Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan

Mathews Mar Athanasius Malankara Metropolitan
Malankara Syrian Church
Mathews Mar Athanasius Malankara Metropolitan
Installed	1852
Term ended	1877
Predecessor	Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius
Successor	(1) Mar Dionysius V - (Malankara Syrian Church) & (2) Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan - (Marthoma Syrian Church)
Orders
Ordination	1831
Consecration	February 1842
Personal details
Birth name	Mathen
Born	25 April 1818 Maramon
Died	16 July 1877 (1877-07-17) (aged 59) Maramon
Buried	Maramon church

Mathews Mar Athanasius (25 April 1818 – 16 July 1877) was the Metropolitan of the Malankara Syrian Church from 1852 until his death. As a reformer, he spent most of his reign attempting to heal rifts within the church, but following his death a Metran faction formed the independent Mar Thoma Syrian Church in 1889.

Mathews started his career in the church in childhood, and was influenced by the Church Mission Society and his uncle Abraham Malpan, a priest who instituted reforms in Maramon parish in 1840. When Abraham's reforms led to conflict with the metropolitan bishop Mar Dionysius IV, Deacon Mathews traveled to the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch, who consecrated him as Bishop Mathews Mar Athanasius in 1841. After years of dispute over the church's leadership between Mathews and Dionysius, the issue was settled by the Travancore government in 1852, with Mathews being recognized as Metropolitan since he got the Royal decree from the Maharaja of Travancore. He worked to repair the rift in the church, but continuing unrest ultimately led to a permanent split. After Synod of Mulanthurathy and death of Mar Athanasious the rift in Malankara Church became more visible.Following the Royal Court Verdict against Malankara Metropolitan Thomas Mar Athanasious and the reform party, they formed the independent Mar Thoma Church in 1889 .

In the 17th century, a member of the Panamkuzhy family came and settled in Kozhencherry on the banks of river Pampa. Later they moved to Maramon, and lived at Chackkalyil, on the other side of the river. The second son in that family, Mathen moved to a nearby house at Palakunnathu. He had six sons and a daughter. The daughter was married to Pavoothikunnel family and the first four sons moved to Themoottil, Neduvelil, Periyilel and Punamadom. The fifth son was a hermit priest (sanyasi achen). As was the custom, the youngest son Mathew lived at Palakunnathu family house (this house still exists). Being members of the ancient Malankara Church, many leaders were born in this family. Leader of the reformation in Malankara Church, Abraham Malpan, Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XIII); Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XIV); Titus I Mar Thoma Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XV); Titus II Mar Thoma Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XVI); were from this family. The present head of the Mar Thoma Church, Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XXI), is also from this family.