Four months after the historic Coonan Cross Oath, on 22 May 1653, Thoma Kathanar (Archdecon Thomas) of Pakalomatom Family was consecrated as Bishop with the title "Mar Thoma" by laying hands of 12 priests.[4] He is known as 'Mar Thoma I' or 'Valiya Mar Thoma' (Mar Thoma the Great). The rival Catholic faction argued that consecration of Mar Thoma I by 12 priests was canonically irregular and hence the Malankara church sent appeals to various Eastern Christian centers. Finally Mor Gregorios Abdul Jaleel of Jerusalem reached Malankara in 1665 and regularized the ordination of Mar Thoma I. Mar Thoma I had survived a number of assassination attempts.