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In the absence of clear historical records,
it is believed that Apostle of Jesus, St. Thomas himself, introduced
Christianity in India in the year 52 A.D. 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:-
* The Nestorian Church confined mainly to
Thrissur and Ernakulam.
* The Roman Catholic Church, embracing the
whole of Kerala and following three different languages for their
rites (Syriac, Latin and Malayalam)
* The Jacobite Syrian Church, also known
as Orthodox Syrian Church
* The Anglican Church, part of Church of
South India.
* Marthoma Syrian Church.
Apart from these, there are several other
Christian denominations deriving inspiration from some foreign Church
or other.
The contribution of Christian religion in the field of education
and care of the sick is innumerable. First Malayalam dictionary
and grammar by Arnos Pathiri, first printing press, study and classification
of Herbs, Hortus Malabaricus, etc. highlight the eminent position
of Christianity in Kerala. The Universal education propagated in
Kerala along with the churches provided the basic education for
the emancipation of the population from various social and cultural
evils. The school, colleges, hospitals and other numerous socio-cultural
institutions run by the Christians are role models.
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