This article deals with the Nasrani People as an ethnic community, for a detailed article on the religious tradition of the Nasrani people; see: Saint Thomas Christians. This article addresses the Saint Thomas Christians and the various churches and denominations that form the Nasrani people.

Syrian Malabar Nasrani people
The Syrian Kurishu also known as Nasrani Menorah[2] or the Mar Thoma sleeba
Total population
5. 6 million (est. )[1]
Regions with significant populations
India
Languages
Vernacular: Malyalam, English Liturgical: Syriac,Malayalam
Religions
Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Other Dravidian peoples, other Malayalis, Cochin Jews

The Syrian Malabar Nasrani people are an ethnoreligious group from Kerala, India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States See Syriac (disambiguation for other uses Syriac (syr ܠܫܢܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ leššānā Suryāyā) is an Eastern Aramaic language Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Dravidian peoples refers to the peoples that natively speak languages belonging to the Dravidian language family. The Malayali people (also spelled Malayalee; Malayalam: മലയാളി are the inhabitants of Kerala or their descendants Cochin Jews, also called Malabar Jews ( Malabar Yehudan) are the ancient Jews and their descendants of the former The term Ethnoreligious (or ethno-religious) refers to a group or groups of people unified by a common religious culture but displaying distinct characteristics of an Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country It refers to those who became Christians in the Malabar coast in the earliest days of Christianity, including the natives and the Jewish diaspora in Kerala. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth The Malabar Coast also known as the Malabarian Coast, is a long and narrow south-western shore line of the mainland Indian subcontinent. Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut ^[2][3] It has been suggested that the term Nasrani derives from the name Nazarenes used by ancient Jewish Christians in the Near-East who believed in the divinity of Jesus but clung to many of the Mosaic ceremonies. Not to be confused with Nasoraeans The Nazarene sect ( Ναζωραίων from Hebrew נזרים) were an early Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) ^[4] They follow a unique Hebrew-Syriac Christian tradition which includes several Jewish elements although they have absorbed some Hindu customs. Syriac Christianity is a culturally and linguistically distinctive community within Eastern Christianity. Their heritage is Assyrian-Keralite, their culture South Indian, their faith St. Thomas Christian, and their language Malayalam. The Assyrians are an Ethnic group whose origins lie in what is today Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; This article addresses the Saint Thomas Christians and the various churches and denominations that form the Nasrani people. Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used ^[2] Much of their Jewish tradition has been forgotten, especially after the Portuguese invasion of Kerala in the early 1500s. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. ^[2] They are popularly known as Syrian Christians in view of the Syriac (classical form of Aramaic) liturgy used in church services since the early days of Christianity in India. See Syriac (disambiguation for other uses Syriac (syr ܠܫܢܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ leššānā Suryāyā) is an Eastern Aramaic language Aramaic is a Semitic language with

The Nasrani people are also called Syrian-Malabar Christians, Saint Thomas Christians , Suriyani Christians or even as Syrian Christians. This article addresses the Saint Thomas Christians and the various churches and denominations that form the Nasrani people. They are also called as Nasrani Mapillas. According to Hermann Gundert (who wrote the first Malayalam dictionary), the term 'mapilla' was a title used to denote semitic immigrants from West Asia. Rev Dr Hermann Gundert ( Stuttgart, February 4, 1814 &ndash April 25, 1893 in Calw, Germany) was a German In Linguistics and Ethnology, Semitic (from the Biblical " Shem " Hebrew שם translated as "name" Arabic: ساميّ Thus the term Mapilla was used to denote both Arab and Christian-Jewish descendants in Kerala. The descendants of Arabs are called Muslim Mappila, while the descendants of Syrian-Jewish Christians are called Nasrani Mappilas. The Mappilas (historically called Moplahs in Malayalam:മാപ്പിള refer to the Muslim community in Kerala and neighbouring ^[5] and the descendants of the Cochin Jews who have traditionally followed Halakhic Judaism are known as Juda Mappila. Cochin Jews, also called Malabar Jews ( Malabar Yehudan) are the ancient Jews and their descendants of the former Halakha ( הלכה; alternative transliterations include Halocho and Halacha) is the collective body of Jewish Religious law ^[6]

