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Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala

Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala | Indian Christian Heritage

Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala: Guardians of an Ancient Christian Heritage

The Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, also known as Nasranis or Thomas Christians, represent one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. Their tradition traces its origins to the arrival of Saint Thomas the Apostle on the Malabar Coast in the first century AD. Over nearly two millennia, this community has developed a unique Christian identity that blends ancient Christian traditions with the cultural heritage of Kerala.

Today, the Saint Thomas Christian tradition encompasses several churches and denominations, including the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, Mar Thoma Syrian Church, and others. Despite their denominational differences, they share a common historical heritage rooted in the apostolic traditions of Saint Thomas.

Origins and Apostolic Tradition

Marthoma Church Azeekode near Kodungallur
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

According to long-standing tradition, Saint Thomas the Apostle arrived in Kerala around AD 52, landing at the ancient port of Muziris (Kodungallur). He is believed to have preached the Gospel, established Christian communities, and baptized local converts before continuing his missionary work elsewhere in India.

The tradition holds that Saint Thomas founded seven and a half churches (Ezharappallikal) in Kerala:

While historians continue to debate the precise details of the apostle's mission, there is broad scholarly agreement that Christianity was established in South India at a very early date and maintained connections with Christian communities in the Middle East.

Connections with the East Syrian Church

Persian Cross at Kottayam Valiyapally
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

From the early centuries of Christianity, the Saint Thomas Christians maintained strong ties with the Church of the East, centered in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq and Iran). Bishops were frequently sent from Persia to oversee ecclesiastical affairs in Kerala.

As a result, the community adopted:

  • The East Syriac liturgical tradition
  • Syriac as a liturgical language
  • Ecclesiastical customs influenced by Persian Christianity
  • Distinctive Christian art and architecture

For many centuries, Kerala's Christians functioned as a self-governing community under local leaders known as the Archdeacon of All India, who acted as both religious and civil representatives of the Saint Thomas Christians.

The Copper Plate Grants and Social Status

Historical evidence for the prominence of the Saint Thomas Christians can be found in a series of royal charters known as the Copper Plate Grants. These documents, issued by local rulers between the 9th and 10th centuries, granted privileges to Christian merchants and church leaders.

The grants reveal that Saint Thomas Christians enjoyed:

  • Rights to own land
  • Trade privileges
  • Tax exemptions
  • Military and ceremonial honors
  • Recognition as an important social and economic community

These privileges reflected the important role Christian merchants played in Kerala's thriving Indian Ocean trade network.

The Arrival of the Portuguese

The arrival of the Portuguese in India at the end of the 15th century marked a major turning point in the history of the Saint Thomas Christians.

When Portuguese missionaries encountered the Kerala Christians, they discovered a community that had preserved ancient Christian traditions but followed Syriac liturgy rather than Latin Catholic practices. Efforts to bring the community under Portuguese ecclesiastical authority led to increasing tensions.

The most significant event was the Synod of Diamper (1599), convened by Archbishop Aleixo de Menezes. The synod sought to align the Saint Thomas Christians with Latin Catholic practices, resulting in:

  • Reforms to liturgical texts
  • Suppression of certain local customs
  • Increased Latin influence on church governance

These changes generated controversy and dissatisfaction among many members of the community.

The Coonan Cross Oath

In 1653, a large group of Saint Thomas Christians gathered at Mattancherry, near Kochi, and took the famous Coonan Cross Oath (Koonan Kurishu Sathyam).

Participants pledged resistance to Portuguese ecclesiastical control and sought to preserve their traditional autonomy. The event became one of the defining moments in the history of Indian Christianity.

The aftermath led to divisions within the Saint Thomas Christian community, creating separate ecclesiastical traditions that evolved over subsequent centuries.

Emergence of Multiple Churches

Over time, the original Saint Thomas Christian community developed into several distinct churches.

Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

The Syro-Malabar Church follows the East Syriac tradition and is one of the largest Eastern Catholic Churches in the world. It remains in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church while preserving its ancient liturgical heritage.

Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

Established in 1930 through a reunion movement, the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church follows the West Syriac tradition while remaining in communion with Rome.

Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

An Oriental Orthodox church that traces its heritage to the Saint Thomas Christian tradition and follows the West Syriac liturgy.

Jacobite Syrian Christian Church

Part of the Syriac Orthodox tradition and closely connected to the Patriarchate of Antioch.

Mar Thoma Syrian Church

A reformed church that emerged during the nineteenth century, combining ancient Syrian Christian heritage with Protestant theological influences.

Malabar Independent Syrian Church

A smaller independent church that also traces its roots to the Saint Thomas Christian tradition.

Faith, Worship, and Culture

One of the most distinctive aspects of the Saint Thomas Christians is the blending of Christian faith with Kerala's cultural traditions.

Liturgical Heritage

Ancient Syriac prayers and hymns continue to influence worship, even where local languages have largely replaced Syriac.

Church Architecture

Traditional churches often incorporate:

  • Kerala-style roofs
  • Open courtyards
  • Oil lamps
  • Granite crosses known as Nasrani Sthambams
  • Blend of Indian and Middle Eastern artistic influences

Family and Community Life

Saint Thomas Christians have historically emphasized:

  • Education
  • Community service
  • Charitable works
  • Strong family structures

Many schools, colleges, hospitals, and social service institutions across Kerala were founded by Saint Thomas Christian organizations.

Contributions to Kerala and India

The Saint Thomas Christians have played a significant role in Kerala's social, educational, and economic development.

Members of the community have contributed prominently in:

  • Education
  • Medicine
  • Business and commerce
  • Public administration
  • Literature and journalism
  • Social reform

Institutions such as Christian Medical College, Vellore, numerous diocesan schools, and colleges throughout Kerala reflect the community's longstanding commitment to service and education.

The Saint Thomas Christians Today

Today, Saint Thomas Christians number several millions worldwide, with large populations in Kerala, other parts of India, the Middle East, Europe, North America, and Australia.

Despite denominational diversity, they continue to share:

  • A common apostolic heritage
  • Historical connections to Saint Thomas
  • Syriac Christian traditions
  • Deep roots in Kerala's cultural landscape

Their history stands as a testament to the enduring presence of Christianity in India and the rich diversity of the global Christian tradition.

Conclusion

The Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala represent one of Christianity's oldest and most remarkable communities. Their story spans nearly two thousand years, linking apostolic traditions, Middle Eastern Christian heritage, Indian culture, and global Christianity. Through centuries of change, adaptation, and growth, they have preserved a unique identity that remains an important part of India's religious and cultural heritage.

References

Brown, L. W. (1956). The Indian Christians of St. Thomas: An Account of the Ancient Syrian Church of Malabar. Cambridge University Press.

Frykenberg, R. E. (2008). Christianity in India: From Beginnings to the Present. Oxford University Press.

George, K. M. (Ed.). (1998). The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India (Vols. 1–2). St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India.

Mundadan, A. M. (1984). History of Christianity in India, Volume I: From the Beginning up to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century (up to 1542). Theological Publications in India.

Neill, S. (2004). A History of Christianity in India: The Beginnings to AD 1707. Cambridge University Press. (Original work published 1984)

Podipara, P. J. (1970). The Thomas Christians. Dharamram Publications.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (n.d.). The Saint Thomas Christians of India. https://www.metmuseum.org

Vadakkekara, B. (2007). Origin of Christianity in India: A Historiographical Critique. Media House.

Winkler, D. W., & Tang, W. (Eds.). (2009). Hidden Treasures and Intercultural Encounters: Studies on East Syriac Christianity in China and Central Asia. LIT Verlag. (Includes studies on the wider East Syriac Christian tradition connected to India.)

നിരക്ഷരൻ, CC BY-SA 3.0, Marthoma Church, Azeekode [Photograph]. via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marthoma_Church_Azeekode_(near_Kodungallur)_-_Kerala.jpg

Rae, G. Milne (George Milne) 1892, Public domain, Persian cross at Kottayam Knanaya Valiyapally [Photograph]. via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Persian_Cross_at_Kottayam_valiya_pally.png

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