Ayroor Thayillam Family
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Syrian Christians |
The Saint Thomas Christians are a group of Christians from the Malabar coast (now Kerala)
in South India, who follow Syriac Christianity. The different groups and denominations within
the St Thomas Christians together form the Nasrani people. Their tradition goes back to the
beginnings of first century Christian thought, and the seven churches that are believed to
rituals of the early Jewish Christians, such as covering their heads while in worship. They also
believed that the Romans killed Jesus. The Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala succeeded in
blending well with the ecclesiastical world of the Eastern Churches and with the changing
socio-cultural environment of their homeland., becoming Hindu in culture, Christian in religion,
and Judeo-Syro-Oriental in worship.
in South India, who follow Syriac Christianity. The different groups and denominations within
the St Thomas Christians together form the Nasrani people. Their tradition goes back to the
beginnings of first century Christian thought, and the seven churches that are believed to
rituals of the early Jewish Christians, such as covering their heads while in worship. They also
believed that the Romans killed Jesus. The Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala succeeded in
blending well with the ecclesiastical world of the Eastern Churches and with the changing
socio-cultural environment of their homeland., becoming Hindu in culture, Christian in religion,
and Judeo-Syro-Oriental in worship.
Saint Thomas the apostle is said to have begun preaching the gospel to the already existing
Jewish settlers on the Malabar coast and to other local people. According to the Acts of
eventually integrated into the beliefs and traditions of the local communities, and into their
family histories, their songs and their dances. Saint Thomas established seven Christian
Kokkamangalam, Malayattoor, Niranam, Chayal (Nilackal) and Kollam.
These first century churches, according to tradition, were, from north to south: Palayoor near
Guruvayoor/Kunnankulam, Cranganore (believed to be the ancient Muziris of Pliny, and the
Periplus, on the north bank of Periyar River today), Paravur on the south side of Periyar,
Gokkamangalam or Kokkamangalam, Niranam, Chayal or Nilakkal (the only inland church)
and the Lakes or Kaayals, and finally Kollam.
These early Christian Jews believed in Jesus as the Christ, but followed Jewish traditions and
called themselves Nazaraeans or Nazrani, meaning Jews who followed the Nazarene Messiah
(Jesus). The term Nazaraean was first mentioned in the New Testament in Acts 24:5. The term
nasrani was used essentially to denote Jewish followers of Jesus from Nazareth, while the term
Khristianos "Christian" was initially used largely to refer to non-Jewish peoples ("gentiles") who
followed the Christ (Acts 11:26). Until the advent of the Portuguese in the 1500s, the
proto-Jewish-Nasrani ethos in Kerala thrived with Jewish customs and the Syrian-Antiochian
tradition. The Nasrani preserved the original rituals of the early Jewish Christians, such as
covering their heads while in worship. Their ritual services (liturgy) was and still is called the
Qurbana (also spelled Kurbana), which is derived from the Hebrew Korban , meaning
"Sacrifice." The Nasrani Qurbana was sung in the Suryani (Syriac) and Aramaic languages.
Jewish settlers on the Malabar coast and to other local people. According to the Acts of
eventually integrated into the beliefs and traditions of the local communities, and into their
family histories, their songs and their dances. Saint Thomas established seven Christian
Kokkamangalam, Malayattoor, Niranam, Chayal (Nilackal) and Kollam.
These first century churches, according to tradition, were, from north to south: Palayoor near
Guruvayoor/Kunnankulam, Cranganore (believed to be the ancient Muziris of Pliny, and the
Periplus, on the north bank of Periyar River today), Paravur on the south side of Periyar,
Gokkamangalam or Kokkamangalam, Niranam, Chayal or Nilakkal (the only inland church)
and the Lakes or Kaayals, and finally Kollam.
These early Christian Jews believed in Jesus as the Christ, but followed Jewish traditions and
called themselves Nazaraeans or Nazrani, meaning Jews who followed the Nazarene Messiah
(Jesus). The term Nazaraean was first mentioned in the New Testament in Acts 24:5. The term
nasrani was used essentially to denote Jewish followers of Jesus from Nazareth, while the term
Khristianos "Christian" was initially used largely to refer to non-Jewish peoples ("gentiles") who
followed the Christ (Acts 11:26). Until the advent of the Portuguese in the 1500s, the
proto-Jewish-Nasrani ethos in Kerala thrived with Jewish customs and the Syrian-Antiochian
tradition. The Nasrani preserved the original rituals of the early Jewish Christians, such as
covering their heads while in worship. Their ritual services (liturgy) was and still is called the
Qurbana (also spelled Kurbana), which is derived from the Hebrew Korban , meaning
"Sacrifice." The Nasrani Qurbana was sung in the Suryani (Syriac) and Aramaic languages.