Origins

St. Thomas

Open Air Rock Cross also called Nazraney Sthambams in front of the 3rd Century built Martha Mariam Catholic Church at Kuravilangadu, Kerala

The Syrian Malabar Nasranis are some of the earliest people who joined Christianity in India and many Malabar Jews from the Jewish diaspora of the pre-Christian era who were settled in Kerala^[3]. Kerala has many churches of antiquity It is recorded that before the arrival of Portuguese there were more than 150 ancient churches in Kerala. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Cochin Jews, also called Malabar Jews ( Malabar Yehudan) are the ancient Jews and their descendants of the former The possibility of the early converts being partially or fully from the '10 Lost Tribes of Israel' can not also be ruled out (Ref. Asahel Grant's 'The Nestorians or the Lost Tribes, published in 1841). Nestorius Nestorius (c  386 &ndashc  451) was a pupil of Theodore of Mopsuestia in Antioch in Syria (modern The community also comprises several ancient Aramaic Christian settlements in Kerala which included Nestorians who were fleeing persecution. Nestorius Nestorius (c  386 &ndashc  451) was a pupil of Theodore of Mopsuestia in Antioch in Syria (modern The most prominent immigrations took place during the 4th and 9th centuries. The Knanaya Nasranis claim to be the descendants of one such group of 4th century immigrants. See also Syrian Malabar Nasrani Knanaya (Hebקנאים Malayalam ക്നാനായ Arقينان literally meaning "Knai people" are an ^[7]

Some writers claim that the first converts were mainly the Brahmins of Kerala called the Namboothiris, but others argue that the claims were made by the later Christians to obtain special caste status in the prevailing caste system of India as no single historical evidence exists to support the claim. Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism. The Nambudiri Brahmins ( Malayalam: ml നമ്പൂതിരി ml-Latn nambũdiri, also transliterated Namputiri, Namboothiri) are the A notable point is that the Namboothiri history claims their origin in Kerala in the seventh century CE,^[8] while Christianity in India originated in the first century CE, after St Thomas was speculated to have landed in Kerala at 52 AD^[9]. Thomas the Apostle, also called Judas Thomas, Doubting Thomas, or Didymus, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. Besides several of the Malabari locals who joined early Christianity returned to their earlier faith during a Shaivite revival by the Shaivite scholar Manikka Vachkar^[10]. Shaivism, also spelled "Saivism" names the oldest of the four sects of Hinduism.

Thus the community consists of people from many ethnic groups of Kerala including the pre-Christian era Jewish diaspora, different trading diaspora of Muziris, Dravidian converts, Aramaic Christian settlers of successive centuries and the Knanayas. Muziris is also a genus of Jumping spiders. Traditional scholars identify Muziris with the town of Musiri, located in See also Syrian Malabar Nasrani Knanaya (Hebקנאים Malayalam ക്നാനായ Arقينان literally meaning "Knai people" are an ^[11]

The southern coast of the Indian subcontinent (hypothesized by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus to be the place mentioned as Ophir in the Old Testament) inevitably became a gateway from the Mediterranean world to Kerala. This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia For geopolitical treatments see South Asia. Josephus (AD 37 – c 100 also known as Yosef Ben Matityahu (Joseph son of Matthias and after he became a Roman citizen, as Titus Flavius Josephus Ophir ( is a port or region mentioned in the Bible, famous for its wealth In Western Christianity, the Old Testament refers to the books that form the first of the two-part Christian Biblical canon. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; The people there traded in teak, ivory, spices and peacocks, and the area was endowed with a magnificent coastline with numerous ports from Mangalapuram to Kodungallur, also known as Cranganore. Teak ( Tectona) is a genus of tropical Hardwood Trees in the family Verbenaceae, native to the south and southeast of Asia Ivory is formed from Dentine and constitutes the bulk of the Teeth and Tusks of animals such as the Elephant, Hippopotamus, A spice is a dried Seed, Fruit, Root, Bark or vegetative substance used in Nutritionally insignificant quantities as a Food additive The term peafowl refers to Gallinaceous Birds classified within the genera Rheinardia Argusianus Afropavoand Pavo Kodungallur (anglicised name Cranganore) is a city and a Municipality in the Thrissur district in the Indian state of Kerala Kodungallur (anglicised name Cranganore) is a city and a Municipality in the Thrissur district in the Indian state of Kerala ^[12] In the ancient times it was called as Muziris in Latin and Muchiri in Malayalam. ^[13]

