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MALANKARA SYRIAN CHURCH

The Malankara Syrian Church, called, the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church or the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, is an integral part of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church with the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East as its supreme head.  The local head of the church in Malankara is the Catholicos of the East/India, ordained by and accountable to the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East.

The Christianity in India was established by St. Thomas the Apostle in AD. 52, just 15 years after St. Peter, the Chief of Apostles, established the Church in Antioch which is the Mother See of the Malankara Syrian Church. Later the Church got a strong footing in Malankara with the arrival of a group of Syrian Christians from Urhoy (Edessa) in AD 345 under the order of the Patriarch of Antioch and the Bishop of Jerusalem.  The leadership of these Antiochean missionaries gave the local Christian community a new lease of life. Since then the early Christian converts (St.Thomas Christians) along with the new Christian settlers (Knanaites), came to be called 'the Syrian Christians'. The church in Malankara, though remained autonomous in administrative matters, continued to be part of the Holy See of Antioch until late 15th century when the Persian Church's (Nestorian) influence increased with the arrival of many of their bishops.  Later with the coming of Portuguese in the 16th century, the Syrian Christians of Malankara came under the influence of Latin Catholics, but when they tried to forcibly introduce their teachings, the Malankara Syrian Christians revolted and finally re-organized once again under the guidance of the Apostolic delegate from the Holy See of Antioch, thereby retaining the true Orthodoxy.  In the 19th century, another split occurred in the Church when a group sided with the rich and influential European missionaries.  Again in the early 20th century, one more group defied the Holy Church to form an independent faction claiming to be of nationalistic structure, after much harassment.  All these dissensions happened at times when the dissidents received overwhelming support from the local rulers who mercilessly persecuted the Syrian church.  Even in the midst of such great trials and tribulations, by God's grace, the Syrian Church in India, continues to exist in this part of the world with its distinct identity, ardently practicing the true Apostolic faith taught by its Holy fathers. The Syrian Orthodox Christians of India is really proud to be part of the oldest Church in Christendom, established at Antioch, the city where the followers of our Lord Jesus Christ were called CHRISTIANS for the first time in the world.

To Read More....

The Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch & all the East:     

http://sor.cua.edu/Intro/index.html

The Church in India /Jacobite Syrian Churistian Church:  http://www.syrianchurch.org/MalankaraSyrianChurch/MalankaraHistory.htm

The Metropolitans of Malankara: 

http://www.syrianchurch.org/bio/MalankaraPrelates/MalankaraBishops.htm

www.MalankaraSyriacVoice.com

Contact email: 

editor.msv@gmail.com

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