Nazraanies proudly practiced them because it was an honor to be worthy of them and it proved their status in the Kerala society. Today, people not only do not like to practice them, but also ridicule them thinking that they are much better and modern/civilized than their ancestors!

As far as we know, the Keralite Syrian Church was independent and was governed by priests. But we do know that Bishops from other Orthodox churches such as Alexandria, Antioch, etc. used to visit Malankara many times. Kerala was also known as Malankara ( Maliankara = land of hills and valleys.) Thus we are also called "Malankara Syrian Christians. Malankara Syrian Christians led a peaceful and cordial life, respected by their country-men. They had their own life-styles similar to the Brahmins, Nairs, etc. of Kerala.

Their morals, values, traditions and practices were unique, when compared to other Christians of the world.

May be because they were contented in their lives, or because they loved peace and harmony and had learned a lesson by the assassination of their patron saint, they did the missionary works in a very quiet and subdued manner. Later, because of the vulgarity and hardships of caste-system, and the missionary works of the Latin, the Portuguese and the British missionaries, a lot more Keralites became Christians. Islam also found a lot of followers in Kerala which later increased in amount by the works of conquerors like Tippu Sultan of Karnataka, the rule of Mogul emperors, etc.

After the 15th century, when the Portuguese, following the previous visits of Vasco De Gama, arrived in the ports of Kerala, Malankara Syrian Christians received them with happiness and open mind, just as they received the Canans and the Syrians. Oh! Were they wrong in their assumption?! The Portuguese, Parangikal as we call them, were selfish in their motives . As they accomplished getting the trust of the rulers the land, they became more powerful in Kerala.

They forced the Syrian Christians to renounce their ancestral Syrian worships, relationships with the Orthodox churches in the Middle East, discard all traditions and aacharams they had treasured for centuries, and accept the Pope of Rome as their religious leader. Of course, as proud Keralites, they refused to follow the orders of the Parangikal.

The Portuguese called a synod in Udayamperoor (1599) and declared their supremacy over the Malankara Christians, forbade them from practicing in Syriac in the churches or conducting weddings or funerals or any services according to their traditions. One of their bishops, ordered the Portuguese army to burn and distort all the churches and other institutions belonging to the Syrian Christians and to punish any one who tried to practice their old ways. Thus most of our records and other properties were burnt and destroyed.

The Portuguese forbade the people to sell their merchandise such as black pepper, spices, etc. to any body else but to them, and bought those on cheaper price. They converted a lot of people into Catholicism. They forced the Syrians to conduct services in Latin. They took a lot of young women and children in their ships to convert them to be Catholics and most of them were killed. Many of our ancestors died for what they had believed in. When we read the history of the world, we learn that the Christians have suffered and were persecuted a lot, by many rulers of different countries, just as the Jews have. But the Keralite Christians were persecuted by another Christian group, the Portuguese Catholics! Ironic, isn't it?

The Jews were in BONDAGE with Misraim and became their slaves until Moses released them from that Bondage. St. Thomas Christians of Kerala were not under any bondage with anybody.

In 1653, Ahathalla, an Orthodox bishop, came to visit Malankara. The Portugese arrested him and put him in their ship to take him away. When the Syrian Christians heard the news that the Parangikal took the bishop and killed him, they revolted against the Portuguese. The anger and frustration they had contained inside them flew out like the lava from a Volcano!

On January 3rd, 1653, hundreds of thousands of Nazraanies gathered in Mattancherri, near Ernakulam, tied a rope on a cross, held on to that rope and vowed that they would never ever go back to Catholicism or to the Papal authority. The cross got bent by the pulling of the rope by those millions of Nazraanies. This is known as the famous "Koonan Kurishu Sathyam" (The vows of the Bent Cross).

Even after the Koonan Kurishu Sathyam, some of the Nazraanies stayed on as Catholics. Others went back to their previous ways of worships. As time went by, the original church of the Nazraanies (and with them, the Knanayakaar also) got divided into, Swathanthra Syrian Church, Kaldaya Syrian Church, Syro-Malabar Catholics, Malankara Jacobites-Orthodox churches, Marthomites, C.S.I., Syro Malankara Catholic Rites and then many people left the traditional churches and joined the Protestant groups such as Jehovah Witness, Pentecost, Brethren, Baptist, etc. etc.

In 19th century AD, British missionaries started to visit Kottayam, Kerala. They started "Mission of Help" and told the leaders of the Malankara church that they did not have any interest in starting an Anglican church, but were interested in encouraging the missionary works of the Malankara Church. Missionaries belonging to "The Church Mission Society" of the Anglican Church stayed in the Pazhaya Seminary (the 1st Seminary in Kerala) and learned about the history and activities of the ancient church.

The British did not like the Roman influence and wanted to curb any kind of relation with the Malankara Sabha, by the Pope.

Malankara Metropolitan deposited about 3,000 Poovarahan (currency of Kerala at that time) on 8% interest, with the British government for the betterment of missionary works, which later became one of the main reasons for the split as Jacobites and Orthodox. Another reason is struggle for the supremacy over Malankara, between the supporters of the Patriarchs of Antioch and the Catholicos of the East. The throne of the Catholicos in Malankara started in 1912. The troubles led to court cases and other fights, above all ill-feelings between the members,even between family members.

Many faithful followers are still praying and trying for the unity of these two groups of the same church. The High-court of Kerala also has ordered the two to join together, as they are not different in any way, we all can pray for peace and harmony in Malankara.

Part 5                                                            Back