The trade routes brought with them not just riches but also stateless nations and nascent worldviews. ^[14] Cranganore became one of the earliest settlements of the Jewish diaspora from the later Old Testament period. The term Diaspora (in Greek, διασπορά &ndash " a scattering or sowing of seeds " refers any population sharing common ethnic They continued trade with the Mediterranean world, thus establishing a strong link between the southern coast of the Indian peninsula and the Judeo-Roman world. ^[15] Laying the links or foundations for what would later be the early 'Judeo-Nazaraean' diaspora. The early Aramaic-speaking Christians who came to Kerala from Middle-east (whose kin already had a Jewish settlement in Kodungulloor) were of largely ethnically Jewish origin. Aramaic is a Semitic language with The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. Kodungallur (anglicised name Cranganore) is a city and a Municipality in the Thrissur district in the Indian state of Kerala ^[16]

The ancient navigation route from the Judeo-Roman world to the Malabar coast

British researcher William Dalrymple travelled across the Arabian Sea to Kerala in a boat similar to those mentioned in ancient Jewish and Roman texts and showed how the Nasrani-Jewish people had travelled from Middle-east to Kodungulloor. The Malabar Coast also known as the Malabarian Coast, is a long and narrow south-western shore line of the mainland Indian subcontinent. William Dalrymple (born 20 March 1965 in Scotland) is a historian and writer The Arabian Sea ( Arabic: بحر العرب transliterated: Baḥr al-'Arab Sanskrit: सिन्धु सागर transliterated: Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC He followed the same course as mentioned in the Acts of Thomas, a copy of which survives in a monastery on Mount Sinai. The early 3rd century text called Acts of Thomas is arguably the most Gnostic of the New Testament apocrypha, portraying Christ as the "Heavenly This article concerns the buildings occupied by monastics. For the life inside monasteries and its historical roots see Monasticism. For other places named Mount Sinai see Mount Sinai (disambiguation Mount Sinai (Arabic طور سيناء, Hebrew הר סיני also ^[17]

The term Syrian-Malabar Nasranis is a composite form of the elemental aspects of the ancient tradition. In it the term Syrian actually refers to the Aramaic speaking Jewish people rather than the country of Syria, while the term Malabar is the name of an ancient region of the present day state of Kerala in India. Aramaic is a Semitic language with Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Malabar (മലബാര്‍ is a region of southern India, lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The term Syrian-Malabar Nasrani therefore means people of Christian-Jewish tradition and descent who follow Jesus of Nazareth and are from the Malabar coast of South India. ^[18]

The South Indian epic of Manimekkalai written between 2nd and 3rd century CE of Sangam Literature era mentions the Nasrani people by the name Essanis referring to one of the early exclusionary Jewish sects within the Nasranis called Essenes. South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union An epic is a lengthy Narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation Manimekalai ( மணிமேகலை) written by Seethalai Saathanar is one of the masterpieces of Tamil literature and is considered as one of the Sangam literature refers to a body of classical Tamil literature created between the years 300 BCE and 600 CE The Essenes were strictly speaking a Jewish religious group that flourished from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century AD The embassy of Alfred in 833 CE described the Nestorian Syrian Christians as being prosperous and enjoying high status in the Malabar coast. Marco Polo also mentioned the Nasranis and their ancient church in the Malabar coast in his writings Il Milione^[19]

Edicts and Plates

Front and Reverse of third Quilon copper plate with Pahlavi, Kufic and Hebrew signatures. Marco Polo ( September 15 1254 – January 9 1324 at earliest but no later than June 1325 was a Venetian trader and explorer The Travels of Marco Polo is the usual English title of Marco Polo 's travel book nicknamed Il Milione ( The Million Kollam ( Malayalam:കൊല്ലം) (known to the Portuguese as Quilon, pronounced koy-lon) is a city and a Municipal corporation Kufic is the oldest calligraphic form of the various Arabic scripts and consists of a modified form of the old Nabataean script. Kept at Mar Thoma Church in Tiruvalla

