Christianity in Kerala - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...

is the third-most practiced religion in Kerala

Kerala

or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

with 19% of the population according to the Indian census. Although a minority, Christians represent a much larger percentage of the population of Kerala

Kerala

or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

than of India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

considered as a whole. It's a significant minority within Christianity in India

Christianity in India

Christianity is India's third-largest religion, with approximately 24 million followers, constituting 2.3% of India's population. The works of scholars and Eastern Christian writings and 14th century Portuguese missionaries created an illusion to convert Indians that Christianity was introduced to...

, but has contributed a lot towards the progress and development of the nation in the fields of education, healthcare, social uplift etc. Among the main Christian denominations in Kerala are the Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholics of the Latin Rite, Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in India is an East Syrian Rite, Major Archiepiscopal Church in full communion with the Catholic Church. It is one of the 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in the Catholic Church. It is the largest of the Saint Thomas Christian denominations with more than 3.6...

, the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church and the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church. Today, Kerala has got a record total of 28 Catholic Dioceses consisting of 13 Syro-Malabar Rite dioceses, 11 Latin Rite dioceses and 4 Syro-Malankara Rite dioceses; in addition to a few more dioceses of other protestant denominations like the Church of South India

Church of South India

The Church of South India is the successor of the Church of England in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches in South India. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church after the Roman Catholic Church in India...

(C.S.I.).

History

The origins of Christianity in Kerala go back to the earliest period of the Church itself. In fact, there is a tradition among the Christian people of Kerala that St. Thomas the Apostle, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, landed on the Kerala coast in 52 A.D., preached the Gospel, organized Christian communities in several places and established seven churches in Kerala and then at last got martyrdom in Mylapore, Chennai, in 72 A.D. However the exact year of his arrival here is disputed due to lack of credible historical evidence,despite the fact that the fruits of his hard labour being visible everywhere. His tomb is venerated by people of all religions even today. In 345 A.D., a Palestinian business man, Thomas Cana, along with 72 families came and settled in Kerala, thereby augmenting the Christian community. A second period of intense Christian missionary activity began with the arrival of European missionaries since the discovery of sea route to India by Vasco da Gama in 1492.

Christian Pilgrimage Sites

St. Thomas Catholic Hilltop Church, Malayattoor
Malayattoor
Malayattoor Saint Thomas Church is one of the most prominent Christian pilgrim centers in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India.The Malayatoor Church of Cochin attracts a large number of devotees from not just Kerala, but also all over India....

, built at an altitude of 600 meters from mean sea level.
St. Francis C.S.I. Church, Fort Kochi
Fort Kochi
Fort Kochi is a region in the city of Kochi in the state of Kerala, India. This is part of a handful of water-bound regions toward the south-west of the mainland Kochi, and collectively known as Old Kochi or West Kochi. Adjacent to this is Mattancherry...

, built in 1503 C.E., is the oldest European church, declared as a National Monument in India.
St. Alphonsamma Catholic Church, Bharananganam
Bharananganam
Bharananganam, an important pilgrim centre in South India, is located on the banks of Meenachil river, 5 km east of Pala in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala. Bharananganam and surrounding places are bestowed with natural beauty due to hilly areas and lot of vegetation.- Saint Alphonsa's...

, Pala
Pala
-Places:*Pala, California, town in the United States*Pala Casino Resort and Spa, casino located in Pala, California*Pala, Chad, town in Chad*Pala , town on Atauro Island, East Timor*Pala , town in Kerala, India...

, dedicated to the first woman Saint of India.
St. MarthaMariam Jacobite Syrian Cathedral Church, Mannarcad.
St. George Catholic Church, Edathua
Edathua
Edathua is a place in Kuttanad, Alappuzha district, Kerala, India.Situated 12 km from Thiruvalla Town, Edathua is famous for the St. George Catholic Church known as 'Edathua Palli' situated here.The church was built by Fr. Thomas Olakkapadil. The Church celebrates its major feast during the...

.
St. Antony's Church, Kaloor
Kaloor
Kaloor is a region in the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. Kaloor is also the name of a major intersection in this region of the city, intersecting the two major arteries of downtown Kochi namely, the Banerji Road and the K. K. Road - Perandoor Road...

, Kochi
Kochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...

.
Divine Retreat Centre, Potta-Muringoor, Chalakudi.
St. Joseph's Shrine, Kannamaly, Diocese of Cochin.
Shrine of Coonan Cross, Mattancherry
Mattancherry
Mattancherry is the western part of city of Kochi, India. It is said that the name Mattancherry is drawn from "Ancherry Mattam", a Namboodiri illam which then the foreign traders pronounced it as Matt-Ancherry, gradually became Mattancherry. It is about 9 km from Ernakulam town. There are...

.

Current Situation

Today, the Christian community in Kerala is divided into several denominations, although they can be listed under three major groups: Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestant. Recent years have seen an intensification of initiatives to promote ecumenism

Ecumenism

Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...

. Christians in the State of Kerala are said to be relatively affluent.

Denominations

Source

Anglican Church of India
Anglican Church of India
The Anglican Church of India is a union of independent Anglican churches in India. When India became independent in 1947, the Church of South India was formed as a united church of Anglicans, Baptists, Basel Mission, Lutherans and Presbyterians...
Apostolic Church of Pentecost in India
Apostolic Pentecostal Church, India
Chaldean Syrian Church
Chaldean Syrian Church
The Chaldean Syrian Church is an Indian Christian church that is currently an archbishopric of the Assyrian Church of the East. Its members are part of the St. Thomas Christian community, who trace their origins to the evangelical activities of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century. They are almost...
Christian Mission
Church of God in Christ in India
Church of God (Full Gospel) in India
Church of God (Full Gospel) in India
The Church of God in India is the registered name of the branch in India of the Church of God .-Beginnings:...
CMS Anglican Church of India
Independent Assemblies of God, International
Independent Assemblies of God, International
The Independent Assemblies of God, International is a pentecostal Christian association with roots in a revival in 1890 decade among the Scandinavian Baptist and Pietist communities in the United States....
Independent Local Churches of Kerala
Malabar Basel German Mission Church
Malabar Independent Syrian Church
Malabar Independent Syrian Church
The Malabar Independent Syrian Church, also known as the Thozhiyur Sabah , is a Christian church centred in Kerala, India. It is one of the churches of the Saint Thomas Christian community, which traces its origins to the evangelical activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century.Considered part...
Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church
Sharon Pentecostal Fellowship Church
St Thomas Evangelical Church of India
The Pentecostal Mission
The Pentecostal Mission
The Pentecostal Mission or New Testament Church formerly known as Ceylon Pentecostal Mission , is a pentecostal denomination which originated in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. The international headquarters is now situated in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India...
United Pentecostal Church in India
United Pentecostal Church in India
United Pentecostal Church is a major Christian denomination in India belonging to the United Pentecostal Church International. Its seat is Bangalore. It was established in the mid-20th century. United Pentecostal Church of India has split into United Pentecostal Church of India and United...
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...

History

Christian Pilgrimage Sites

Current Situation

Denominations

Further reading