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It was as a consequence of this Syrian migration of Knanaites, the entire Christians in Kerala, came to be called SYRIAN CHRISTIANS, as they came under the Syrian Patriarch of Antioch who had jurisdiction over all the East and thus began using the rituals and liturgies of the Syrian Church of Antioch.
→History: Excess space causing fomatting issues
In this page the history of the Malankara Church from its beginning is reproduced; the brief history is complied from the articles written by the famous historian and Syriac Scholar Very Rev. (Dr.) Kurien Corepiscopo Kaniamparambil, Mr. E M Philip Edavazhikkal (author of 'Indian Church History', 1906), Dn. P T Geevarghese (later Mar Ivanios of Syro-Malankara Church - author of 'Were Syrian Christians Nestorians'), Very Rev. (Dr) Adai Jacob Corepiscopus (the principal of Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary at Udayagiri), Dr. D Babu Paul ('Veni Vidi Vici'), and late Prof. Pankkal E John and late K P John ('Way to Peace'). A more detailed history is expected to be published soon.
I. Establishment of Christianity in India
In due course, the Catholicos of Selucia adopted Nestorian faith and defied the authority of Patriarch and declared independence. Yet, there were Maphriyono's under the the Syrian Jacobite Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, who as eastern Catholicos used to administer the Church in the Persian Empire. Later at the instance of the Patriarch of Antioch, the Indian Church was administered by these Maphriyono's and Metropolitans.
II. Syrian Colonization of Malankara in AD 325
Meanwhile the native Christians converted by St.Thomas, who were called Marthoma (St.Thomas) Christians lived on the northern part of the street. While the descendants of the former were called as ‘Southists’ or Knanaites, after their leader Knai Thoma (Thoma of Cana), the ‘Marthoma Christians’ lived on the northern part were, from then onwards started to be mentioned as ‘Northists’. The name Malankara Church, is also supposed to be mentioned as such, for the entire Christian Church of Kerala, from this period.
Relics of St. Thomas transferred to Edessa
Conclusion
The Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church, though in its long history, had to put up with stiff challenge, trials and tribulations, by God's grace, even now it continues to, practice the true Apostolic faith taught by its Holy fathers and be a part of the ancient Universal Syriac Orthodox Church with its distinct identity.
==External links==