The Rulers gave the Nasranis various rights and privileges which were written on copper plates. The Mar Thoma Church is a Christian denomination from Kerala, the South Western State of India. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Thiruvalla ( previously spelled Tiruvalla) ( തിരുവല്ല in Malayalam These are known as Cheppeds, Royal Grants, Sasanam etc. ^[20]

There are a number of such documents (Thazhekad Sasanam, The Quilon Plates (Tharisappalli Cheppeds), Mampally Sasanam and Iraviikothan Chepped (Copper Plate) etc. ) in the possession of the Syrian Churches or the Kerala State. Some of these plates are said to be dated around 774 CE. Dr. Burnell, Burkatt F C, Sir Baily Harold, C P T Wenkwirth studied the inscriptions and produced varying transalations. The languages used are old Tamil letters with some Grantha letters intermingled and Pahlavi, Kufic and Hebrew signatures. Kufic is the oldest calligraphic form of the various Arabic scripts and consists of a modified form of the old Nabataean script.

These plates detail privileges awarded to the community by the then rulers. These influenced the development of the social structure in Kerala and privileges, rules for other communities such as Jews at a later date. These are considered as some of the most important legal documents in the history of Kerala. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; ^[21]

Christian Jewish tradition

An old church in Kerala

These early Christian Jews believed in Jesus as the Messiah, while continued following many of the Jewish traditions and Mosaic laws and called themselves Nazaraeans or Nazrani, meaning Jews who followed the Nazarene Messiah (Jesus). Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; Jewish Christians (sometimes called also "Hebrew Christians" or "Christian Jews") is a term which can have two meanings a historical one and a Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) This article is about the concept of a Messiah in religion notably in the Christian Islamic and Jewish traditions This article is about the concept of a Messiah in religion notably in the Christian Islamic and Jewish traditions The term Nazaraean was first mentioned in the New Testament in Acts 24:5. The Acts of the Apostles is a book of the Bible, which now stands fifth in the New Testament. 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). The term Gentile (from Latin, gentilis, meaning of or belonging to a clan or tribe refers to non- Israelite tribes or nations in the Bible. ^[22] 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. Antioch on the Orontes (Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Δάφνῃ Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Ὀρόντου or Ἀντιόχεια ἡ Μεγάλη Antiochia ad Orontem also ^[22]

They 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 (קרבן), meaning "Sacrifice". A liturgy is the customary public worship done by a specific religious group according to their particular traditions Holy Qurbana or Qurbana Qadisha (ܩܘܪܒܢܐ ܩܕܝܫܐ qûrbānâ qadîšâ, pronounced qurbono qadisho in West Syriac) the "Holy Offering" Korban ( Hebrew: "sacrifice" קרבן (plural Korbanot קרבנות in Judaism, is the term for a variety of sacrificial offerings Their ritual service used to be held on Saturdays in the tradition of the Jewish Sabbath. Shabbat or Shabbos ( Hebrew: שַׁבָּת, shabbāt, shabbes, "rest/inactivity" is the Weekly Sabbath The Nasrani Qurbana used to be sung in the Suryani (Syriac) and Aramaic languages. See Syriac (disambiguation for other uses Syriac (syr ܠܫܢܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ leššānā Suryāyā) is an Eastern Aramaic language Aramaic is a Semitic language with They also believed that it was the Romans who killed Jesus ^[23] because, historically, Jesus was crucified; the official form of execution of the Jews was typically stoning to death, while the official form of execution of the Romans was crucifixion. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Stoning, or lapidation, refers to a form of Capital punishment whereby an organized group throws stones at the convicted individual until the person dies Crucifixion (from Latin crucifixio, noun of process crucifixio, from perfect passive participle crucifixus, fixed to a cross from ^[23] The architecture of the early church reflected a blend of Jewish and Kerala styles. ^[23]

