The Saint Thomas Christians and Their Catholic Communion in the Pre-Diamper Period
Keywords:
Saint Thomas Christians, Pre-Diamper PeriodAbstract
The Syro-Malabar Church in India is as old as Christianity itself. It
had its origin from the evangelizing ministry of St. Thomas, the Apostle
of India.1 The St. Thomas Christians (Syro-Malabar Church) of the
Pre-Diamper period remain as a perfect model of inculturation and
communion in the multi-religious context of Asia in general and India
in particular. Multi-cultural and ecclesial context of India is also taken
into account. Remaining in full Catholic communion and obedience
to the Roman Pontiff, they lived also a life of close communion with
the other religions and Churches. Placid Podipara qualified this
Church as “Indian in Culture, Christian in Religion and Oriental in
Worship.”
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