Aleixo de Menezes

Aleixo de Menezes (* January 25, 1559, † May 3, 1617 ) was Archbishop of Goa, Archbishop of Braga in Portugal and Spanish viceroy of Portugal.

Biographical information

About Aleixo is known that he joined the Augustinian order. 1595 was his consecration as Bishop of Goa.

The Synod of Diamper, which took place under his leadership, had the broad classification of since apostolic times, based in South India Thomas Christians among the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church will spring up which their historical connections to the Assyrian Church of the East were cut off.

1612 Alexis de Menezes was appointed Archbishop of Braga, Portugal, appointed. He was from 1612 to 1615 the Spanish viceroy in Portugal, died in 1617 and was buried in the Cathedral of Braga.

A questionable legacy

Aleixo de Menezes was not willing to accept the customs of the Thomas Christians, even in the smallest. Instead, he reinforced the Romanization of the Thomas Christians, which was since the arrival of the Portuguese in the early 16th century already underway.

The result of the activities of Aleixos de Menezes was assessed not only by the affected indigenous Christians, but also by the Roman Catholic Church subsequently very negative:

" The only case in which an old Eastern rite was Romanized intentionally, is that of the Malabar Christians. Here it was not the authority of Rome, but the misguided zeal of Alexius de Menezes, Archbishop of Goa and his Portuguese advisers during the Synod of Diamper that destroyed the ancient rite of the Malabar Christians.

( The only case in Which an ancient Eastern rite HAS BEEN willfully romanized is did Uniat of the Malabar Christians, where it not what Roman authority but the misguided zeal of Alexius de Menezes, Archbishop of Goa, and his Portuguese advisers at the Synod of Diamper ( 1599) Which spoiled the old Malabar Rite. ) "

The legality of the Synod of Diamper has been challenged throughout history by many scholars. It was never confirmed by Rome and is now considered " robber synod ", especially as the theological necessity of many of the changes you there is not given.