Nasrani symbol

Part of a series on Christianity in India
Background
Christianity Malankara Church Syrian Malabar Nasrani Saint Thomas Christians Holy Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas Malankara Metropolitans Knanaya
Events
Synod of Diamper Coonan Cross Oath Goa Inquisition
People
St Thomas St Francis Xavier Mother Teresa Reginald Heber Blessed Kuriakose Chavara Henry Martyn‎ Bishop Cotton‎ William Carey Anthony Norris Groves Hugh Findlay Charles Freer Andrews Sister Alphonsa Parumala Thirumeni
Churches
Chaldean Syrian Church Church of North India Church of South India Indian Brethren Indian Pentecostal Church Jacobite Syrian Church Malabar Independent Church Mar Thoma Church Orthodox Syrian Church Roman Catholic Church St. Thomas Evangelical Church Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
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The symbol of the Nasranis is the Syrian cross, also called the Nasrani Menorah[3] Mar Thoma sleeba in Malayalam. Christianity is India's third-largest religion, with approximately 24 million followers constituting 2 Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Malankara Church of India is the Christian church believed to be started by St This article addresses the Saint Thomas Christians and the various churches and denominations that form the Nasrani people. Malankara Metropolitan is the title of the head of Malankara Church of Kerala, India, believed to be started by St See also Syrian Malabar Nasrani Knanaya (Hebקנאים Malayalam ക്നാനായ Arقينان literally meaning "Knai people" are an The Synod of Diamper, held at Udayamperoor /Diamper ( Kerala, India) formally united the ancient Christian Church of the Malabar Coast Saint Thomas The Coonan Cross Oath was taken in 1653, by a group of Saint Thomas Christians, reacting to the persecution of their Church by the Portuguese colonials The Goa Inquisition was the office of the Inquisition acting in the Indian state of Goa and the rest of the Portuguese empire in Asia Thomas the Apostle, also called Judas Thomas, Doubting Thomas, or Didymus, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. Saint Francis Xavier ( Konkani / Konknni: Sam Fransisku Xavier/ Sanv Fransisk Xavier Basque: San Frantzisko Xabierkoa Spanish: San Francisco Mother Teresa, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, (born August 26, 1910 – September 5, 1997) was an Albanian ref>Spink Reginald Heber ( April 21, 1783 - April 3, 1826) was a Church of England bishop now remembered chiefly as a hymn-writer Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara was the co-founder and first prior-general of the Congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate and of the Congregation of the Henry Martyn ( 18 February, 1781 - 16 October 1812) was an Anglican priest and Missionary to the peoples of India George Edward Lynch Cotton ( October 29, 1813 – October 6, 1866) was an English and educator and churchman renowned for his connections William Carey may refer to William Carey (1761&ndash1834 an English Protestant missionary William Carey (c Biography Early life Groves was born in Newton Valance, Hampshire, England Hugh Findlay ( Newmilns, Ayrshire, Scotland, June 9, 1822 &ndash March 2, 1900 in Fish Haven Idaho Advent Christian Conference Anglican Church of India Apatani Christian Fellowship Apostolic Christian Assembly Chaldean Syrian Church is the name used for the Assyrian Church of the East in India. The Church of North India (CNI the dominant Protestant denomination in northern India is a United church established on 29 November 1970 by The Church of South India ( Abbreviation: CSI) is a union of many Protestant Denominations spread throughout South India. The Brethren are a Christian Evangelical Premillennial religious movement The Indian Pentecostal Church of God (IPC is the largest indigenous Pentecostal movement in India, with its headquarters at Hebron Kumbanad, Kerala The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church is the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in Kerala, India. Malabar Independent Syriac Church is also known as Thozhyur Sabah (church and Anjoor church The Mar Thoma Church is a Christian denomination from Kerala, the South Western State of India. The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (also known as the Malankara Orthodox Church, Orthodox Church of the East, Orthodox Syrian Church of the East, The Roman Catholic Church in India is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome. St Thomas Evangelical Church of India (STECI is an Evangelical, Episcopal denomination based in Kerala, India. The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church (also known as Malankara Syrian Catholic Church Malankara Syriac Catholic Church) The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is a Chaldean Rite Major Archiepiscopal Church in Full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used It is based on the Jewish menorah, the ancient symbol of the Hebrews, which consists of a branched candle stand for seven candlesticks. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Pekiin tabletjpg|thumb|right|151px| Second Temple period stone tablet from a Synagogue in Peki'in, Israel. A candle is a Light source and sometimes a Heat source consisting of a solid block of Fuel and an embedded wick. (Exodus 25). ^[24] In the Nasrani Menorah the six branches, (three on either side of the cross) represents God as the burning bush, while the central branch holds the cross, the dove at the tip of the cross represents the Holy Spirit. The burning bush is an object described by the Book of Exodus as being located on Mount Horeb; according to the narrative the bush was on fire but was not consumed In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance (Exodus 25:31). ^[24] In Jewish tradition the central branch is the main branch, from which the other branches or other six candles are lit. Netzer is the Hebrew word for "branch" and is the root word of Nazareth and Nazarene. Nazareth (ˈnæzərəθ (נָצְרַת Hebrew Natz'rat or Natzeret, الناصرة an-Nāṣira or an-Naseriyye) is the capital and largest (Isaiah 11:1). ^[24]

