What was the Coonan Cross Oath?

The Coonan Cross Oath was a public declaration made on January 3, 1653, by members of the Saint Thomas Christian community in Mattancherry, India. It marked their refusal to submit to the authority of the Jesuits, the Latin Catholic hierarchy, and Portuguese dominance. The event led to a permanent split within the Saint Thomas Christian community between those who later reconciled with Rome and those who aligned with the Syriac Orthodox tradition.

What we know

• The Coonan Cross Oath took place on 3 January 1653 in Mattancherry, India, involving a significant portion of the Saint Thomas Christian community. [2]
• The public declaration signified the community's refusal to submit to Portuguese dominance and the authority of the Jesuits and the Latin Catholic hierarchy. [2]
• The mysterious disappearance of Ahatallah, a Syrian Orthodox archbishop captured by Portuguese authorities, played a direct role in prompting the oath. [2]
• Following the oath, the community split into factions including the Puthankoor faction, which remained unwilling to restore ties with the Catholic Church and aligned with the Syriac Orthodox Church. [2, 5]

Where to go next

• whoWho was Ahatallah?
• what caused itWhat happened at the Synod of Diamper?
• whereWhere is Mattancherry?
• what followedHow did the Syro-Malabar Church form?
• the bigger pictureWhat are the Saint Thomas Christians?
• an unexpected connectionHow did Portuguese colonial administration trigger an Eastern Christian schism?Attempts by Portuguese authorities to enforce Latin liturgy and clerical celibacy through the padroado system directly provoked a major revolt among indigenous Indian Christians.

Sources

• [1]Coonan Cross Oath (Wikidata Q2257955) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Coonan Cross Oath · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Syro-Malabar Church · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Puthankoor · CC BY-SA 4.0