Who is the first Christian in India?

St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ landed at Malankara near Cranganore around A.D.52. He established seven and half churches. Those are, Kodugallore, Palayoor, Kottacave, Kokamangalam, Niranam, Chayal, Kollam and the half church at Thiruvithamkode.

Why did St Thomas come to India?

According to traditional accounts of the Saint Thomas Christians of modern-day Kerala in India, Thomas is believed to have travelled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, travelling as far as the Tamilakam which is in South India, and reached Muziris of Tamilakam (modern-day North Paravur and Kodungalloor in …

Which caste is more in Kerala?

Below the Ezhavas are the Scheduled Castes, 20.4 per cent of the Hindu population. The most important caste in this group is the Pulaya (Cheruman), which until 1850 was the caste of agricultural serfs of the Nayars, temple servants, and Brahmins.

Where is the body of St Thomas?

St. Thomas was martyred 1930 years ago in A.D. 72 at Mylapore, near Chennai and his body had been buried in the crypt of the present-day Santhome Basilica. One group of historians hold, that in the 13th century, the body was removed to be kept in Edessa in Syria, later transferred to Ortona in Italy by the Vatican.

Why was St Thomas killed in India?

A late tradition sees Thomas as having carried the gospel of Jesus to the Indian subcontinent, first to the northwestern kingdom of Gondophorus. There, Thomas came into conflict with the Hindu priests of Kali, who killed him for insulting their deity – or simply for converting many of their followers.

What is the population of Christians in Kerala?

According to 2011 Census of India figures, 54.73\% of Kerala’s population are Hindus, 26.56\% are Muslims, 18.38\% are Christians, and the remaining 0.33\% follow other religions or have no religion.

How did St Thomas came to India?

According to Christian leaders in India, the Apostle Thomas came to India in 52 A.D., founded the Syrian Christian Church, and was killed by the fanatical Brahmins in 72 A.D. His followers built the St. The Christian community in South India was founded by a Syrian (or Armenian) merchant Thomas Cananeus in 345 AD.

Who are the Syrian Christians of Kerala?

Whatever its origins, the Syrian Christian community was well established in Kerala by the 6th century ad. It is thus the oldest among the various Indian Christian groups found in the sub-continent. It also differs from the other Christian communities in the social categories from which its converts were drawn.

Where do Syrian Christians live in India?

Syrian Christians live in Kerala State in the southwest corner of India and speak Malayalam, one of the four major Dravidian languages of south India. They can be considered a caste and are endogamous. Location.

What is the percentage of Christians in Kerala?

In Kerala about 93 percent of the Christians are Syrian Christians; the rest have been converted by European missionaries. Linguistic Affiliation. Ninety-six percent of Kerala people speak Malayalam and about 2.37 percent speak Tamil.

What is the origin of the Kerala Christian tradition?

The tradition of origin of the Christians in Kerala is found in a version of the Songs of Thomas or Thomma Parvam, written in 1601 believed to be a summary of a larger and older work.