Note that the Christian cross was not adopted as a symbol by Mediterranean and European Christianity until several centuries had passed. The Christian cross is the best-known Religious symbol of Christianity.

Persecution by Portuguese

A Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in Kerala, with the Holy of Holies containing the Nasrani Menorah or Mar Thoma Sliba (St. The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is a Chaldean Rite Major Archiepiscopal Church in Full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; The Holy of Holies is a term in the Hebrew Bible which referred to the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem which could be entered Thomas Cross) veiled by a red curtain in the tradition of ancient Jewish synagogue. Etymology The Hebrew name given in Scripture for the building is Beit HaMikdash or "The Holy House" and only the Temple in Jerusalem is referred to by this name

The Judeo-Nasrani tradition of the Syro-Malabar Nasranis was wiped out when the Portuguese invaded Kerala, and denounced the Nasrani account of Christian faith as false. They imposed their European rituals and liturgy and obliterated the Jewish legacy from the Nasrani tradition. The Portuguese described the Nasranis as Sabbath-keeping Judaizers. Shabbat or Shabbos ( Hebrew: שַׁבָּת, shabbāt, shabbes, "rest/inactivity" is the Weekly Sabbath Judaizers, see also WiktionaryJudaization, generally describes those who inculcate to Christians the adherence to Torah Laws, which is normally considered ^[25]

Archbishop Menezes of Goa, convened the Synod of Diamper in Kerala in 1599. Aleixo de Menezes ( January 25, 1559 &mdash May 3, 1617) was Archbishop of Goa, Archbishop of Braga, Goa ( Konkani: गोंय /ɡɔ̃j/ is India 's smallest state in terms of area and the fourth smallest in terms of population. The Synod of Diamper, held at Udayamperoor /Diamper ( Kerala, India) formally united the ancient Christian Church of the Malabar Coast Saint Thomas Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; ^[26] There he ordered all the texts of the Syrian Nasranis to be burnt. ^[27] The Portuguese burned the Gospel of Thomas and the Acts of Thomas. The Gospel According to Thomas ( Coptic: ⲡⲉ̅ⲩ̅ⲁ̅ⲅⲅ̅ⲉⲗ̅ⲓⲟⲛ̅ ⲡⲕ̅ⲁ̅ⲧⲁ ⲑ̅ⲱ̅ⲙⲁⲥ also known as The Gospel The early 3rd century text called Acts of Thomas is arguably the most Gnostic of the New Testament apocrypha, portraying Christ as the "Heavenly The purpose stated by Menezes was to erase all legacies of antiquity and Jewishness. "Ancient" redirects here For other uses see Ancient_(disambiguation. ^[25] Amongst several accusations, the Nasranis were accused of not worshiping images of saints and biblical figures. ^[25] They completely obliterated the records of early Nasrani life and Hebrew-Syriac tradition and imposed on the Nasranis that they were local people who were converted and not descendants of early Jewish settlers converted to Christianity by the Apostle Thomas. Thomas the Apostle, also called Judas Thomas, Doubting Thomas, or Didymus, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. This despite the fact that the Acts of Thomas (a copy of which still survives in a monastery on Mount Sinai), states that the early Christian converts by the apostle Thomas in Kerala were early Jewish people settled in the Malabar coast. The early 3rd century text called Acts of Thomas is arguably the most Gnostic of the New Testament apocrypha, portraying Christ as the "Heavenly For other places named Mount Sinai see Mount Sinai (disambiguation Mount Sinai (Arabic طور سيناء, Hebrew הר סיני also Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; The Malabar Coast also known as the Malabarian Coast, is a long and narrow south-western shore line of the mainland Indian subcontinent. ^[28]

