Titus II Mar Thoma

Titus II Mar Thoma Metropolitan was the head of the Mar Thoma Church with its center in Kerala state in south-western India. He was known as Thithoos Dwitheeyan Mar Thoma Metropolitan among his people. (Thithoos is Aramaic and Malayalam)
It was in Kerala in the first century, Thomas the Apostle arrived to preach the gospel to the Jewish community. Some of the Jews and locals including the wise men who saw Jesus as a baby at Bethlehem became followers of Jesus of Nazareth. They were known as Nasrani people and their church as Malankara Church. They followed a unique Hebrew-Syriac Christian tradition which included several Jewish elements and Indian customs. Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian church which is known as Mar Thoma Church is part of this Malankara Church, still an independent, church, without being part of any other Churches.
== Early days ==
=== Palakunnathu Family ===
In the seventeenth century, a member of the Panamkuzhy family (a branch of the Pakalomattam family), came and settled in Kozhencherry on the banks of river Pampa. Later they moved to Maramon, and lived at Chackkalyil, on the other side of the river. The second son in that family, Mathen moved to a nearby house at Palakunnathu. He had six sons and a daughter. The daughter was married to Mallapally Pavoothikunnel family and the first four sons moved to Themoottil, Neduvelil (Kozhenchery), Periyilel and Punamadom (Othera). The fifth son was a hermit priest (sanyasi achen). As was the custom, the youngest son Mathew lived at Palakunnathu family house. (This house still exists). Abraham Malpan, leader of reformation in Malankara church was the second son of Mathew. Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XIV) and Titus I Mar Thoma Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XV) were the sons of Abraham Malpan.
A number of other Marthoma Church leaders were also born in this family. Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XIII) and Titus I Mar Thoma Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XV) were from this family. The present head of the Marthoma Church, Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XXI), is also from this family.Cherian Cherian. Maramon Pakalomattom Chackalyil Kudumba Charitram. (Family History of Maramon Pakalomattom Chackalyil).N.M.Mathew, History of Palakunnathu Family.
=== Early age ===
P.J. Dethos (Aramaic. Titus – English) was born on May 6, 1866 as the youngest son of Maramon Palakunnathu Joseph (brother of Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan) and Mavelikara Vadakkethalackal Mariamma. 
After primary education at Maramon he joined Kottayam seminary. He was at C.M.S. High school,Kottayam and at St. Joseph's school, Trivandrum, before returning home to study Syriac.
===Ordination===
He was ordained by Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan in 1889 and was appointed as assistant vicar in his home parish at Maramon church. 
He was elected as a member of the Managing committee (now known as Sabha Council) and a Representative Assembly (now known as Prathinidhi Mandalam) of the church. During this period he took active participation in the consecration of Titus I Mar Thoma. 
==Consecration==
===Malankara throne===
After the great swearing in 1653 it became necessary to appoint a bishop. For this purpose a special chair was made and Mar Thoma I the first bishop of Malankara church was enthroned. This throne, used for the consecration of Mar Thoma I, is in the possession of the Mar Thoma Church and is kept at Tiruvalla, It has been used in the installation of every Mar Thoma Metropolitan, to this day, so that the continuity of the throne of Mar Thoma is ensured. This was the throne used for the consecration of Mar Thoma XVI, Titus II Mar Thoma Metropolitan.
In 1896, the Representative Assembly of the church decided to consecrate Rev. P.J. Dethos as the successor of Titus I Mar Thoma. On December 9, 1896, Rev. P.J. Dethos was consecrated by Titus I Mar Thoma with the assistance of Geevarghese Mar Koorilose (Karumamkuzhi Pulikkottil) Metropolitan of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church with the Episcopal title Thithoos Dwitheeyan Mar Thoma Metropolitan (Titus II Mar Thoma). It was held in Puthencavu palli, one of the biggest churches in Kerala at that time.Malankara Sabha Tharaka, 1899. Page 67.
===As suffragan Metropolitan===
He was given proper training and guidance by Titus I Mar Thoma. It was a period when the church was growing. This continued till the end of his life in 1944. For eleven years he was suffragan Metropolitan and was able to consecrate 33 new parishes.
===Enthronement===
Titus I Mar Thoma, died on October 20, 1909. The enthronement of Titus II Mar Thoma took place on October 20, 1909 at Kozhencherry Mar Thoma church.
