Blessed Alvares Mar Julius
(Biography)
The Christian Roots of Indiaâs West Coast
The Christian presence on the southwestern coast of India is traditionally traced to the arrival of Thomas the Apostle, believed by the St. Thomas Christian tradition to have reached Kerala in AD 52. According to this tradition, he established early Christian communities along the Malabar Coast, forming what later came to be known as the St. Thomas Christians.
While historical details from this early period remain debated among scholars, the tradition itself became a foundational part of Christian identity in Kerala. These communities developed in relative isolation from the Latin West, maintaining contact instead with Eastern Christian centers. So, in short, the Malankara (Indian) church never knew who the Pope was until the Portuguese came.
From the early centuries of their development, the St. Thomas Christians were closely connected to the Persian ecclesiastical world, particularly the Church of the East. Through this connection, East Syriac became the liturgical language of the community.
This adoption was not merely linguistic but ecclesial. It reflected trade connections across the Indian Ocean, shared religious structures, and the influence of bishops and clergy from Mesopotamia and Persia. Syriac remained a sacred language of worship, even as the spoken languages of the region evolved locally into early forms of Malayalam.
They chose East Syriac because:
It resembled Aramaic, the language in which Jesus and St. Thomas spoke.
It was the language used in Persian church, which was also established by St. Thomas.
They already had trade connection to Persia, so most of the people knew east Syriac.
There has been a lot of migrations from Persia to India due to religious persecution.
Over time, this Syriac tradition became deeply embedded in the identity of the community, shaping its theology, worship, and ecclesiastical culture.
Roman Catholic Church and the Malankara Church
A major turning point came with the arrival of the Portuguese at the end of the fifteenth century. In 1498, Vasco da Gama reached the Malabar Coast, opening a new phase of maritime trade and European influence in India.
Alongside commerce came Latin missionary activity, most notably through figures such as St. Francis Xavier and other members of the Catholic orders. These missionaries encountered the St. Thomas Christians and initially assumed that they were separated from Roman Catholic doctrine.
Tensions gradually emerged over liturgy, ecclesiastical authority, and the independence of local Christian traditions. Efforts at alignment with the Latin Church led to increasing friction, especially regarding the preservation of the East Syriac heritage.
The Synod of Diamper and Its Aftermath
In 1599, under Portuguese ecclesiastical authority, the Synod of Diamper was convened by Archbishop Alexis de Menezes. This synod sought to bring the St. Thomas Christians fully under Roman Catholic jurisdiction and to align their practices with Latin norms.
The decisions of the synod led to significant changes in liturgy, administration, and theology. Many East Syriac texts were revised or removed, and ecclesiastical structures were reorganized under Latin oversight. While some communities accepted these reforms, others viewed them as a disruption of their inherited tradition.
Growing dissatisfaction culminated in the Coonan Cross Oath, when a large group of St. Thomas Christians gathered in Mattancherry and declared resistance to Portuguese ecclesiastical dominance. This event did not create entirely separate communities immediately, but it marked a decisive rupture in unity.
It is said that the cross bent due to the pressure of the crowd (thats why its also known as Bent Cross Oath).
In the aftermath, the community gradually divided into different ecclesial paths. One group entered communion with the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, while another eventually consolidated under Roman Catholic jurisdiction, preserving East Syriac liturgical traditions within a Catholic framework.
By the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the Christian landscape of Kerala had become diverse. The St. Thomas tradition now existed in multiple ecclesiastical expressions, shaped by historical encounters with Persian, Portuguese, and West Asian Christian influences.
It was within this complex religious environmentâmarked by questions of identity, authority, and traditionâthat figures like Alvares Mar Julius would later emerge. His life and mission cannot be understood apart from this long history of interaction, tension, and adaptation.
The story of the Malankara Church is therefore not a single uninterrupted line, but a layered history shaped by continuity and change, faith and conflict, and the enduring search for ecclesial identity in a rapidly changing world.
Early Life and Priesthood
Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvares was born in 1836 in Goa, then part of Portuguese India. He came from a Catholic family shaped by centuries of Latin Christian tradition under Portuguese colonial rule. Goa at the time was a society where religion, language, and administration were deeply intertwined with colonial structures.
From an early age, he was exposed to both the discipline of church life and the cultural tensions of a society shaped by colonial authority and local identity. These early surroundings would later influence his sensitivity toward questions of ecclesiastical autonomy and justice.