Most of all, the Portuguese burned the Nasrani Aramaic Peshitta Bible known today as the Lost Aramaic Bible that was based on the Jewish Targum and included the Gospel of the Nazoraeans. The name 'Peshitta' The name 'Peshitta' is derived from the Syriac mappaqtâ pšîṭtâ (ܡܦܩܬܐ ܦܫܝܛܬܐ literally meaning 'simple version' A targum ( Hebrew: תרגום plural targumim, lit "translation interpretation" is an Aramaic Translation of the Hebrew The Gospel of the Nazoraeans is a book of the New Testament Apocrypha. The Portuguese imposed the teaching that the Jews killed Jesus. The Nasranis, who were, until then, the "living fossils" of the Christian-Jewish tradition, lost their very defining ethos. ^[29] The only Nasranis who managed to preserve some elements of their Jewish origin were the Knanaya people, because of their tradition of being endogamous within their own community and therefore preserving their Jewish tradition. See also Syrian Malabar Nasrani Knanaya (Hebקנאים Malayalam ക്നാനായ Arقينان literally meaning "Knai people" are an Endogamy is the practice of marrying within a social group. Cultures who practice endogamy require marriage between specified social groups classes or ethnicities ^[30]

Nasrani tradition today

St. Marys Palli (Church) in Kottayam, Kerala containing ancient Nasrani symbols and Sassanid Pahlavi inscriptions. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> This article is about the town of Kottayam See Kottayam district also Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}};

Though much of the Jewish tradition was lost, some of the important traditions and Mosaic law observances lived on. The symbol of the Nasrani people is still the Nasrani menorah. Another surviving Jewish tradition still followed by the Nasranis is the tradition of Pesaha-appam or unleavened Passover bread. Passover ( Hebrew, Yiddish: פֶּסַח Pesach, Tiberian: pɛsaħ Israeli: Pesah, Pesakh, Yiddish Passover ( Hebrew, Yiddish: פֶּסַח Pesach, Tiberian: pɛsaħ Israeli: Pesah, Pesakh, Yiddish On passover night, the Nasrani people have Pesaha-appam along with Pesaha-pal or "Passover coconut milk". This tradition of Pesaha-appam is observed by many Nasrani people until this day.

The Nasrani Church has a separate seating arrangement for men and women. Until the 1970s the Nasrani Kurbana was sung in the Aramaic-Syriac language. Aramaic is a Semitic language with See Syriac (disambiguation for other uses Syriac (syr ܠܫܢܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ leššānā Suryāyā) is an Eastern Aramaic language Many of the tunes of the Syrian- Christian worship in Kerala are remnants of ancient Syriac tunes of antiquity. ^[31] The "Holy of Holies" is divided by a red curtain for most of the time and is opened during the central part of the Nasrani Mass or Qurbana. The Nasrani Baptism is still called by the Hebrew-syriac term Mamodisa and follows many of the ancient rituals of the ceremony. In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted It is referred to in Malayalam as njana Snanam (Bath of Wisdom).

Nasrani people today belong to various Christian denominations of the Saint Thomas Christian tradition. See Saint Thomas Christians for a detailed description of the various denominations. This article addresses the Saint Thomas Christians and the various churches and denominations that form the Nasrani people.

