OUR FAITH

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church was founded by St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, who arrived in India in A.D. 52. From the fourth century onward, the Indian Church developed a close relationship with the Persian or East Syrian Church. As a result, the Indian Church adopted the East Syrian language and liturgies, eventually becoming known as Syrian Christians.

In the sixteenth century, Roman Catholic missionaries arrived in Kerala and sought to unite the Syrian Christians with the Roman Catholic Church. This led to a division within the community, with those who accepted Catholicism becoming the present-day Syro-Malabar Catholics. Later, Western Protestant missionaries also arrived in Kerala, creating further splits within the Syrian Christian community.

In the seventeenth century, the Church formed a relationship with the Antiochene Church, which again led to divisions. As a result of this association, the Church adopted West Syrian liturgies and practices. A significant new phase in the Church’s history began with the establishment of the Catholicate in 1912. Today, the Church uses the West Syrian liturgy, and its faith is rooted in the teachings defined by the three Ecumenical Councils of Nicaea (A.D. 325), Constantinople (A.D. 381), and Ephesus (A.D. 431).

The Church is in communion with other Oriental Orthodox Churches, including the Antiochene, Alexandrian, Armenian, Eritrean, and Ethiopian Orthodox Churches. It also maintains strong ecumenical relations with Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant Churches. Currently, the Church has over 2 million faithful members and 30 dioceses spread across the globe.

The foundation of Orthodoxy lies in the sense of community, where the Christian faith is central to the Church’s existence. In Orthodoxy, worship plays a vital role in bringing faith into the daily lives of its members. The relationship between liturgy and theology in Orthodox worship is deeply intertwined, allowing the faithful to experience theology as part of their devotional lives. Orthodox worship begins and ends with an affirmation of God’s triune nature: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The service opens in the name of the Holy Trinity and concludes with a Trinitarian blessing. Throughout the service, the Holy Trinity is invoked and glorified, reminding the worshippers of the foundational truth of God's nature. This continuous remembrance encourages the faithful to dedicate their lives to God, reflecting the divine relationship of fatherhood, sonship, and love that binds them.

The worship in Orthodoxy is centered around Christ. It is through the incarnation of the eternal Son of God that we are redeemed, and His grace is made available through His death and resurrection. Believers are called to receive this grace in faith, both spiritually and sacramentally, leading a life worthy of this divine calling. The doctrine of the incarnation holds great significance in Orthodox worship, emphasizing the importance of God becoming man to offer salvation to humanity through His death and resurrection.

Ultimately, Orthodox worship strengthens the community in faith. It serves to affirm the Christian calling of the Church as a whole, while also nurturing the individual believer’s Christian character. Through this shared act of worship, the faithful are confirmed in their journey toward becoming more like Christ.