Saint Thomas Christians

The Saint Thomas Christians, also called Syrian Christians of India, are a special group of people in the state of Kerala. They have a very old history, going back to the work of Thomas the Apostle a long time ago. This makes them one of the earliest Christian communities in the world. They follow traditions from Syriac Christianity and use both Eastern and Western styles of worship.

Historically, they were part of a bigger church group called the Church of the East. Over time, they split into different groups because of changes brought by Portuguese explorers and leaders. These groups now include different churches such as the Syro-Malabar Church, Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, each keeping some of the old ways while also adopting new practices.

Today, Saint Thomas Christians are known for their rich cultural heritage, speaking the local language Malayalam and keeping many ancient traditions alive. They have also joined many other Christian groups, showing their adaptability while still honoring their deep roots. Their story is a beautiful mix of history, faith, and culture that continues to grow and change.

Terminology

The Saint Thomas Christians are named after Thomas the Apostle, who is believed to have brought Christianity to India. This name became common during the time of Portuguese colonisation. Locally, they are often called Nasrani or Nasrani Mappila. The word Nasrani means "Christian" and comes from ancient Hebrew and Aramaic words. The term Mappila is an honorific used for people from the Middle East who married into local families, including Muslims (Jonaka Mappila) and Jews (Yuda Mappila). Some Syrian Christians in Travancore still use this title.

The Government of India calls them Syrian Christians, a name that started with the Dutch colonial authority. This term helps to tell them apart from newer Christian groups. The words Syrian or Syriac refer to their old religious ties to the Church of the East, not where they are from.

Ethnic divisions

The Saint Thomas Christians are split into two main groups: the larger Vadakkumbhagar or Northist group and the smaller Tekkumbhagar or Southist group. Their names come from where their ancestors lived in the old city of Kodungallur, the capital of the Chera dynasty. The early followers of Saint Thomas the Apostle and others who joined them lived in the northern part of Kodungallur, which is why they are called Northists.

Later, a rich Syriac Christian merchant named Knai Thoma came to the southern part of Kodungallur with other merchants and church leaders. His family and followers became known as Southists because they lived in the south. The Southists are often called K'nā'nāya, meaning "Canaanite" in Syriac, a name that comes from Knai Thoma.

History

Origin

Saint Thomas Christians, also called Syrian Christians of India, are a group of Indian Christians who live in the state of Kerala. They follow Syriac Christian traditions and believe their roots go back to the apostle Thomas, who is thought to have visited Kerala in 52 AD.

Icon of Mar Knai Thoma the Merchant

The community has a long history, with early ties to the Church of the East. Over time, they created their own traditions and joined different Christian groups, including Eastern Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, and Protestant churches.

Classical period

As the community grew, it kept strong links with the Church of the East, based in Persia. By the 8th century, the community was led by a metropolitan bishop from Persia. This time also saw more contact with Christian groups from the West, including visitors and missions.

Tharisapalli Copper plate grant (9th century) – One of the reliable documentary evidences of the privileges and influence that Saint Thomas Christians enjoyed in early Malabar. The document contains signatures of the witnesses in Pahlavi, Kufic and Hebrew scripts. It is the oldest documentary evidence from India that attest the presence of a Persian Christian community in South India.

The port city of Kollam was started in 825 by a Persian Christian trader, and it became an important trading place. This period began the Malayalam calendar, named after Kollam.

Portuguese contact

In 1498, the community met Portuguese explorers, led by Vasco da Gama. At first, the two groups worked together, but problems arose as the Portuguese wanted to control the Saint Thomas Christians. This caused conflicts and efforts by the community to stay independent.

The "King of Colombo" (Kollam, flags: , identified as Christian due to the Christian presence there) in the contemporary Catalan Atlas of 1375. The caption above the king of Kollam reads: Here rules the king of Colombo, a Christian. The black flags () on the coast belong to the Delhi Sultanate.

Division and defiance

In the 17th century, disagreements with the Portuguese caused a big split in the community. In 1653, leaders of the community took an oath to refuse Portuguese control, known as the Coonan Cross Oath. This event started the community's independence and led to the creation of the Malankara Church.

Failed attempts for reunification and solidification of the schism

Attempts to bring the community back together faced problems, including rivalries and outside influences. By the 18th century, the community had split into groups, each supporting different religious leaders. These splits continued into the 19th century, with more divisions because of theological and management disagreements.

British period

Under British rule, the community faced new challenges, including changes in government and social structures. The British started schools and seminaries, which caused more divisions in the community. Some members worked with Anglican missionaries, while others stuck to traditional Syrian Christian practices.

Further divisions

The 19th century saw more splits in the community. Some members created new churches, like the Mar Thoma Syrian Church, while others stayed with traditional Syrian Christian groups. These divisions were often because of theological differences and wishes for change.

Involvement in politics

Saint Thomas Christians have taken part in Kerala's political history. They have worked for equal rights and representation, and have been part of many social and political movements. Their role in Kerala's politics has been shaped by community goals and the wider social and political situation in Kerala.

Socio-cultural and religious identity

Saint Thomas Christians are a special group of people in India. They mix different traditions in their faith and daily life. Their beliefs come from ancient Syrian Christian traditions, but their customs are very Indian. They often say, "Nazranis are Indian in culture, Christian in faith and Syrian in liturgy."

Today, Saint Thomas Christians come from many different backgrounds. Their culture includes ideas from East Syriac, West Syriac, Jewish, Hindu, and Latin traditions, plus local Indian ways and European influences. They speak Malayalam, the main language of Kerala, and use Syriac in their religious services.

Nasranis or Syrian Christians of Kerala in ancient days (from an old painting). Photo published in the Cochin Government Royal War Efforts Souvenir in 1938.

