Churches in Kerala Christianity
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Unit 17 Christian Social Organisation
Social Organisation UNIT 17 CHRISTIAN SOCIAL ORGANISATION Structure 17.0 Objectives 17.1 Introduction 17.2 Origin of Christianity in India 17.2.1 Christian Community: The Spatial and Demographic Dimensions 17.2.2 Christianity in Kerala and Goa 17.2.3 Christianity in the East and North East 17.3 Tenets of Christian Faith 17.3.1 The Life of Jesus 17.3.2 Various Elements of Christian Faith 17.4 The Christians of St. Thomas: An Example of Christian Social Organisation 17.4.1 The Christian Family 17.4.2 The Patrilocal Residence 17.4.3 The Patrilineage 17.4.4 Inheritance 17.5 The Church 17.5.1 The Priest in Christianity 17.5.2 The Christian Church 17.5.3 Christmas 17.6 The Relation of Christianity to Hinduism in Kerala 17.6.1 Calendar and Time 17.6.2 Building of Houses 17.6.3 Elements of Castes in Christianity 17.7 Let Us Sum Up 17.8 Key Words 17.9 Further Reading 17.10 Specimen Answers to Check Your Progress 17.0 OBJECTIVES This unit describes the social organisation of Christians in India. A study of this unit will enable you to z explain the origin of Christianity in India z list and describe the common features of Christian faith z describe the Christian social organisation in terms of family, the role of the priest, church and Christmas among Syrian Christians of Kerala z identify and explain the areas of relationship between Christian and Hindu 42 social life in Kerala. Christian Social 17.1 INTRODUCTION Organisation In the previous unit we have looked at Muslim social organisation. -
Chapter I Christianity in Kerala: Tracing Antecedents
CHAPTER I CHRISTIANITY IN KERALA: TRACING ANTECEDENTS Introduction This chapter is an analysis of the early history of Christianity in Kerala. In the initial part it attempts to trace the historical background of Christianity from its origin to the end of seventeenth century. The period up to the colonial period forms the first part after which the history of the colonial part is given. This chapter also tries to examine how colonial forces interfered in the life of Syrian Christians and how it became the foremost factor for the beginning of conflicts. It tried to explain about the splits that happened in the community because of the interference of the Portuguese. It likewise deals with the relation of Dutch with the Syrian Christian community. It also discusses the conflict between the Jesuit and Carmelite missionaries. History of Christianity in Kerala in the Pre-Colonial Period Kerala, which is situated on the south west coast of Peninsular India, is one of the oldest centers of Christianity in the world. This coast was popularly known as Malabar. The presence of Christian community in the pre-colonial period of Kerala is an unchallenged reality. It began to appear here from the early days of Christendom.1 But the exact period in which Christianity was planted in Malabar, by whom, how or under what conditions, cannot be said with any confidence. However historians have offered unimportant guesses in the light of traditional legends and sources. The origin of Christianity was subject to wide enquiry and research by scholars. Different contradictory theories have been formulated by historians, religious leaders, and politicians on the Christian proselytizing in India. -
Catholic Shrines in Chennai, India: the Politics of Renewal and Apostolic Legacy
CATHOLIC SHRINES IN CHENNAI, INDIA: THE POLITICS OF RENEWAL AND APOSTOLIC LEGACY BY THOMAS CHARLES NAGY A thesis submitted to the Victoria University of Wellington in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies Victoria University of Wellington (2014) Abstract This thesis investigates the phenomenon of Catholic renewal in India by focussing on various Roman Catholic churches and shrines located in Chennai, a large city in South India where activities concerning saintal revival and shrinal development have taken place in the recent past. The thesis tracks the changing local significance of St. Thomas the Apostle, who according to local legend, was martyred and buried in Chennai. In particular, it details the efforts of the Church hierarchy in Chennai to bring about a revival of devotion to St. Thomas. In doing this, it covers a wide range of issues pertinent to the study of contemporary Indian Christianity, such as Indian Catholic identity, Indian Christian indigeneity and Hindu nationalism, as well as the marketing of St. Thomas and Catholicism within South India. The thesis argues that the Roman Catholic renewal and ―revival‖ of St. Thomas in Chennai is largely a Church-driven hierarchal movement that was specifically initiated for the purpose of Catholic evangelization and missionization in India. Furthermore, it is clear that the local Church‘s strategy of shrinal development and marketing encompasses Catholic parishes and shrines throughout Chennai‘s metropolitan area, and thus, is not just limited to those sites associated with St. Thomas‘s Apostolic legacy. i Acknowledgements This thesis is dedicated to the memory of my father Richard M. -
The Syro-Malabar Church and Catechesis
