Christianity
was introduced in Kerala during the first century AD, even before it
obtained official recognition in Europe. History has it that apostle St.
Thomas landed here in 52 AD and converted many people including Brahmins
and founded seven churches along the Malabar Coast.
Though
it was an alien faith, it attained acceptance as an indigenous faith and
made steady progress. Today, Christianity and Christian churches are
very well established in Kerala. Its liturgy and organisation were
subjected to the impact of diverse cultural influences.
The
early Christians (St. Thomas Christians) were called Syrian Christians
because they followed the Syriac liturgy, a dialect of Aramaic, the
language of Jesus. With the arrival of Portuguese (1498) and the
establishment of their political influence, the Latin rite emerged as an
important factor and a large community of Latin Christians sprang up and
grew, particularly in the coastal areas. The work of St. Francis Xavier
and the synod of Diamper (1599) played an important part in the
Latinisation of the church.
In
the beginning of 19th century, when the British spread its influence in
Kerala, the Church Mission Society (CMS) of London actively associated
them in the workings of Syrian Church. After some years of close
co-operation, the missionaries broke their connection with Syrian
Bishops and church. It was on their initiative the Anglican Church came
into existence.
Some
priests of the Syrian Church under the influence of missionaries
advocated reforms, including the replacement of Syriac by Malayalam,
which was disfavored by Bishops and Clergy of Syrian Church. Following
this the reformers formed a new church known as Marthoma Syrian church
as distinct from the Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
Now
there are five different offshoots of Christianity in Kerala.
1. The Nestorian Church confined mainly to Trichur and Ernakulam. 2.The
Roman Catholic Church, embracing the whole of Kerala and following three
different language for their rites (Syriac, Latin and Malayalam).
3. The Jacobite Syrian Church, also known as Orthodox Syrian Church. 4.
The Anglican Church, part of Church of South India.
5. Marthoma Syrian Church.
Apart
from these, there are several other Christian denominations deriving
inspiration from some foreign Church or other.
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