Christianity in Kerala
Christianity is the third-most practiced religion in Kerala with 19% of the population according to the Indian census.[1] Although a minority, Christians represent a much larger percentage of the population of Kerala than of India considered as a whole. It's a significant minority within Christianity in India,[2][3] but has contributed a lot towards the progress and development of the nation in the fields of education, healthcare, social uplift etc. Christianity is believed to have reached the shores of Kerala in 52 CE with the arrival of St Thomas, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ.[4][5] Saint Thomas Christians (also known as Syrian Christians or Nasrani) include Syro-Malabar Catholic, Malankara Orthodox, Jacobite, Marthoma, Syro-Malankara Catholic and a few members of the Church of South India. Latin Rite Christians were converted by the Portuguese in the 16th and 19th centuries mainly along the coastal areas of Kerala.
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History [edit]
The origins of Christianity in Kerala go back to the earliest period of the Church itself. In fact, there is a tradition among the Christian people of Kerala that St. Thomas the Apostle, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, landed on the Kerala coast in 52 A.D. and preached the Gospel. He is said to have first converted about a dozen Brahmin families to Christianity. He organized Christian communities, in several places and established seven churches in Kerala and then at last got martyrdom in Mylapore, Chennai, in 72 A.D. However the exact year of his arrival here is disputed due to lack of credible historical evidence,[6][7][8] despite the fact that the fruits of his hard labour being visible everywhere. His tomb is venerated by people of all religions even today.[9] In 345 A.D., a Palestinian business man, Thomas Cana, along with 72 families came and settled in Kerala, thereby augmenting the Christian community.[10] A second period of intense Latin Christian missionary activity began with the arrival of European missionaries since the discovery of sea route to India by Vasco da Gama in 1498.
In 1841 Benjamin Bailey translated the first of many Bible translations into Malayalam.
Christian Pilgrimage Sites [edit]
- Saint Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Malayattoor, built at an altitude of 600 meters from mean sea level.
- St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Arakuzha, estd. 999
- St. Peter's & St.Paul's Syrian Orthodox Church, Parumala, dedicated to the first Saint of India
- St. George Orthodox Church, Kadamattam, Famous for Kadamattathu Kathanar
- St. George’s Malankara Orthodox Church, Puthupalli
- St. George Orthodox Church, Chandanapally
- St. Francis C.S.I. Church, Fort Kochi, built in 1503 C.E., is the oldest European church, declared as a National Monument in India.
- Saint Joseph Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in Mannanam, Kottayam - where the remains of Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara are buried.
- St. Alphonsamma Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Bharananganam, Pala- where the remains of St.Alphonsa are buried; the first woman Saint of India.
- Marth Mariam Jacobite Syrian Cathedral Church, Manarcad.
- St. George Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Edathua.
- St. Antony's Latin Catholic Church, Kaloor, Kochi.
- Divine Retreat Centre, Potta-Muringoor, Chalakudi.
- St. Joseph's Latin Catholic Shrine, Kannamaly,
- Holy Cross chapel, Mattancherry.
- St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Arakuzha.
- Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Kuravilangadu
- St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Athirampuzha, Kottayam. Estd: AD 835
Denominations [edit]
Saint Thomas Christian Rite [edit]
- Chaldean Syrian Church
- Jacobite Syrian Church
- Malabar Independent Syrian Church
- Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church[12]
- Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church[13]
- St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India
- Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
- Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
Latin Rite [edit]
Anglican Denominations [edit]
Protestant Denominations [edit]
- Assemblies of God
- Church of God (Full Gospel) in India
- Sharon Pentecostal Fellowship Church
- The Pentecostal Mission
- New India Church of God
- New Testament Church of God
"Bijoe Emmanuel & Ors V. State of Kerala & Ors [1986] INSC 167". World Legal Information Institute. August 11, 1986. </ref>
References [edit]
- ^ "Census of India". Retrieved 2009-04-12.
- ^ Christianity in India
- ^ Timeline
- ^ T.K. Joseph (1955). Six St. Thomases Of South India. University of California. p. 27.
- ^ Menachery G; 1973, 1998; Mundalan, A. M; 1984; Podipara, Placid J. 1970; Leslie Brown, 1956
- ^ Medlycott, A E. 1905 "India and the Apostle Thomas"; Gorgias Press LLC; ISBN
- ^ Thomas Puthiakunnel, (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, ed. George Menachery, Vol. II.
- ^ "Kerala Syrian Christians, Apostle in India". nasrani.net. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ .Thomas in India
- ^ `Christianity in India : A True Face`, Ch:11,`Christianity in Kerala`by Dr. John Vallamattam, Ed.&Pub.:CBCI Commission, New Delhi,1981, page104
- ^ World Christian Encyclopedia , Second edition, 2001 Volume 1, p. 368-371
- ^ http://marthoma.in/
- ^ http://malankaraorthodoxchurch.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&Itemid=10
Further reading [edit]
- George K.M.,`Christianity in India Through the Centuries`,Authentic Books, Secunderabad,2007,2009.(ISBN 978-81-7362-786-6).
- Benedict Vadakkekara,`Origin of Christianity in India`,Media House, Delhi,2007.ISBN 81-7495-258-6.
- Agur C.M.,`Church History of Travancore`,Madras,1903 Reprint:Asian Educational Services, New Delhi,1990. (ISBN 81-206-0594-2).
- Visvanathan Susan,`The Christians of Kerala`,Oxford University Press, Delhi1993,1999.(ISBN 0195647998)
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