Alvares pursued his early education in institutions under the Roman Catholic system in Goa. He later entered ecclesiastical training for the priesthood, studying philosophy and theology according to the Latin scholastic tradition.
His formation emphasized pastoral responsibility, liturgical discipline, and doctrinal instruction. He is remembered as a diligent student, known for intellectual seriousness and a strong command over theological reasoning.
During his seminary years, he developed a reputation not only for academic ability but also for his outspoken nature and concern for moral integrity within church life.
After completing his ecclesiastical studies, Alvares was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in Goa. He entered active pastoral ministry, serving in parish work and engaging in preaching and administration.
As a priest, he was known for his energy in pastoral duties and his commitment to the spiritual care of his congregation. His preaching drew attention for its clarity and moral force, and he gradually became recognized as a strong voice within the local clergy.
In his early priesthood, Alvares developed a reputation as both a preacher and a thinker. His sermons were noted for their directness and emphasis on ethical living, and he was respected for his ability to communicate theological ideas in a practical and accessible manner.
At the same time, he was increasingly sensitive to issues within the churchâs structure and governance in Goa. Reports of administrative injustice and tensions between colonial ecclesiastical authority and local clergy deeply affected him.
This growing awareness marked an important turning point in his intellectual and spiritual journey. While still firmly within the Roman Catholic framework, he began to develop questions about authority, reform, and the lived reality of the church in colonial India.
These early experiences laid the foundation for the dramatic changes that would later define his life and ministry.
Conflicts with the Roman Catholic Church
Disagreements with Ecclesiastical Authorities
As Alvares advanced in his priestly ministry, his relationship with ecclesiastical authority in Goa became increasingly strained. The Roman Catholic Church in Portuguese India functioned within a colonial framework where ecclesiastical and civil authority were closely linked, and local clergy often operated under strict administrative oversight.
Alvares is described in historical accounts as becoming progressively critical of certain aspects of church governance, particularly regarding the treatment of local clergy and the degree of centralized control exercised by Portuguese ecclesiastical leadership. These tensions did not arise as a single event but developed gradually through years of pastoral experience.
Concern for Justice and Church Freedom
A central theme in Alvaresâ evolving outlook was his concern for justice within the life of the Church. He was particularly sensitive to questions of fairness in ecclesiastical administration and the autonomy of local Christian communities under foreign jurisdiction.
This concern was not merely administrative but spiritual in nature. He increasingly viewed ecclesiastical authority as something that should serve pastoral life rather than dominate it. His reflections led him to question whether the existing structures adequately reflected the needs and dignity of the local faithful.
These convictions placed him in an increasingly difficult position within the church hierarchy, as his views diverged from established policies and practices.
The Path Toward Separation
Over time, the tensions between Alvares and the Roman Catholic hierarchy reached a point where continued cooperation became difficult. His growing theological and ecclesiological disagreements, combined with administrative conflicts, led him to reconsider his place within the Roman Catholic jurisdiction.
This was not a sudden rupture but a gradual process marked by internal struggle, discernment, and external pressure. It involved significant personal cost, as leaving established ecclesiastical structures in Portuguese India carried serious social and institutional consequences.
Ultimately, Alvares made the decision to align himself with an alternative ecclesiastical tradition, entering into communion with the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, where he would later be consecrated as a bishop.
Personal Sacrifices and Public Opposition
Alvaresâ separation from Roman Catholic jurisdiction was accompanied by significant personal and public consequences. He faced opposition from ecclesiastical authorities and experienced a loss of status within the system he had served as a priest.
Accounts from the period describe social and institutional isolation, as well as the challenges of continuing ministry outside the structures of the dominant church hierarchy. His decision was controversial and viewed differently by various communitiesâsome as a courageous stand for conscience, others as a breach of ecclesial unity.
Despite these difficulties, Alvares remained committed to his convictions. This period marked a turning point in his life, transforming him from a parish priest within a colonial ecclesiastical system into a figure engaged in broader questions of church identity, authority, and reform.
It set the stage for his later consecration and his mission among the Syriac Orthodox communities in India and beyond.
At that time, he was expelled to Colombo, in Sri Lanka.
