[3] The entire community remained united until the 17th century, when disputes with the Portuguese padroado in India led to the Coonan Cross Oath of 1653 and the division of the Saint Thomas Christians into Syro-Malabar Church and independent branches.

In 1772 Bishop Gregorios, a representative of the Syriac Orthodox hierarchy from the Middle East, had grown dissatisfied with how the Metropolitan Dionysius I had treated him.

Against Dionysius' wishes, Gregorios consecrated as bishop a leading dissenter, the monk Kattumangatt Kurien, in a secret but canonically legitimate ceremony.

However, Dionysus saw him as a threat to his power, and in 1774 he appealed to the Raja and to the British authorities in India to suppress the rival bishop.

[8] Cyril's church was always small, but maintained stability by attracting devoted priests and emphasizing regularity in the ecclesiastical order.

During both visits Koorilose IX celebrated the Eucharist during Anglican services, sometimes alongside Church of England bishops.

[14] In 2001, bishop Sam Mathew of the Madhya Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India was a co-consecrator for the bishopric consecration of Cyril Baselios I.

[11] In July 2006 Koorilose IX and Baselios I participated as co-consecrators for the bishopric consecrations of Paul Hunt and John Fenwick as bishops of the Free Church of England.