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according to tradition, their nucleus was formed by the apostle St.
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Thomas.
3.3.3.1 The Socio-political life

The Malabarians have been admirably tolerant in their attitude
towards religious faiths. The Christians of St. Thomas, therefore, had no
problem in finding peaceful co-existence with the Hindu majority, or with
other religious minorities such as Jews, Buddhists and Muslims. They did
refrain from pursuing any aggressive evangelizing policy that might have
upset the established social fabric of the people. Instead, they preserved
themselves as a powerful and influential community in the body politic. In
order to keep their high status in the society, they continued to perform most
of the social rites and ceremonies in connection with the important events in
life, such as birth, first feeding of the baby, beginning and ending of
education, puberty, marriage, death, funeral, memorials of the dead; all
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these, of course, with some Christian and Biblical interpretations.
Similarly, in other social matters such as commensality, signs of showing
respect or deference, titles of addressing and being addressed, selection of
foods and beverages, dress, ornaments, decorations, celebrations of
festivals, building of houses and churches, the St. Thomas Christians used to
observe regulations, customs, symbols and styles which were similar to
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those observed by their Hindu brethren.
These two (Chaldean and Indian) cultural influences ought to be kept
in mind when analysing the traditions of the Christian family in the Syro-
Malabar Church. For this study the Archdiocese of Kottayam was chosen
not only because it is one of the ancient dioceses of the Syro-Malabar
Church, but also because it has a strong Jewish cultural and ceremonial
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background. This Jewish background also has some more particular
customs and practices; a few of them are also kept by the entire Syro-
Malabar Church and will be referenced where appropriate.

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Cf. PAYNGOT, C., “The Syro-Malabar Marriage”, in GIUSTINO FARNEDI (ed.), La
Celebrazione Cristiana del Matrimonio: Simboli e Testi, Pont. Ateneo S. Anselmo, Roma,
1986, p. 263.
33 Cf. KOLLAPARAMBIL, J., The St. Thomas Christians’ Revolution in 1653, The
Catholic Bishop’s House, Kottayam, 1981, pp. 3-4.
34 Cf. THAZHATH, A., The Juridical Sources of the Syro-Malabar Church, Kottayam,
1987, pp. 23-63.
35 Cf. VELLIAN, J., “Marriage Customs of the Kinanites”, in J. VELLIAN (ed.), Crown,
Veil, Cross, Syrian Church Series Vol. XV, Kottayam, 1990, p. 25.

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