Mitteilungen zur Christlichen Archäologie 27, pp. 71-94, 2021/11/04
In 2019, a group of Viennese students visited India’s St. Thomas Christians. The places visited offer a view of the diverse state of Christianity in India today and of its complex historical development. The St. Thomas Christians trace their origins to the missionary activity of the Apostle Thomas himself, and to this day remain deeply connected with the Syrian liturgical tradition. A process of Latinization began with the arrival of the Portuguese in the 15th/16th centuries, which engendered resistance and gave rise to numerous divisions amongst the Indian Christians. Anglican missionaries also made their mark, so that there are today a number of discrete St. Thomas Christian Churches. It is clear that ecumenical dialogue is enlivened by personal contact and encounter, as well as scientific engagement; this study trip itself took a step in this direction.
Keywords: St. Thomas Christians, Apostle Thomas, India, Kerala, Syriac Liturgy, Latinization, Ecumenism, Christianity
