The Syrian Christians of Kerala

Christians, although a minority in India, account for almost twenty two percent of the population in Kerala. When compared to other states of India, a significant portion of India’s Christian population lives in Kerala. Of this, around 80% of the Christians are Syrian Christians. The reason for this is attributed to the traditional belief that St. Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus arrived in Kodungallur in Kerala, a place considered to be the cradle of Ancient Christianity during AD 52.

Tradition has it that St.Thomas, after landing here planted the cross, preached Christianity and converted a few Nambudhiri Brahmins of Palayur in Thrissur. He is believed to have established seven churches for the early converts. The Syrian Christians of Kerala are believed to be descendants of these families. It was also here that Thomas of Cana along with a group of Syrian Christians from Syria came to settle around the fourth century. While a majority of these settlers mingled with the local St.Thomas Christians and evolved into a Christian community, even today we find a small group that maintain a separate identity and call themselves the Knananites.

It is recorded that latest by the sixth century there was a flourishing Christian community in Kerala. These early Christians were called the Syrian Christians and were present in Kerala  many centuries before the arrival of the Europeans on the Malabar Coast. These Syrian Christians were also known as Nasranis . Today. Christians in Kerala are divided into several communities consisting of  Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church,  Jacobite Syrian Church, Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. Syrian Christians in Kerala also consist of the members of Syro-Malabar Catholic Church , Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.

Syrian Anglicans of the Church of South India. Roman Catholic Latin Rite Christians owe their origin to the missionary activities involving western missionaries in India especially Kerala. Majority of those who were converted by the western missionaries belonged to the poor and deprived sections of the Hindu Society. This is  the reason why we find the bulk of these converts belonging to the coastal Kerala.

The Syrian Christians represent a single ethnic group. Their culture influenced by East Syrian and Jewish cultures blended with the local customs and those derived from Indian and European colonial contacts. They speak Malayalam which is the local language of Kerala. Both Malayalam and Syriac (Aramic - the language that was spoken by Jesus Christ) are used for liturgical purposes.

Syrian Christians did not cooperate with the evangelical activities of foreign missionaries and they did not allow new converts to join their community since they were afraid that their noble position in the society could be endangered.

Syrian Christians maintain their traditional Syrian rites and practices and maintained the caste system, a tradition they had inherited when they were converted from high caste Hindus by St. Thomas.

Prior to independence, Untouchability was prevalent in the Kerala society and the Syrian Christians also practiced it in order to keep their upper-caste status. For example, they used to take a ritual bath in order to purify themselves of physical contact with the so-called inferior castes. They also tend not to intermarry with other Christian castes.

Present day Syrian Christians while continuing to retain their original way of worship, rituals and customs, are more liberal and open minded in their approach. Members of this small community can be found in almost every facet of human endeavour.

Today, Syrian Christians community has made its presence felt over the world flourishing and shining in all places where they have made their new home. 

Some of the well known Syrian Christians Include :-

• A.K. Antony – Defence Minister of India (2006-2014); Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (1993–1995)

• K. V. Thomas – Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. (2009 – 2014)

• Oommen Chandy, tenth Chief Minister of Kerala. (2004-2006, 2011- )

• Anna Chandy, First woman judge of an Indian High Court

• Verghese Kurien – Founder Chairman of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., founder of Amul and father of India's White Revolution

• Anju Bobby George- first Indian to win a medal in World Championships in Athletics (2003-Bronze, 2005-Gold). Recipient of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2003-2004)

• T K Kurien – CEO of Wipro.

• Thomas Kurian - Executive Vice President of Product Development at Oracle Corporation

• K.M. Mammen Mappilai – Founder of MRF Tyres & Manorama publications.

Additional reading

The Saint Thomas Christians in India from 52 to 1687 AD  by István Percze

List of Saint Thomas Christians -Wikipedia