Syrian Orthodox Church

Cathedral of St.George, Bab Tuma,

Damascus, Syria

Cathedral of St.George, Bab Tuma,

Damascus, Syria

Cathedral of St.George, Bab Tuma,

Damascus, Syria

Few Christian denominations can claim the antiquity of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch, whose foundations can be traced back to the very dawn of Christianity. The Church justifiably prides itself as being one of the earliest established apostolic churches. It was in Antioch, after all, that the followers of Jesus were called Christians as we are told in the New Testament, the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. (Acts 11:26).

Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church

Marthoman Cathedral Mulanthuruthy

Marthoman Cathedral Mulanthuruthyl

Marthoman Cathedral Mulanthuruthy

St. THOMAS the Apostle

Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church is part of Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch
The Christian Community of Kerala (in Southern INDIA) traces back its origin to the advent of St. Thomas, the Apostle to India, who reached the Cranganore Port in AD 52 and its subsequent spiritual stabilisation and growth.

It is believed that the Apostle started his gospel mission in India, from a small town called "Malayankara" on the sea coast of 'Paravur' Taluk in Kerala, at a short distance away from Cranganore Port. It is thus that, when about 400 Christian Settlers from Syria came over in AD 345 under the leadership of Thomas Kana, they, for want of anything better, started referring to all their surroundings as "Malankara" (Phonetically similar to 'Malayankara'). In course of time, as the settlers spread out, all of the Malayalam speaking area together become 'Malankara' (Rhymes well with the local language, Malayalam too). This has been recorded in the writings of Mor Youseph, an emissary of the Holy See of Antioch, sent over to administer the needs of the Syrian Christian settlers.