Introduction / History

The Syrian Christians in India are also called St. Thomas Christians. They are not vegetarians and rice is their main cereal. They are in several parts of India and they speak, read and write Malayam. They have ancestors from Syria.

The Syrian Christians in Kerala marry within their own group and do adult marriages through discussion. The bereaved are allowed to marry again. The women help in agriculture for example as well as doing the housework. There are birth and death pollution periods. The Protestants among them do baptisms by immersion under water. There are church councils that teach religion and look after the members. They have festivals. Boys and girls get educated. Family planning is used and so are traditional and modern medicines.

The Syrian Christians of Rajasthan speak Hindi and read and write in Devanagari. Sons inherit the property with the oldest son becoming in charge of the home. The bereaved can marry again. Children are baptized at twelve years of age. Marriage is done in a church. The dead are buried. The Syrians here work in private and government service. There is a committee that helps the community. They go to Orthodox churches. Males and females are educated and they use modern medicine.

The Syrian Christians of Tamil Nadu speak, read and write in Tamil. The bereaved can marry again. They work in business or in government service. They believe in education, family planning and in traditional and modern medicines.

Prayer Points

* Pray that the Syrian Christians will have the gospel message given to them so that instead of being nominal Christians they become born again.
* Pray for gospel materials to be given to them.

References

Singh, K. S., ed. "India's Communities A-Z", Oxford University Press, USA 1999