By the Coonan Cross Oath, the Eastern Church in India cuts itself off from colonial Portuguese tutelage.

The Coonan Cross Oath, known in Malayalam as കൂനൻ കുരിശ് സത്യം (romanized: Kūnan Kuriśŭ Satiaṁ), is a pivotal event in the history of the Saint Thomas Christians of the Malabar region in India. Also referred to as the Great Oath of Bent Cross, the Leaning Cross Oath, or the Oath of the Slanting Cross, this historic public avowal occurred on January 3, 1653, in Mattancherry, a significant port town in Kochi (present-day Kerala). It represented a firm declaration by the indigenous Saint Thomas Christian community that they would no longer submit to the escalating influence of the Jesuits and the Latin Catholic hierarchy, nor accept the comprehensive Portuguese dominance, known as the Padroado, in both their ecclesiastical and secular affairs.

While the precise wording of the oath has been subject to various historical interpretations and versions, its core intent remained consistently one of defiance. Some accounts suggest the oath was primarily directed against the Portuguese colonial power, others against the Jesuit order specifically, and yet another significant version posits it was a broader rejection of the authority of the Church of Rome as imposed through Portuguese channels. The common thread among these narratives is the community's resolute stand for their traditional autonomy and identity.

The Coonan Cross Oath was not an isolated incident but the culmination of over a century of escalating tensions and systematic attempts by the Portuguese to Latinize the ancient Saint Thomas Christian community. These Christians trace their origins to the apostolic mission of St. Thomas in the 1st century CE, making them one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. Historically, they maintained communion with the Church of the East, headquartered in Persia (modern-day Iraq), and observed the distinctive East Syriac Rite liturgy, which differed significantly from the Latin Rite introduced by European missionaries.

The Imposition of Latinization and Portuguese Padroado

Upon their arrival in India, the Portuguese, driven by both religious zeal and colonial ambitions, found the Saint Thomas Christians to be distinct in their practices and theological affiliations. Viewing their East Syriac traditions as schismatic or heretical from a Latin Catholic perspective, the Portuguese refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of these ancient local ecclesiastical traditions. Instead, they embarked on a vigorous campaign to impose Latin usages and bring the community under the direct control of the Roman Catholic Church, specifically through the Portuguese Padroado system.

The Padroado was a system of royal patronage granted by the Holy See to the Portuguese Crown, bestowing upon them extensive rights and responsibilities over ecclesiastical appointments, church revenues, and missionary activities in their colonial territories. This meant that Portuguese monarchs effectively controlled the Church in their domains, including the appointment of bishops and the administration of dioceses.

A pivotal moment in this process of Latinization was the infamous Synod of Diamper, convened in 1599. Presided over by Aleixo de Menezes, the Padroado-appointed Latin Catholic Archbishop of Goa and the Primate of the East Indies, this synod unilaterally imposed numerous Latinizations upon the Saint Thomas Christians. These impositions were far-reaching and deeply disruptive to the community's identity:

The Coonan Cross Oath: A Stand for Autonomy

By 1653, after more than half a century of relentless efforts by the Latin Church and particularly the Padroado Jesuits to assert control and homogenize their practices, the patience of the majority of Saint Thomas Christians wore thin. The community's deep-seated resentment against the erosion of their traditional rites and the imposition of foreign authority culminated in the Coonan Cross Oath at Mattancherry.

The oath itself is shrouded in a powerful visual symbolism. Tradition holds that a large multitude of Christians gathered around an ancient stone cross in Mattancherry. When it became impossible for everyone to touch the cross directly, a long rope was tied to it, and the faithful held onto the rope, symbolizing their collective vow. By taking this oath, they solemnly pledged to liberate themselves from the yoke of Latinization and Portuguese ecclesiastical and secular domination.

Following this defiant act, the community took immediate steps to re-establish their self-governance. They elected Archdeacon Thoma I as the spiritual and administrative head of their community, a direct challenge to the Latin hierarchy. Furthermore, they resolved to re-establish intercommunion with older Eastern Churches, seeking solidarity and recognition from other ancient Christian traditions that had not succumbed to Western Latin influence. This pivotal event ultimately led to a schism within the Saint Thomas Christian community, giving rise to distinct traditions: those who eventually reconciled with Rome (forming the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, which retained its East Syriac identity while in communion with the Pope), and those who reaffirmed their ties with the West Syriac tradition (forming the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and other Malankara churches, in communion with the Patriarch of Antioch).

Frequently Asked Questions About the Coonan Cross Oath

What was the primary purpose of the Coonan Cross Oath?
The primary purpose of the Coonan Cross Oath was for the Saint Thomas Christians of Malabar to publicly declare their rejection of Portuguese ecclesiastical and secular dominance (Padroado) and to resist the imposed Latinization of their ancient East Syriac Rite liturgy and traditions.
Where and when did the Coonan Cross Oath take place?
The Coonan Cross Oath took place on January 3, 1653, in Mattancherry, a historic town in Kochi, present-day Kerala, India.
Who were the Saint Thomas Christians?
The Saint Thomas Christians, also known as Nasranis, are an ancient Christian community in Kerala, India, who trace their origins to the missionary activity of St. Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century CE. They historically followed the East Syriac Rite and were in communion with the Church of the East.
What was the "Padroado" system?
The Padroado was a system of royal patronage granted by the Holy See to the Portuguese Crown, giving them extensive rights and responsibilities over the Catholic Church in their colonial territories, including the appointment of bishops and control over church administration and revenues.
What was the significance of the Synod of Diamper (1599) in relation to the oath?
The Synod of Diamper in 1599 was a crucial event orchestrated by the Portuguese to unilaterally impose extensive Latinizations on the Saint Thomas Christians, including changes to liturgy, vestments, and clerical celibacy. This synod served as a major catalyst for the deep resentment that eventually led to the Coonan Cross Oath.
What were the immediate outcomes of the Coonan Cross Oath?
Immediately following the oath, the Saint Thomas Christians elected Archdeacon Thoma I as their new leader, challenging the Latin hierarchy. The event also led to a significant schism, eventually resulting in the formation of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (reconciled with Rome but retaining East Syriac traditions) and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (re-establishing ties with the Patriarch of Antioch).