MARTHOMA VI
Marthoma VI was also unhappy about the authenticity of his position. Mor Gregorious and Mor Ivaneous jointly again consecrated him and renamed him as Mor Dionesius I.
Kattumangattu Abraham remban was nursing Mor Gregorious in his old age who arrived in Malankara accompanying Mor Baselius Sakralla. Remban was very adept and scholar in Syriac. Mor Dionesius was busy in Church affairs and so could not attend to the daily needs of Gregorious. Remban exploited this situation to create an ill will towards Mor Dionesius. His persistent request and whisperings against Dionesius won the heart of Gregorious. In 1772 a few months before death Gregorious, without the knowledge or consent of Mor Ivanius of and Mor Dionesius, consecrated Abraham Remban as bishop Koorilose and also wrote a ‘Will’ granting major portion of his assets to Koorilose. Dionesius and Ivanius jointly convened general assembly of churches in the presence of Cochin Raja to decide about Koorilose. The meeting decided that Koorilose should act in submission to Dionesius. The matter went to Dutch authorities. Koorilose resorted to instigate troubles. Dionesius stripped him off his Episcopal robe, staff and Cross. This act on the part of Dionesius was very harsh and insulting.
(Mor Koorilose I of Thozhiyur Church)
Koorilose fled in disguise in the night to neighboring state to escape further harassment from affluent Mor Dionesius and settled at Thozhiyur, Kunnamkulam. “He did not imagine of an independent church,” says JRK Fenwick. However, he consecrated his brother Geevarghese as Koorilose II and founded independent church in 1794. This lineage came to an end with Koorilose III in 1856. Then, Palakunnath Mathews Mar Athanasius, founder of Mar Thoma independent Church, though he had no business to involve, consecrated Panackal Joseph as Bishop Koorilose IV to the widowed Thozhiyur Church. This Joseph Mor Koorilose consecrated Joseph Mor Athanesius in 1883. Mar Thoma Church was widowed after demise of Thomas Mor Athanesius. Then Joseph Mor Athanasius, though he had no business to involve, sprang up and consecrated Titus Marthoma in 1894. Thus as both Thozhiyur and Mar Thoma independent churches maintained each other. In this context one should know that the consecration of Koorilose I by Gregorious and subsequent consecrations by Koorilose I and until the consecration of Joseph Koorilose III was not canonical. None of them had the authority to consecrate another bishop. Then the worst happened. Patriarch had already condemned and excommunicated Mathews Mar Athanasius who ordained Mor Koorilose IV of Thozhiyur and all his arrogant acts were unauthorized, immoral and invalid.
Dionesius I consecrated Marthoma VII.