Jewish traditions appear in their religious practices. For example, their main worship service is called the Qurbana, a word from the Aramaic language meaning "sacrifice." They used to hold the Qurbana in Syriac until the early 1900s. Saint Thomas Christians often follow social customs from nearby Hindu communities. Some of their practices show Hindu symbols, though these changed later. In the past, they followed rules similar to upper-caste Hindus and had special rights and duties.

In medieval times, Saint Thomas Christians were important traders and had strong ties with local rulers. They served as soldiers, tax collectors, and advisors. They built training centers for warriors and protected their communities.

Old Karingachira Church which was seen by Anglican Missionary Dr. Claudius Buchanan in 1806

Saint Thomas Christians and upper-caste Hindus often celebrated festivals together. Their churches and temples were sometimes built close to each other. Until the 1800s, they could visit Hindu temples and take part in temple festivals. But later, some Hindu groups questioned their status, leading to conflicts.

Existing traditions, music, rituals and social life

A Saint Thomas Syrian Christian family from Thiruvalla (1937)

Saint Thomas Christians keep many old traditions in both their social and religious life. Before the 1970s, their main worship service, the Nasrani Qurbana, was sung only in Syriac.

Saint Thomas Christians highly honor Holy Thursday, called Pesaha in Malayalam. Families gather for a special meal of Pesaha Appam after church services.
They observe Lent, called Anpathu noyambu or Valiya noyambu, which lasts fifty days. During this time, they avoid meat, fish, and eggs.
People usually take off their shoes before entering church, and women cover their heads with a scarf or veil.
On Palm Sunday, called Oshana or Hoshana Sunday, flowers are placed in the church, and people shout "Oshana." Palm leaves are blessed and given out after the service.
The main worship service is called the Holy Qurbana, conducted in Malayalam but with parts in Syriac. In the 20th century, the worship book was translated into English for those living outside Kerala.
They use the East Syriac name Mārān Īshoʿ Mîshîħa for Jesus.
Some pray the Shehimo, a set of prayers, seven times a day.
Decorations like muthukkuda (ornamental umbrellas) are used in celebrations, along with drums and traditional dances.
Their weddings and births follow customs similar to nearby Hindu families. Marriages usually happen after an arranged meeting called Pennukanal.
Weddings have unique traditions, such as tying the Minnu (a Hindu marriage symbol) and giving a special silk cloth called Manthrakodi to the bride.
They use items like Nilavilakku (a lighted lamp), Kindi (a brass vessel), and Kalasha (a sacred pot) in homes and churches.
The night before marriage, a ceremony called Madhuram Veppu is held, where sweets are served and traditions like applying henna are performed.
Traditional clothing for women includes the Chattayum Mundum, though many now wear a sari or churidar.
Art forms like Margamkali (a circular dance) and Parichamuttukali (a martial dance) are still practiced.

Church architecture

Pesaha Appam (unleavened bread) similar to a matzah is prepared on Maundy Thursday to commemorate the Passover of the Lord, rooted in its Jewish traditions.

Early records mention churches built by Saint Thomas Christians. These churches often looked like Hindu temples but had a large granite cross in front. Inside, the churches followed East Syriac design. The space is arranged east-to-west, with three main areas: the madbaha (sanctuary), the qestroma (choir), and the haykla (nave).

The madbaha, at the eastern end, is where the altar stands and represents Heaven. It has a sacristry and baptistery nearby. The qestroma has seats for the choir and lower clergy. The haykla has a raised platform with an altar, lecterns, and seats for higher clergy. Worshipers stand before the altar, with separate areas for men and women.

The main entrance is on the western side, with a vestibule, pillars, and a flag mast in the yard. Bells are used to signal services and special events.

The Persian Crosses

Saint Thomas Christian churches use the Persian cross as their symbol, also called the Nasrani Menorah or Mar Thoma Sleeva. There are different ideas about what the cross means. Some think it is based on the Jewish Menorah, a seven-branched lamp stand. Others see it as a symbol of joy, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father, with the cross representing Jesus and steps symbolizing important events in Christian belief. The cross may also reflect the region's Buddhist culture, showing how Christianity blended with local traditions.

Main article: Persian cross

Today

The Saint Thomas Christians are an important group in Kerala, India. They have had big impacts in many areas like business, farming, movies, and education. Because of their good education, many of them work for the government or have their own jobs.

Most Saint Thomas Christians live in the southern parts of Kerala, but many have moved to other places in India and around the world. Today, they make up about 12.5% of Kerala’s population and most follow the Catholic Church.

Syrian Christian caste status

The Saint Thomas Christians in Kerala were part of the upper caste groups. In old kingdoms like Cochin and Travancore, they had special rights like upper-caste Hindus. They followed the same social customs as Hindus.

These Christians usually married within their own group and did not marry with other Christian groups. They had their own divisions based on different traditions.

Christian conventions

The Maramon Convention is a big yearly Christian meeting in Asia. It happens in Maramon, close to Kozhencherry, every February by the Pamba River near the Kozhencherry Bridge. The first meeting was in March 1895.

Another important meeting in Kerala is the Central Travancore Convention. It is held each year at Saint Stephen's Cathedral in Makamkunnu and is part of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The first meeting was in 1915.

The Kallooppara Orthodox Convention is a big event for the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. It takes place by the Manimala River and draws many people each year. This convention began in 1943.

The Ranni Orthodox Convention is a yearly meeting for the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. It is now held in Ranni town and started in 1967.

The Mallapally Orthodox Syrian Convention is held every year in Mallapally. The first meeting was in 1989.

The Trivandrum Orthodox Convention is organized each year by the Trivandrum Orthodox Diocese. It happens at Holy Trinity Aramana in Ulloor and began in 1988.