Introduction
Whenever I introduced myself as a Catholic priest from India, many Americans asked me questions like: "Do you have many Christians in India?" "Is not India a Hindu country?" "When did Christianity come to India?" "When did you get converted to Catholicism?" "Are your parents Catholics?" Some were surprised to hear the fact that India is not a Hindu country but the largest secular democratic country in the world with religious freedom, and that there are many Muslims and Christians in India. Some were spellbound when I said, in teasing, that Christianity came to India long before America was found out, and even before many European countries became Christian. Many people in the West are misinformed that Christianity in India is a European contribution. However, in fact, Christianity in India is as old as Christianity itself, and it was brought to India by a disciple of Christ himself. The people who know about the early Church in India have other questions: "How can the apostle Thomas come to India when there were not much transportation facilities?" "Was this Church Catholic?" Well, this web site is to help you with some information concerning the origin and development of Christianity in India.
Catholicism of the Thomas Christians
Nestorianism and Monophysitism
European Missionaries and the Latin Church in India
Western Influence on Thomas Christians
Syro-Malabar Liturgy (A Book Review)
23 Autonomous Catholic Churches in the World
*[This work is based on the study I have made on the works of eminent historians (Catholics and non-Catholics) like Placid J. Podipara, A. Mathias Mundadan, L.W. Brown, S. Neill, Eugene Tisserant, A.E. Medlycott, George Menacherry, Xavier Koodapuzha and J. Thekkedath. Works of Joseph Koikakudy, K.L. Bernard, Andrews Thazhath, Francis Kanichikattil, Kurian Vanchipurackal, George Nedungatt, A. Pushparajan, A.K. Thomas, M.V. George, P. Cheriayan, J. Massey, Joseph Kottukappally, T.P. Abraham and several others are also made use of for this work.]