Perhaps you’ve wondered about the story behind this beautiful structure. This is Saint Thomas Malankara Orthodox Church. Its roots trace back to a distant land and a long-ago apostle.
Saint Thomas Malankara Orthodox Church’s story starts with Saint Thomas. He was one of Jesus Christ’s twelve apostles. Saint Thomas journeyed to India in 52 A.D. That was almost two thousand years ago.
Saint Thomas spread the gospel in South India. He established seven parishes in Kerala. He ordained priests to continue his work. Christian writers in the 4th century wrote about his work. They told of Saint Thomas’s evangelistic work in India during the first century.
The church Saint Thomas established thrived in Kerala. It remained there for nineteen centuries. It did not expand to other parts of India until the early 20th century. People migrated to other parts of India then. Parishes started forming all over India. The church became known as the Indian Orthodox Church. Now, the church has dioceses and parishes worldwide. These are located wherever people from Kerala have migrated.
The name Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has meaning. Malankara is another name for Kerala. Orthodox describes the Christian faith and tradition. It distinguishes the church from Roman Catholic and Protestant faiths. Syrian refers to the Syriac language. This was the church’s liturgical language for centuries.
From the fourth century, the Indian Church had a close relationship with the Persian Church. The Indians inherited the East Syrian language from the Persians. They also adopted their liturgies. They gradually became known as Syrian Christians.
Roman Catholic missionaries arrived in Kerala in the sixteenth century. They tried to unite the Syrian Christians with the Roman Catholic Church. This caused a split in the community. Those who accepted Catholicism became the Syro-Malabar Catholics. Later, Western Protestant missionaries came to Kerala. Their work among the Syrian Christians caused more divisions.
In the seventeenth century, the church formed a relationship with the Antiochene Church. This also caused splits. The church received West Syrian liturgies and practices. A new phase began in 1912. It was marked by the establishment of the Catholicate.
Today, Saint Thomas Malankara Orthodox Church uses the West Syrian liturgy. Its faith aligns with the three Ecumenical Councils. These are Nicea 325 A.D., Constantinople 381 A.D., and Ephesus 431 A.D..
The church is in communion with other Oriental Orthodox Churches. These include Syriac, Alexandrian, Armenian, Eritrean, and Ethiopian Orthodox Churches. It maintains good relations with Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant Churches.
The head of Saint Thomas Malankara Orthodox Church holds the title. It is the Catholicos of the East seated on the throne of Saint Thomas and the Malankara Metropolitan. The church is governed by its 1934 constitution. The church administration blends episcopacy and democracy. The church has 30 dioceses. A bishop heads each one. The Malankara Syrian Association serves as the church’s parliament. It includes bishops, laity, and clergy representatives. This Association makes important decisions. A Managing Committee handles administrative activities.
Saint Thomas Malankara Orthodox Church stands as a testament to faith. It shows resilience. It also represents a rich history. It started with an apostle’s journey. Today, it connects communities worldwide. It keeps alive a tradition that is centuries old.