Christianity in India
Christianity is India's third-largest religion with about 26 million adherents, making up 2.3 percent of the population as of the 2011 census.[1] The written records of Saint Thomas Christians mention that Christianity was introduced to the Indian subcontinent by Thomas the Apostle, who sailed to the Malabar region (present-day Kerala) in 52 AD.[3][4][5][6]
The Acts of Thomas say that the early Christians were Malabar Jews who had settled in what is present-day Kerala before the birth of Christ.[7][8] St Thomas, an Aramaic-speaking Jew[9][10] from Galilee (present-day Israel) and one of the disciples of Jesus Christ, came to India[11] in search of Indian Jews.[8][12] After years of evangelism, Thomas was martyred and then buried at St Thomas Mount, in the Mylapore neighbourhood of Madras (Chennai).[3] There is the scholarly consensus that a Christian community had firmly established in the Malabar region by 600 AD at the latest; the community was composed of Nestorians belonging to the Church of the East in India that used the East Syriac Rite of worship.[13]
Following the discovery of a sea route to India by the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama in the 15th century AD, Western Christianity was established in the European colonies of Goa, Tranquebar, Bombay, Madras & Pondicherry; as in Catholicism (of Latin and Syriac Rites) and various forms of Protestantism.[14] Conversions also took place through the Goan Inquisition, with the oppression of Hindus & the destruction of mandirs.[15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Christian missionaries introduced the western educational system to the Indian subcontinent, to preach Christianity & campaign for Hindu social reforms.[22][23][24][25][26][27]
The oldest known Christian group in North India are those of Bettiah, Bihar, formed in the early 1700s.[28][29]
The Church of North India and the Church of South India are a United Protestant denomination, which resulted from the evangelism and ecumenism of Anglicans, Calvinists, Methodists and other Indian Protestants who flourished in colonial India. Consequently, these churches are part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, World Communion of Reformed Churches and World Methodist Council.[30][31][32][33][34] Christianity is the largest religion in parts of Northeast India, specifically in Nagaland, Mizoram, and Meghalaya.[35] It also is a significant religion in Arunachal, where about 30 percent of the state is Christian.[36]
Christians were involved in the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Indian independence movement. The All India Conference of Indian Christians advocated for swaraj (self rule) and opposed the partition of India.[37][38][39] Along with native Christians, small numbers of mixed Eurasian peoples such as Anglo-Indians, Luso-Indians & Armenian Indians also existed in the subcontinent. There are also reports of crypto-Christians who keep their faith in secret or hiding, due to the fear of persecution by Hindu extremists.[40][41][42][43][44][45][46] Some Christians have gone through forced conversion to Hinduism by political parties, such as Shiv Sena, the VHP & the BJP.[47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54]
Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, in Muziris present-day Kodungaloor, is believed to be the first Christian church built in India, circa 52 A. D.
Stained glass window of Saint Thomas the Apostle, the traditional founder of Indian Christianity, in his namesake St. Thomas CNI church, the 300 year old Cathedral of Mumbai[71]
![Stained glass window of Saint Thomas the Apostle, the traditional founder of Indian Christianity, in his namesake St. Thomas CNI church, the 300 year old Cathedral of Mumbai[71]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/St.Thomas_Cathedral_-_Mumbai.jpg/200px-St.Thomas_Cathedral_-_Mumbai.jpg)
Altar of the St. Mary's Church in Kottayam flanked by two Saint Thomas crosses from the 7th century AD on either side. The crosses pre-date the church which was built in 1550 AD.
St. Mary's Thiruvithamcode Arappally of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in Kanniyakumari,Tamil Nadu is believed to have been founded by St. Thomas the Apostle in 63 AD.
Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church at Arakuzha, Kerala is an ancient Nasrani church established in 999 AD.
St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Parumala, the shrine of St Geevargeese Mar Gregorios, an Oriental Orthodox Saint, in Kerala.
Tomb of the Saint Moran Mor Ignatius Elias Third (the only Universal Syrian Orthodox Patriarch to be buried in India) at Manjinikara, Kerala.
There are a large number of items of artistic and architectural significance in the religious and domestic life of Indian Christians.[157] Altars, statues, pulpits, crosses, bells and belfries of churches along with other household items are among the many things that form part of the sacred art of the Indian Christians.[157]
The following artistic elements predate European Christianity and form an integral part of the religious art and architecture of the Saint Thomas Christians:
After the arrival of Vasco da Gama and more especially after the commencement of Portuguese rule in India, distinct patterns of Christian art developed within the areas of Portuguese influence, mostly along the coasts of the peninsula. The Portuguese commissioned monumental buildings and promoted architecture more than any other form of fine art. St. Francis Church, Kochi is the first European place of worship in India and incidentally also the place where Vasco da Gama was first buried. The Christian art of Goa reached its climax in church building, laying the foundations of Indian Baroque.[157]
Indian Christian architecture during the British Raj has expanded into several different styles as a result of extensive church building in different parts of the country. The style that was most patronised is generally referred to as the British Regency style followed by Neo-Gothic and Gothic Revival architecture.[158] Most Protestant cathedrals and churches in India conform to the Neo-Gothic and Gothic Revival architecture styles. The adaptation of European architectural elements to the tropical climate in India has resulted in the creation of the Indo-Gothic style.[159] St. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata is a typical example of this style. St. Mary's church, Chennai, the first Anglican Church built east of the Suez is one of the first examples of British colonial architecture in India.[160] French and Danish influences on Christian art and architecture in India can be seen in their respective colonies.[161]
Kerala Christians have a unique tradition of photographing funerals.[172]