Paintings depicting Malankara Pally Yogams to be unveiled

St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral unveils historical oil paintings of Malankara Pally Yogams, meticulously depicting Syrian Christian culture and history.

St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral at Puthiyakavu in Mavelikara is set to unveil three more oil paintings of the Malankara Pally Yogams held in 1754, 1769, and 1818.

The paintings will be unveiled at a function to be held at the church at 2. 30 p.m. on Sunday. Avittam Tirunal Adithya Varma, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews III, and others will attend the function. On the occasion, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala will release a book titled Mavelikarayum Padiyolakalum.

The Malankara Pally Yogam, a representative body comprising priests and lay members from each parish in Malankara, held ultimate authority over the Syrian Christians of Kerala, overseeing all their spiritual, temporal, and sacramental affairs. Four important yogams among them were held at Mavelikara between 1754 and 1836.

An illustration depicting the Malankara Pally Yogam held in 1836, which decided to formally cut all relations with the Anglican missionaries, was opened to the public in 2023. Its decision is popularly known as the ‘Mavelikara Padiyola’.

The 1754 yogam was held to settle the dispute between the then Malankara Metropolitan Mar Thoma V and foreign bishops. In 1769, the pally yogam partially accepted the West Syriac liturgical traditions. The 1818 yogam dismissed the demand of the British missionaries to accept Anglican liturgy by the Malankara Church as official one.

All four yogams were held at Mavalikara before the divisions occurred within the Syrian Christians.

According to church officials, the paintings were not merely created to depict meetings and participants. They were thoughtfully crafted with careful attention to culture, season, time, and social context. Extensive research was undertaken to ensure historical accuracy. The costumes, vestments, and hairstyles of the Syrian Christian clergy and laypeople from that era were meticulously captured, along with the stage decorations and lighting, all of which were carefully considered.