Nasrani people Saint Thomas Christian denominations
nasranis or syrian christians of kerala in ancient days (from old painting). photo published in cochin government royal war efforts souvenir in 1938
the nasranis ethnic people, , single community. community common cultural heritage , cultural tradition, refer nasranis. however, religious group, refer mar thoma khristianis or in english saint thomas christians, based on religious tradition of syriac christianity.
however, religious angle, saint thomas christians of today belong various denominations result of series of developments including portuguese persecution (a landmark split leading public oath known coonen cross oath), reformative activities during time of british (6,000 - 12,000 jacobites joined c.m.s. in 1836, after synod of mavelikara; within church of south india), doctrines , missionary zeal influence (division of marthoma syrian church , jacobite syrian church , patriarch/catholicos issue ( division of orthodox syrian church & jacobite syrian church (1912) ).
st. thomas christian families claim descent ancestors baptized apostle thomas found on kerala. st. thomas christians classified social status system according professions special privileges trade granted benevolent kings ruled area. after 8th century when hindu kingdoms came sway, christians expected strictly abide stringent rules pertaining caste , religion. became matter of survival. why st. thomas christians had such strong sense of caste , tradition, being oldest order of christianity in india. archdeacon head of church, , palliyogams (parish councils) in charge of temporal affairs. had liturgy-centered life days of fasting , abstinence. devotion mar thoma tradition absolute. churches modelled after jewish synagogues. church neat , keep sweetly. there mats no seats. instead of images, have useful writing holy book.
in short, st. thomas christians of kerala have blended ecclesiastical world of eastern churches , changing socio-cultural environment of homeland. thus, malabar church hindu or indian in culture, christian in religion, , judeo-syriac-oriental in terms of origin , worship.
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