THE SYRO -MALABAR CHURCH AND CATECHESIS The catechetical heritage of the Syro-Malabar Church seems to be as old as this Church itself. But the scarcity of historical data poses a great problem with regard to catechesis among the St. Thomas Christians in ancient times. We have to depend on traditions and the post fifteenth century historical data to see the evolution of catechesis. History of the Catechetical Developments in the Syro-Malabar Church We divide the history of catechesis into five periods corresponding to the different phases of the existence of the Church in Kerala. These periods are (1) the early apostolic Period, (2) the Indo-Chaldean period, (111) the Indo-European period, (1V) the modern period and (V) the contemporary period. 1. The Early Apostolic Period (AD 52- 4th Cent.) When we think about catechetical developments among the St. Thomas Christians in the early apostolic period, the following questions may come to our minds; did any catechetical system exist at all in the Church founded by the Apostle Thomas? What was the nature of catechesis in those days? Traditions force us to believe that St. Thomas might have preached the Gospel and initiated a simple form of worship which grew on the Indian soil. We are neither sure about the indigenous nature and development of the form of worship nor about the nature of the catechesis they followed. The general history of catechesis teaches that the ancient form of catechesis was different from that of our times. It was mainly directed to adults and was catechumenal or mystagogic. -
Day Sabbath in India Until the Arrival of Seventh-Day Adventists
The History of the Seventh- day Sabbath in India Until the Arrival of Seventh-day Adventists Biblical Research Institute Release – 15 Gordon E. Christo The History of the Seventh- day Sabbath in India Until the Arrival of Seventh-day Adventists Gordon E. Christo Biblical Research Institute Silver Spring, Maryland Copyright © 2020 by the Biblical Research Institute Silver Spring, Maryland www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org General editor: Ekkehardt Mueller Editor: Clinton Wahlen Managing editor: Marly Timm Editorial assistance and layout: Patrick V. Ferreira Copy editor: Schuyler Kline Author: Christo, Gordon Title: Te History of the Seventh-day Sabbath in India Until the Arrival of Seventh-day Adventists Subjects: Sabbath - India Sabbatarians - India Call Number: V125.S32 2020 Printed in the U.S.A. by the Pacifc Press Publishing Association Nampa, ID 83653-5353 ISBN 978-0-925675-42-2 Contents Introduction ............................................................................... 1 Early Presence of Jews in India ............................................. 3 Bene Israel ............................................................................. 3 Cochin Jews ........................................................................... 4 Early Christianity in India ....................................................... 6 Te Report of Pantaneus ................................................... 7 “Te Doctrine of the Apostles” ........................................ 8 Te Acts of Tomas .......................................................... -
Fj Eng 1788-2013.Pdf
MATHECKAL FAMILY JOURNAL - A REFERENCE MANUAL( AD 1788- 2013) By MATHECKAL KUDUMBAM November 26, 2014 AD 2013: 225th Birth Anniversary of Mathunni Matheckal (A Tribute to The Patriarch of Matheckal Family, Arakuzha) MATHECKEL FAMILY JOURNAL - A REFERENCE MANUAL (AD 1788 - 2013) To read Matheckal Family Journal online in English and Malayalam and access Database visit website: www.matheckalfamily.org But the hour will come - in fact it is here already - when true worshippers will worship the Father in sprit and truth: this is the kind of worshipper the Father wants. God is spirit, and those who worship must worship in spirit and truth - John 4:23-24 MATHECKAL FAMILY JOURNAL - A REFERENCE MANUAL (AD 2013) (ON THE 225TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDER MATHUNNI MATHECKEN) I am the Vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing . Remain in my love.- (John 15: 5-6, 10) Acknowledgement Matheckal Family Journal - A Reference Manual (1788-2013) has seen the light of the day due to the collective contribution of several persons who patronised by way of providing sources of data, update of data, clear cut guidelines and policies in formu- lating the purpose,content, historical perspectives to meet the contemporary needs of perpection-a pristine understanding to foresee the aspirational needs of the future gen- erations of the Mathackal families to enable them evolve an appropriate roadmap for themselves . A comprehensive data base of the Matheckal family and a family website is a reality today. -
Die Malankarische Katholische-Final.Pmd
