Saint Thomas Christian denominations. Malabar Independent Syrian Church. Mar Thoma Syrian , St. Thomas Evangelical. Christianity is India's third-largest religion with about 26 million adherents, making up 2. 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. According to the tradition of Saint Thomas Christians , Thomas the Apostle landed in Kodungallur in the present day Indian state of Kerala in AD 52, [ 4 ] and established the Ezharappallikal in or near ancient Jewish colonies [ 9 ] by preaching among local Jews and Brahmins.
Thomas Mount in Chennai in AD Another church tradition concerning the birth of Jesus holds that Gaspar , one of the three Biblical Magi , travelled from India to find the infant Jesus along with Melchior of Persia and Balthazar of Arabia. An early 3rd-century AD Syriac work known as the Acts of Thomas [ 78 ] connects the tradition of the Apostle Thomas' Indian ministry with two kings, one in the north and the other in the south.
The year of his arrival is widely disputed due to lack of credible records. The apostle's ministry reputedly resulted in many conversions throughout this northern kingdom, including the king and his brother.
The Acts of Thomas identifies his second mission in India with a kingdom ruled by a certain King named Mahadwa belonging to a 1st-century dynasty in southern India. The church was founded by St. Thomas in AD On his way from Kollam in the northeast direction, he arrived at Niranam "Thrikpapaleswaram" by sea. The church was reconstructed several times with some parts dating back to a reconstruction in The architecture of the church bears a striking similarity to ancient temple architecture.
Another ancient church is St. According to Saint Thomas christian tradition, the Syrian church was established between 52 and 54 AD by St Thomas , where he performed the first baptism in India. This church is therefore considered an Apostolic See credited to the apostolate of St.
