao Bento monastery church in Lisbon. On 16th December 1782 His Holiness Pope Pius VI confirmed his appointment by Queen as Metropolitan Archbishop of Archdiocese of Kodungalloor, thus imprinting in the history of Archdiocese as the first native Archbishop of Mar Thoma Nazranis of Malankara. On 17th March 1783 His Excellency revived the scared Pallium of Metropolitan Archbishop from His Holiness Pope Pius VI. At the same time His Excellency also received all the privileges and authority to unite Mar Thoma VI and puthenkoor faction to Catholic Church. However, on his way back to India, he died at Goa on 10 September 1786. He was initially buried there and later his mortal remains were transferred to Alangad and were re-interred at St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Alangad in 1961.

He is the author of two books, viz. Vedatharkkam (Dialectics on Theology) (1768) and Noticias do Reino do Malabar (1780).[4]

His Excellency had also issued an official Letter of Archbishop in 16th July 1783.

See also
  1. http://syromalabarcatechetics.org/ebook/Liturgical_Panchangam2013(Malayalam).pdf
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 April 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 May 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Mar Joseph Kariattil Archived 6 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine

References
  • Mar Joseph Kariattil
  • St Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India – Edited by George Menachery, Vol.2 (1973).
  • History of Christianity in India – Mundadan, A. Mathias (1984).
  • Indian Church History Classics,Vol 1, Ed. George Menachery: The Nazranies (1998).
  • Vathamaanappusthakam, Thomas Paremakkal (Malayalam) Various Editions. Eng. Tr. by Placid Podipara, Rome.
  • Sanghasmrithi(Vol II). Nazrani Pazhama(Part-1). Author: Dr Ignatious Payyapilly (2019).
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