Mathews Athanasius, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetMathews Athanasius
Indian bishop
Date of Birth: 25-Apr-1818
Place of Birth: Maramon, Kerala, India
Date of Death: 16-Jul-1877
Zodiac Sign: Taurus 
About Mathews Athanasius
- Mathews Mar Athanasius (25 April 1818 – 16 July 1877) was the Metropolitan of the Malankara Syrian Church from 1852 until his death.
- As a reformer, he spent most of his reign attempting to heal rifts within the church, but following his death a faction formed the independent Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church in 1889,under the leadership of Metropolitan Palakunnathu Thomas Mar Athanasius.The faction that opposed the reformation of the Malankara church conducted the Synod of Mulanthurathy against the reformations in 1876 in the presence of Malankara Metropolitan Pulikootil Joseph Dionysious 2 and Syrian Orthodox Patriarch. Mathews started his career in the church in childhood, and was influenced by the Church Mission Society and his uncle Abraham Malpan, a priest who instituted reforms in Maramon parish in 1840.
- When Abraham's reforms led to conflict with the metropolitan bishop Mar Dionysius IV, Deacon Mathews traveled to the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch, who consecrated him as Bishop Mathews Mar Athanasius in 1841.
- After years of dispute over the church's leadership between Mathews and Dionysius, the issue was settled by the Travancore government in 1852, with Mathews being recognized as Metropolitan since he got the Royal decree from the Maharaja of Travancore.
- He worked to repair the rift in the church, but continuing unrest ultimately led to a permanent split.
- After Synod of Mulanthurathy and death of Mar Athanasious the rift in Malankara Church became more visible.Following the Royal Court Verdict against Malankara Metropolitan Thomas Mar Athanasius and the reform party, the independent MarThoma Syrian Church was formed in 1889 .
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