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The '''Mar Thoma Church''' is a branch of the pre-16th century undivided Indian Church, and got its current identity in [[1889]], even though it was born much earlier. It has its roots in a reformist movement started by a teacher-priest of the [[Malankara Church (before split)| Church in India]], Palakunnathu Abraham Malpan (popularly known as [[Abraham Malpan]]) in the early part of the [[19th Century]], and traces its origins to [[St. Thomas the Apostle]] who, according to tradition, came to India in [[Anno Domini|AD]] [[52]]. Protestant missionaries - supported by the English presence in India - encouraged doctrinal, liturgical and ecclesiastical reforms in the Mar Thoma Church. Worldwide, it is the only [[Eastern rite]] Church which accepted the Protestant reforms and reformist theology.
The Mar Thoma Church is headed by a [[Metropolitan bishop]] who lays claim to the Malankara Throne of St. Thomas.The current Metropolitan is His Grace The Most Rev. Dr. [[Metropolitan Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma|Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma]], who has his throne at [[Tiruvalla]], [[Pathanamthitta District]], [[Kerala State]], [[India]]. He is the 20th Mar Thoma Church Malankara Metropolitan to occupy the Holy Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas after the re-establishment of the episcopacy in the 17th century.
The majority of the membership of the church is in the southern Indian state of [[Kerala]] but it has spread with the [[20th Century]] Indian diaspora to [[North America]], [[Europe]], the [[Middle East]], [[Malaysia]], [[Singapore]], [[South Africa]], [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]], this in addition to a sizeable population in the rest of India.
The Mar Thoma Church is in [[full communion]] with the [[Anglican Church]],CSI and CNI
==External links==
*[http://www.marthomasyrianchurch.org Mar Thoma Church Website]
*[http://www.marthomanae.com Mar Thoma Church Diocese of North American and Europe]
*[http://www.marthomachurch.org.uk St James MTC, United Kingdom]
*[http://www.canadianmarthomachurch.com/ Canadian Mar Thoma church] -(in [[Toronto]], [Canada]]
*[http://www.marthomanae.com/ic/ Diocese of North America and Europe]
*[http://www.coloradomarthoma.org/ Colorado Horeb Mar Thoma Church, Northglenn Colorado [USA]]
*[http://www.mtcdallasfb.org/ Mar Thoma Church of Dallas, Farmers Branch, Texas [USA]]
*[http://www.stpaulsmtc.org
{{christianity-stub}}
{{Eastern Christianity}}
{{Template:Anglican Churches}}
[[Category:Anglican churches]]
[[de:Mar-Thoma-Kirche]]
[[fr:Église malankare Mar Thoma]]
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