Prof. Geevarghese Chediath (geboren 1945) ist G Priester der Diözese Pathanamthitta der Syro- . Chediath Malankarische Katholischen Kirche. Er hatte sein Theologiestudium am Apostolischen Priester- seminar St. Thomas, Kottayam, absolviert und wurde 1969 zum Priester geweiht. Danach wurde er Vize- Rektor an dem Kleinen Seminar St. Aloysius, Trivandrum. Er promovierte am Augustinianum in Rom. Er schrieb über die Christologie des Mar Babai des Großen (628). Er lehrte am Apostolischen Priesterseminar St. Thomas in Kottayam und war ein DIE MALANKARISCH-KATHOLISCHE KIRCHE Professor des Päpstlichen Orientalischen Instituts. Später wurde er residierender Professor an dem St. G. CHEDIATH Mary’s Malankara Priesterseminar, Nalanchira, Trivandrum. Er lehrte auch in anderen Institutionen. Er lehrte Patristik, Kirchengeschichte, Christologie und Ökumene. Er ist Mitglied des Pro Oriente Forum Syriacum in Wien. Er schrieb mehr als 100 Bücher und 150 Artikel. Er war auch ein katholisches Mitglied der Theologischen Kommission für den Dialog mit der Malankara Orthodox-Syrischen Kirche und mit der Jakobitisch Syrisch-Orthodoxen Kirche. Dieses Buch ist eine Darstellung und eine lebendige Skizze der Geschichte der Malankarisch- katholischen Kirche aus der Zeit der Apostel bis in die Gegenwart. O I R S I OIRSI-354 PUBLICATIONS Vadavathoor P.B. No. 10, Kottayam 1 DIE MALANKARISCH- KATHOLISCHE KIRCHE 2 3 G.Chediath DIE MALANKARISCH- KATHOLISCHE KIRCHE übersetzt in Deutsch von Renate Bigansky OIRSI No. 354 Kottayam 2012 4 5 G.Chediath, Die malankarisch- katholische Kirche, übersetzt in Deutsch von Renate Bigansky Verlag: Oriental Institute of Religious Studies, India Paurastya Vidyapitham,- . Vadavathoor, Kottayam-686010 Kerala, India. INHALT Einführung 7 1. Die Kirche der Thomas-Christen in Indien - Ihr apostolischer Ursprung 11 2. -
Ginu Zacharia Oommen
Gulf Migration, Social Remittances and Religion The Changing dynamics of Kerala Christians Ginu Zacharia Oommen Report Senior Fellowship Programme 2015 Published by:- India Centre for Migration Ministry of External Affairs Room No 1011, Akbar Bhavan, Yashwant Place, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110021 Phone : +91-11- 24675341 . Email– [email protected] Website: http://www.mea.gov.in/icm.htm 1 © India Centre for Migration, 2016 About India Centre for Migration (ICM) The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) set up the India Centre for Migration in 2008 with Cabinet approval as a ‘not for profit’ society, which serves as a re- search think-tank to the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India, on all matters re- lating to ‘International Migration’. The Centre is currently located in Akbar Bhavan, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. The Centre undertakes empirical, analytical and policy related research, and projects to document good practices, to support informed pol- icy making and enable strategic interventions for a coherent and harmonised re- sponse to the transnational movement of people from India. About Senior Fellowship Programme Under the Fellowship Program, India Centre for Migration (ICM) engage scholars, practitioners, academicians and policy makers from India working in the field of in- ternational migration, specifically international migration from India or related sub- jects that have a bearing on the discourse relating to the transnational movement of people. The Fellowship program provides the opportunity to carry out substantive policy research including analysis and providing inputs that are useful to the Minis- try of External Affairs (MEA). Correspondence should be addressed to:- India Centre for Migration Ministry of External Affairs Room No 1011, Akbar Bhavan, Yashwant Place, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110021 Phone : +91-11- 24675341 . -
The Malankara Catholic Church
Fr. Geevarghese Chediath (b. 1945) is G a priest of the Diocese of Pathanamthitta of . Chediath the Malankara Catholic Church. He had his Seminary Studies at the St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Kottayam and was ordinaed in 1969. He was Vice-Rector and later Rector at the St. Aloysius Minor Seminary, Trivandrum. He had his Doctoral Studies at Augustinianum, Rome. He wrote his Doctoral THE MALANKARA CATHOLIC CHURCH Dissertation on the Christology of Mar Babai G. CHEDIATH the Great (+628). He taught at the St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary Kottayam and at the St. Mary’s Malankara Major Seminary Trivandrum. He taught Patristics, Church History, Christology and Ecumenism. He is a member of the Pro-Oriente Syriac Commission, Vienna. He represented the Church at International Theological Dialouges. He has written more than 100 books. At present he is the Chancellor of the Diocese of Pathanamthitta. This books draws a vivid sktech of the History of the Malankara Catholic Church from the apostolic times till the present day. O I R S I OIRSI-366 PUBLICATIONS Vadavathoor P.B. No. 10, Kottayam 1 THE MALANKARA CATHOLIC CHURCH 2 3 G.Chediath THE MALANKARA CATHOLIC CHURCH Translated by A. J. Joy Angemadathil OIRSI No. 366 OIRSI No. Kottayam 2012 4 5 CONTENTS G.Chediath, The Malankara Catholic Church (Tr. by A. J. Joy Angemadathil) A Publication of the Oriental Institute of Religious Studies, India Paurastya Vidyapitham, Vadavathoor, Kottayam-686010 Kerala, India. Introduction 7 1. The Malankara Catholic Church-Its Apostolic Origin 9 2. St. Thomas the Apostle of India : Certain Historical Evidences 13 3. -
By a Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Canon Law Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirem
FINANCE OFFICER IN THE SYRO-MALABAR MAJOR ARCHIEPISCOPAL CHURCH by Matthew CHANGANKARY A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Canon Law Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Canon Law Ottawa, Canada Saint Paul University 2012 © Matthew Changankary, Ottawa, Canada, 2012 ABSTRACT The promulgation of the CCEO and the elevation of the Syro-Malabar Church sui iuris to the status of a major archiepiscopal Church, on 16 December 1992, are important milestones in the recent history of the Church. The new status of the Syro- Malabar Church necessitated a revised system of administration of its temporal goods. Previously the administration of ecclesiastical goods of the Syro-Malabar Church was ruled predominantly by the motu proprios Postquam apostolicis litteris, Cleri sanctitati, and customary law both at the eparchial and parish levels. In the present situation a new ecclesiastical office, that of the finance officer of the major archiepiscopal Church, was created. The thesis presents the office of finance officer and examines critically the canonical aspects of his/her status and duties. It analyzes the canons contained in CCEO related to temporal goods, as well as other universal and particular ecclesiastical norms. In particular, the sources include various synodal decrees, eparchial/diocesan statutes of the Syro-Malabar Church, and relevant particular laws of the respective major archiepiscopal Churches. Pertinent Indian civil laws are also considered in the context of the functions of the finance officer. The thesis provides a historical perspective of the financial administration of the Syro-Malabar Church, and then continues to situate the office of the finance officer in the organizational structure of the financial administration of the Syro-Malabar Church. -
Indian Protestants and Their Religious Others Views of Religious Diversity Among Christians in Bangalore
STUDIA MISSIONALIA SVECANA CXX Anita Yadala Suneson Indian Protestants and their Religious Others Views of Religious Diversity among Christians in Bangalore To my parents Dissertation presented at Uppsala University to be publicly examined in Sal IV, Universitetshuset, Biskopsgatan 3, Uppsala, Friday, 17 May 2019 at 10:15 for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Faculty of Theology). The examination will be conducted in English. Faculty examiner: Professor Chad Bauman (Butler University). Abstract Yadala Suneson, A. 2019. Indian Protestants and their Religious Others. Views of Religious Diversity among Christians in Bangalore. Studia Missionalia Svecana 120. 341 pp. Uppsala: Uppsala University. ISBN 978-91-506-2751-0. This study gives an in-depth insight into ways that ordinary Christians in a multireligious context think about religious plurality. It examines how Indian Protestants reflect upon other religions and upon the situation of religious diversity. Methodologically, the study relies mainly on qualitative interviews with Pentecostal and Church of South India (CSI) lay members and pastors from Bangalore, south India. The interviews are analysed through thematic analysis. The study reveals a theological diversity among interviewees. The major differences are found among the clergy, while the views of Pentecostal and CSI lay interviewees show many similarities. The dominant theological perspective is evangelical and this forms an “evangelical lens” that colours attitudes to other religions. Additionally, a general Protestant perspective emerges that reflects a typically Protestant emphasis on Christ and the Bible, as well as a liberal Protestant perspective which focuses on social issues. Salvation, primarily understood in terms of eternal life for the individual, is central to the ideas interviewees have about the difference between Protestant Christianity and other religions. -
The Syrian Christians of Kerala: Demographic and Socioeconomic Transition in the Twentieth Century
1 THE SYRIAN CHRISTIANS OF KERALA: DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC TRANSITION IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY K.C. Zachariah Working Paper No. 322 November 2001 2 THE SYRIAN CHRISTIANS OF KERALA: DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC TRANSITION IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY K. C. Zachariah Centre for Development Studies Thiruvananthapuram November 2001 3 ABSTRACT The twentieth century has witnessed a process of significant transition of the Syrian Christian community in Kerala in terms of its demographic and socio-economic status. In this paper, the transition of the demographic structure is discussed in terms of size, composition, geographic distribution and growth rates and the underlying factors of transition comprising fertility, mortality, and migration. Against this background, an attempt is made to present a set of projections of the population of the Syrian Christian community in Kerala till the year 2031. Discussion is made in a comparative setting; the corresponding changes that have come about in the other communities – Hindus, Muslims, and Latin Christians – are also examined. In the beginning of the 19th century (1801), the Syrian Christians were a small community of about 1 lakh people. Although their number increased eightfold during the century, by the end of the century (1900) they were in the very early stage of demographic transition. Women were a minority. Children constituted nearly half of the total population. The community was characterised by very high death rate, very high birth rate, very early age at marriage, and 10 to 12 children per married woman. The Syrian Christian women of that time had very little control over the number and timing of childbirth.