==Administration==
===Church===
A number of important decisions were taken during this time. 
:The faction of the Malankara church that was known as Metran Kakshi decided to have the name Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church.(Synonym: Mar Thoma Church.Eponym of St. Thomas disciple of Jesus Christ)George, Rev.Dr.K.K. Naveekaranathinte Thritheya jubilee, (Third Jubilee of reformation). Page 63
:Poolatheen, residence of the Metropolitan was built at Tiruvalla.
:After losing the Seminary case in 1889, the church lost possession of most of the churches. So most of the parishioners had their worship services in temporary sheds. During the time of Titus II permanent buildings were constructed for the parishes.
===Parishes===
:Many of the parishes of the Mar Thoma Church were established by the laity. After forming a congregation, they inform the Metropolitan for approval as a parish and to send a priest. The first such parish formed outside India was the Klang parish in Malaysia in 1936.
 
==Finance==
In 1937, Mar Thoma Church made an unusual decision, that all activities of the Church should be carried out by voluntary contributions from its members. Though there was some skepticism in the beginning, it was a great leap forward for the church.
===Organizations===
A number of organizations were started during his tenure. Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association (1888), Maramon Convention (1895), Mar Thoma Sunday School Samjam (1905), Mar Thoma Suvisesha Sevika Sanghom (1919), Mar Thoma Voluntary Evangelists' Association {1924), Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam (1933).Mathew, N.M. ‘’Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram’’, (History of the Marthoma Church), Volume 3. Page 85-129
===Schools & colleges===
Some of the schools that were opened during his time:
S.C. Seminary School, Tiruvalla (1902), Kozhencherry School (1904), Maramon School (1918, Kottayam Theological College (1923) Tiruvalla S.C. Training School (1925). Mathew, N.M. ‘’Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram’’, (History of the Marthoma Church), Volume 2. Page 185-190. 
Union Christian College Aluva, one of the prominent educational institutions in Kerala state in South India was founded in 1921 as a joint effort of four churches in Kerala: Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Church of South India and Mar Thoma Church. 
==Successors==
Even before Marett Rev. M.N.Abraham was ordained as a deacon in 1911, the church leaders unanimously decided to select him as a bishop of the Mar Thoma Church. He was consecrated as an episcopa on December 27, 1917 at Tiruvalla and was given the episcopal title, Abraham Mar Thoma Suffragan Metropolitan. 
Because the number of parishes increased, the Representative Assembly (Mandalam) decided to have two more bishops. They selected Ayroor Cherukara Rev. C.M. John and Ayroor Kurudamannil Rev. C.T.Mathew. They were consecrated as episcopas on December 30, 1937 at Tiruvalla. Rev.C.M.John was given the title Juhanon Mar Timotheos and Rev. C.T. Mathew was given the title Mathews Mar Athanasius. 
==Last days==
Titus II Metropolitan was a diabetic for a long time. By 1941 he lost his eye sight also. At this time, he was helped by the other Metropolitans. On Thursday July 6, 1944,Titus II Metropolitan died. He was interred in the Bishops’ cemetery in the SCS Compound, Tiruvalla.
==See also==
* Mar Thoma Church
* Syrian Malabar Nasrani
* Saint Thomas Christians
* Christianity in India
* List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans
* List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis
* Titus I Mar Thoma
* Abraham Mar Thoma 
== References ==
==For further reading==
*#Juhanon Marthoma Metropolitan, The Most Rev. Dr. (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 81/900854/4/1
*#Chacko, T.C. (1936) Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charithra Samgraham’’. (Concise History of Marthoma Church), Pub: E.J. Institute, Kompady, Tiruvalla.
*#Eapen, Prof. Dr. K.V. (2001). ‘’Malankara Marthoma Suryani Sabha Charitram’’. (History of Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church). Pub: Kallettu, Muttambalam, Kottayam.
*#Mathew, N.M. ‘’Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram’’, (History of the Marthoma Church), Volume 1.(2006), Volume II (2007). Volume III (2008) Pub. E.J.Institute, Thiruvalla
== External links ==
* http://marthomasyrianchurch.org
Category:1866 births
Category:1944 deaths
Category:Indian religious leaders
Category:People from Kerala
Category:Saint Thomas Christians
Category:Bishops of the Mar Thoma Church
Titus II
Category:Pakalomattam family