About four million Syriac Christians living in the South Indian State of Kerala with important
diaspora in India and outside are following East or West Syriac liturgical traditions. They
are popularly known as St Thomas Christians as they are believed to have been evangelized by
the apostle Thomas. As these Christians were in intermittent relationship with the Syriac
Christianity in Mesopotamia since the early centuries they are also known as Syriac
Christians. At least since the sixth century perhaps fourth century they were following East
Syriac Liturgy. In the sixteenth century several East Syriac Prelates both Catholics and
non-Catholics introduced the East Syriac liturgy in its final form. Since the middle of the
sixteenth century nearly half of them are following the West Syriac liturgy. Their liturgical
practices provide examples of liturgical conservatism and radical reforms. Now the liturgical
texts have been translated into Malayalam language of Kerala and English Hindi or other
regional language for the use of the diaspora. However Syriac is used by several clergy.
Syro-Malabar liturgy is a highly latinised form of East Syriac liturgy followed in the
Eastern-Catholic community. Malankara Orthodox Church follows the liturgical rites of the
Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch. History of the Marthoma liturgy a reformed version of the
West Syriac liturgy and used by the Reformed group is presented here for the first time for
the students of Syriac Christianity and liturgy.
