St. Thomas the Apostle and the Syro-Malabar Church

After the resurrection of Jesus, the Apostles went, as it was their mission in the world and preached the Good News. The Apostle Thomas, who had personally heard Jesus' words and touched the wounds of the Risen Lord with his fingers, fulfilled this request. He confessed his love for his Master with the exclamation: "My Lord and my God". Tthe Apostle Thomas came to India In the year 52 AD. He landed with Jewish businessmen in Kerala, situated on the south-western tip of the Indian subcontinent. He preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many took the Christian faith.

The Apostle Thomas landed at Kodungalloor (Muziris) in 52 A.D. and founded the Christian community in Kerala, which is still named after him -. "The Thomas Christians". St. Thomas founded seven churches or communities in different parts of Kerala, in Kodungalloor, Niranam, Kollam, Chayal, Kottakkavu, Kokkamangalam and Palayoor. He travelled from 52 AD to 60 along the south-west coast of India (then Malabar, today the state of Kerala) and reached finally Madras, where he was hit by a deadly spear in the year 72 AD. His grave is located in Mylapore, near Madras in southern India, and his grave there is still revered today.

The Church of the Thomas Christians, the Syro-Malabar Church is an Eastern Church in India united with Rome. It is a suij iuris Church (Church with it's own law), with approximately 3.8 million members, mainly in the Indian state of Kerala, (but also in the Indian dioceses of Bangalore, Delhi and Madras-Mylapore, and the United States, Canada, Europe and the Gulf region spread).

The tradition of the congregation of St. Thomas Christians in Kerala is still conscious and alive. It combines the power of the St. Thomas with certain places and families. Originated in the cultural and religious milieu of the country, Christianity breathes the spirit of India and is recognized by the people as a religion in India.

Statistics of the Syro-Malabar Church

The Syro-Malabar Church has worldwide about 3.8 million members in approximately 2,800 municipalities, 30 dioceses and archdioceses four. Its membership includes about 6600 priests, of which 3,600 religious priests. There are 39 Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life Syro-Malabar origin for men and nine for women, with over 34,000 members (30,843 women, 3,925 men); also about 2,200 seminarians in 45seminaris. About 6,000 diocesan priests, 30,000 sisters and thousands of religious priests and lay brothers are from the Syro-Malabar Church and in dioceses and congregations of the Latin rite active, so that around 70% of all priests (world and religious) and sisters in India (17 million Christians originally belong to this church at around 1 billion inhabitants).

St. Thomas the Apostle and the Syro-Malabar Church

After the resurrection of Jesus, the Apostles went, as it was their mission in the world and preached the Good News. The Apostle Thomas, who had personally heard Jesus' words and touched the wounds of the Risen Lord with his fingers, fulfilled this request. He confessed his love for his Master with the exclamation: "My Lord and my God". Tthe Apostle Thomas came to India In the year 52 AD. He landed with Jewish businessmen in Kerala, situated on the south-western tip of the Indian subcontinent. He preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many took the Christian faith.

The Apostle Thomas landed at Kodungalloor (Muziris) in 52 A.D. and founded the Christian community in Kerala, which is still named after him -. "The Thomas Christians". St. Thomas founded seven churches or communities in different parts of Kerala, in Kodungalloor, Niranam, Kollam, Chayal, Kottakkavu, Kokkamangalam and Palayoor. He travelled from 52 AD to 60 along the south-west coast of India (then Malabar, today the state of Kerala) and reached finally Madras, where he was hit by a deadly spear in the year 72 AD. His grave is located in Mylapore, near Madras in southern India, and his grave there is still revered today.

The Church of the Thomas Christians, the Syro-Malabar Church is an Eastern Church in India united with Rome. It is a suij iuris Church (Church with it's own law), with approximately 3.8 million members, mainly in the Indian state of Kerala, (but also in the Indian dioceses of Bangalore, Delhi and Madras-Mylapore, and the United States, Canada, Europe and the Gulf region spread).

The tradition of the congregation of St. Thomas Christians in Kerala is still conscious and alive. It combines the power of the St. Thomas with certain places and families. Originated in the cultural and religious milieu of the country, Christianity breathes the spirit of India and is recognized by the people as a religion in India.

Statistics of the Syro-Malabar Church

The Syro-Malabar Church has worldwide about 3.8 million members in approximately 2,800 municipalities, 30 dioceses and archdioceses four. Its membership includes about 6600 priests, of which 3,600 religious priests. There are 39 Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life Syro-Malabar origin for men and nine for women, with over 34,000 members (30,843 women, 3,925 men); also about 2,200 seminarians in 45seminaris. About 6,000 diocesan priests, 30,000 sisters and thousands of religious priests and lay brothers are from the Syro-Malabar Church and in dioceses and congregations of the Latin rite active, so that around 70% of all priests (world and religious) and sisters in India (17 million Christians originally belong to this church at around 1 billion inhabitants).