Encounter with the Indian Orthodox Church
Contact with the Indian Orthodox Church
Following his separation from Roman Catholic jurisdiction, Alvares entered a new and uncertain phase of his ecclesiastical life. During this period, he came into contact with the wider Oriental Orthodox world, particularly the Indian Orthodox Church, whose historical center was associated with the Patriarchate of Antioch.
An Indian Orthodox bishop, St. Gregorios of Parumala, came to know about him. Alvares told him about his wish to join the Indian Orthodoxy. St. Gregorios went back to India, and discussed the matter with the then head of the church, Pulikottil Joseph Mar Dionysius II. With his permission, Alvares was brought back to Kerala, where he was ordained as a bishop in the Indian Orthodox Church.
This connection did not occur in isolation but within a broader context of Indian Christians seeking alternative ecclesiastical relationships outside Latin authority. The Indian Orthodox tradition, with its ancient liturgy and episcopal continuity, provided a framework for re-establishing episcopal ministry in this new setting.
Acceptance of Oriental Orthodox Theology
Alvares gradually aligned himself with the theology and ecclesiology of the Oriental Orthodox tradition. This tradition, distinct from both Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox communions, emphasizes the unity of Christâs nature in a formulation rooted in the early ecumenical councils as received by the Oriental Orthodox Churches.
His acceptance of this tradition was not merely academic but ecclesialâreflecting a shift in authority, liturgical life, and spiritual identity. He embraced the Syriac liturgical heritage and its understanding of church governance, which differed significantly from the centralized Latin structure he had left behind.
Consecration as Mar Julius
In recognition of his commitment and role within this emerging ecclesiastical context, Alvares was consecrated as a bishop in the Indian Orthodox tradition and received the episcopal name Mar Julius.
This consecration marked a decisive transformation in his life and ministry. He was now fully integrated into the episcopal structure of the Syriac Orthodox Church, serving not only as a priest or reformer but as a bishop responsible for pastoral leadership, sacramental ministry, and the formation of new Christian communities.
Beginning of a New Mission
As Mar Julius, Alvares began a new phase of missionary and pastoral work. His ministry extended beyond Goa into broader regions, including parts of India and Ceylon, where he sought to strengthen and organize communities aligned with the Syriac Orthodox tradition.
This mission was marked by both opportunity and difficulty. While he found support among those drawn to the Syriac Orthodox Church, he also faced continued opposition from former ecclesiastical authorities and skepticism from various quarters.
Nevertheless, this period established the foundation of his enduring legacy: a bishop operating at the intersection of colonial history, ecclesiastical transition, and the search for a distinct Christian identity in India.
Missionary Work in Goa, Ceylon, and Beyond
Following his consecration as Mar Julius, Alvares devoted himself to the difficult task of establishing and strengthening Orthodox Christian communities in regions where the Indian Orthodox tradition had little institutional presence.
His ministry extended through Goa and other parts of India, and historical records also associate him with missionary efforts in Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka). Traveling under challenging circumstances, he preached, celebrated the sacraments, instructed the faithful, and sought to provide spiritual leadership to those attracted to the Orthodox faith.
Mar Julius got the diocese of Outside Kerala Diocese, which later became the Brahmavar Diocese.
Unlike bishops who inherited large dioceses and established institutions, Mar Julius often worked among small and scattered communities. Much of his ministry involved building foundations where few existed before.
Formation of Orthodox Communities
One of the most enduring achievements of Mar Julius was the formation and organization of Orthodox communities in western India. Through preaching, pastoral care, and episcopal leadership, he gathered believers who desired an ecclesiastical life rooted in the ancient Oriental Orthodox tradition.
These communities frequently lacked financial resources, political influence, and institutional support. Nevertheless, Mar Julius remained committed to nurturing them through regular worship, catechesis, and sacramental life.
His work helped create a lasting Orthodox presence in regions where such communities had previously been small or nonexistent. The fruits of these efforts would continue long after his death.
Persecution, Imprisonment, and Public Humiliation
The mission of Mar Julius was not carried out in peace. His break with Roman Catholic jurisdiction and his leadership within the Orthodox Church made him a controversial figure in the religious climate of the Roman Catholic Church.
Historical accounts describe periods of intense opposition. He faced legal difficulties, public criticism, social isolation, and acts intended to discredit his ministry. He was publically humiliated, and was imprisoned by the Roman Catholic Church.