Nasrani people today

Nasrani People

Religion

Monuments

Liturgy Language

Cuisine

Churches

People

Nasrani people largely live in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alapuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Trichur, and Wayanad,Kannur,Kozhikode in Kerala. Nasrani is an Arabic word meaning Christian. Nasrani is generally understood to originally mean Nazarene, but in some areas This article addresses the Saint Thomas Christians and the various churches and denominations that form the Nasrani people. Kerala has many churches of antiquity It is recorded that before the arrival of Portuguese there were more than 150 ancient churches in Kerala. Aramaic is a Semitic language with The cuisine of the state of Kerala, India, is influenced by its large Christian minority This article deals with the various old churches that are existing among the Saint Thomas Christians denominations that form the Nasrani people. This is a list of Syrian Malabar Nasranis who have made significant contribution to public service science sports literature and the arts Thiruvananthapuram ( Malayalam: തിരുവനന്തപുരം Tiruvanantapuraṁ) also known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Kollam ( Malayalam:കൊല്ലം) (known to the Portuguese as Quilon, pronounced koy-lon) is a city and a Municipal corporation WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> For the district with the same name see Pathanamthitta district Pathanamthitta Alappuzha (ആലപ്പുഴ also known as Alleppey, is a town in Alappuzha District of Kerala state of southern India. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> This article is about the town of Kottayam See Kottayam district also Idukki district (ഇടുക്കി is one among the 14 districts of Kerala state, India. This article is about the town of Ernakulam See Ernakulam district. For the district with the same name see Thrissur district. Thrissur / Trichur / Trissur ( Malayalam: തൃശ്ശൂര്‍ Wayanad District, in the north-east of Kerala, India, was formed on November 1 1980 as the 12th district by carving out areas from For the district with the name Kannur see Kannur District. For town with same name in Karnataka, see Kannur Dakshina Kannada WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> For the district with the same name see Kozhikode District. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; They have also migrated to other cities in India like Mangalore, Bangalore,Chennai, Pune, Delhi, Shimoga, Mumbai,Coimbatore, Hyderabad and Kolkota. Mangalore ( Kannada:, Mangalūru; Tulu: Kudla, ಕುಡ್ಲ Konkani: Kodial, ಕೊಡಿಯಾಲ್ Bangalore ( officially Bengaluru ( Kannada: ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು) is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Pune (ˈpuːneɪ Marathi: पुणे Hindi: पूना formerly Poona, is the second largest city in the state of Maharashtra Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population Mumbai ( Marathi:,, IPA: formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the financial Coimbatore (கோயம்புத்தூர் also known as Kovai (கோவை is a major industrial city in India and the second largest city in the Others have migrated to the United States,Europe,Australsia. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the . or work in the Middle East. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. Based on the Indian census report of 2004, there are presently approximately 5,000,000 Syrian-Malabar Nasranis from across the various denominations within the Nasrani community. ^[32]

Many Nasrani people own large estates and engage in trade of rubber, spices and cash crops. For other uses see Estate. An estate comprises the houses and outbuildings and supporting farmland and woods that surround the gardens and grounds A spice is a dried Seed, Fruit, Root, Bark or vegetative substance used in Nutritionally insignificant quantities as a Food additive In Agriculture, a cash crop is a crop which is grown for Money. They also take a prominent role in the educational institutions of Kerala and throughout India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country ^[33]

Increasing migration and decreasing birth rate are endangering the Syrian Christian community in Kerala. The situation is likely to worsen in the coming decades and the community would soon enter the zero population regime. The community is facing a Parsi syndrome. Already about 25 percent of Syrian Christians live outside Kerala with a huge population living outside India. Very soon, the majority of them would be living outside and in 50 years time, the demography of Christian population in the state would change drastically. ^[34]

List of prominent Nasranis

Main article: List of Prominent Syrian Malabar Nasranis

See also

• Cochin Jews
• Goa Inquisition
• Knanaya
• Bene Israel
• Saint Thomas Christians
• Rock crosses of Kerala

Notes

References and bibliography

External links

• Defining a Kerala Syrian Christian
• Nasrani Syrian Christians - Demography
• Unofficial site of SOC
• History of the Christian Jews in Asia
• Knanaya Christians
• The cradle of Christianity in India
• The Syro Malabar Church
• History of the Kerala Christians by Dr. Zacharias Thundy, Northern Michigan University
• Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (Indian Orthodox Church)
• The tradition of the Essenes
• Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church
• Christians of Kerala
• Population of Christians in India and Kerala based on 2004 report of Indian census
• Syrian christians are in a class of their own South Indian newspaper 31 August 2001
• Madras Medical Mission
• The Nasrani Syrian Christian Network
• The Syrian Christians of Kerala - Family Tree DNA Project
• Project for preserving the manuscripts of the Syrian Christians of Kerala