The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church was founded by St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of
Jesus
Christ, who came to India in A.D. 52.
At least from the fourth century the Indian Church entered into a close relationship with
the
Persian or East Syrian Church. From the Persians, the Indians inherited East Syrian language and
liturgies and gradually came to be known as Syrian Christians.
The Church entered into a new phase of its history by the establishment of the
Catholicate in
1912.At present the Church is using the West Syrian liturgy. The faith of the Church is that
which
was established by the three Ecumenical Councils of Nicea (A.D. 325), Constantinople (A.D. 381)
and
Ephesus (A.D. 431).
The Church is in communion with the other Oriental Orthodox Churches namely, Antiochene, Alexandrian, Armenian, Eritrean and Ethiopian Orthodox Churches. The Church is in good ecumenical relationship with the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches. At present the Church has over 2 million faithful with 24 dioceses all over the world.