For many of his followers, these sufferings became evidence of his willingness to endure hardship for the sake of conscience and faith. His opponents viewed his actions differently, but even critics could not deny the sacrifices he made in pursuit of his convictions.
The hostility he encountered often left him with limited resources and little worldly support. Yet he continued his ministry despite these obstacles.
He was steadfast in his adversities
What distinguished Mar Julius was not merely that he suffered opposition, but that he persevered through it. Throughout his struggles, he remained devoted to his episcopal responsibilities and continued serving the communities entrusted to his care.
His ministry was marked by endurance rather than triumph. He did not command armies, possess political power, or enjoy institutional security. Instead, he relied upon faith, perseverance, and a deep sense of calling.
Many who encountered him were impressed by his resilience amid adversity. Even when confronted with rejection, criticism, and hardship, he continued to preach, teach, and minister to the faithful.
This steadfastness would become one of the defining features of his legacy. To later generations of Orthodox Christians, Mar Julius came to symbolize the courage to remain faithful under pressure and the willingness to sacrifice personal comfort for the sake of conscience and truth.
As the years passed, the burdens he carried would only increase. Yet the trials that marked his ministry also prepared him for the final chapter of his earthly journey.
His vision for the Church
As the years advanced, the burdens carried by Mar Julius grew heavier. The challenges that had accompanied much of his ministry did not disappear with age. The communities he served remained relatively small, resources were limited, and opposition from various quarters continued to affect his work.
Despite decades of labor, he did not enjoy the security or influence often associated with prominent church leaders. Much of his episcopal ministry was spent strengthening fragile communities and encouraging believers who lived without the support of powerful institutions.
Yet those who knew him remembered a bishop who remained committed to his calling. Even as difficulties accumulated, he continued to guide the faithful and uphold the mission he believed God had entrusted to him.
The Roman Catholic Church didn't even consider him a bishop. He was put in a broken jail with less/contaminated food.
The hardships of years of travel, ministry, controversy, and sacrifice gradually took a toll on his health. In his later years, Mar Julius experienced increasing physical weakness and illness.
For a man whose life had been marked by activity and pastoral service, these sufferings became a final test of endurance. Unable to rely upon wealth, influence, or worldly recognition, he faced his declining health with the same perseverance that had characterized his ministry.
Those who later reflected on his life saw in these final years a continuation of the sacrifices that had defined his episcopate. His suffering was not sought for its own sake, but it was borne with patience and faith.
In 1923, after a lifetime of ministry, struggle, and service, Mar Julius departed this life.
On September 23, 1923, he passed away. He was buried in Panchim St. Inez Cemetery. He was a bishop who was buried in a public cemetery.
He died far from the centers of ecclesiastical power and without the public honors often given to influential religious leaders. From a worldly perspective, his accomplishments may have appeared modest. The communities he had nurtured were small, and the recognition he received during his lifetime was limited.
Yet those who had witnessed his ministry remembered something deeper: a man who had remained faithful to his convictions despite hardship, opposition, and personal sacrifice.
His death marked the end of a remarkable chapter in the history of Orthodox Christianity in India. The bishop who had endured controversy, persecution, and suffering now passed into the memory of the Church he had served so faithfully.
The death of Mar Julius left his communities with significant challenges. The Orthodox congregations he had established lacked the resources and institutional strength enjoyed by larger Christian bodies. Maintaining unity and continuity required dedication from clergy and laity alike.
Nevertheless, the foundations he had laid did not disappear. The communities he nurtured continued to preserve the Orthodox faith and remember the sacrifices of their bishop. Though small in number, they carried forward the spiritual legacy he had left behind.
In the years that followed, appreciation for his life and ministry gradually increased. What had once been viewed by some as a controversial chapter came to be seen by many Orthodox Christians as a testimony to courage, perseverance, and faithfulness.
The influence of Mar Julius would extend beyond his own generation. His commitment to conscience, his devotion to the Church, and his willingness to suffer for his convictions ensured that his memory would not be forgotten. The seeds he planted through years of struggle would continue to bear fruit long after his earthly ministry had come to an end.
Blessed Alvares Mar Julius demonstrated that faithfulness to conscience can demand great sacrifice. Though rejected by many in his own time, his perseverance, courage, and commitment to Christ left a lasting mark on the history of the Orthodox Church in India.
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