The Nazranies : Some Study Aid Materials

Major Articles in Vol.II of the St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India

Apostle Thomas in the Gospel . Faith and Character of St. Thomas . Mission and Life of St. Thomas in India

The Tomb of Mailapur . Excavations at S. Tome-Mylapore, February-April, 1970 . The Indian Apostolate of St. Thomas

Marco Polo's Account . Roads to India . Pilgrim Centres of Madras-Mylapore . Ancient Statue of St. Thomas

The Witness of St. Ephraem and Others . Did St. Thomas Really Come to India . The Acts of Thomas

Jewish Colonies of India Paved the Way for St. Thomas . The Faith and Communion of the Thomas Christians

The History of the Church in Kerala in the Pre-Portuguese Period . The Church in Kerala at the Coming of the Portuguese

The Sixteenth Century : Alliance with the Portuguese . Christians in Malabar in Dutch Times . The Dutch Period

History of St. Thomas Christianity in India to the Present Day . The Three Rites in Malabar . The Latin Rite in Kerala

The Origin of the Latin Christians of Kerala . The Mission and Life of St. Francis Xavier in South India

Early Jesuit Connections . The Re-Union Movement . A "Jewish-Christian" Community

The Knanaya Community of Kerala . The Syrian Orthodox Church

Introduction of the Antiochene Rite into the Malankara Church . Malankara Syrian Knanaya Christian Community

The Mar Thoma Church . The Malabar Independent Syrian Church, Anjoor . Church of the East

Early C.M.S. Missionaries . Inter-Church Movements in Kerala . Role of the Eastern Churches in Ecumenical Relations

The Society of St. Thomas (Christavashram) Manganam . An Ecumenical Attempt of the Eighties

Church Unity in Kerala : Some Historical Cultural Considerations . The Ecumenical Situation in Kerala Today

Mission of the Eastern Church in India . Hindu in Culture, Christian in Religion, Oriental in Worship

Feasts of the Thomas Christians . The Sacraments of the Malabar Church before 1400 A.D.

Syro-Malabar Liturgy Down the Centuries . Patriarchal Dignity for the Malabar Church

The Role of the Syro-Malabar Church in the field of Evangelisation . Malabar Christian Customs and Manners

Culture and Traditions of the Thomas Christians . Character and Life Style of Thomas Christians

Community traits of Thomas Christians . The Syrian Christian Women . The Thomas Christian Copper Plates

Thomas Christian Architecture . Kerala Church Architecture

The Cochin State Archaeological Research Reports on Kerala Christians . Malayalam Literature and Thomas Christians

Thomas Christians and Journalism . Malayalam language and Foreign Missionaries . Songs, Arts, Festivals of the Thomas Church

Kerala Christians in the Field of Social Service . The Mother of God Cathedral, Calicut

Pontifical Institute of Theology and Philosophy, Alwaye . Indianisation among the St. Thomas Christians of Kerala

Christian influences on Hinduism before the European Period . The Seven Churches of St. Thomas

Religions in Kerala . History of the Jews of Kerala . The People of Kerala . Adaptation and the Future of Indian Christianity

Some Major Articles in Vol.I of the T.En.

Origins of Christianity in India:The First Centuries . Armenians and other Eastern Christians in India across the Centuries

St. Francis Xavier . The Portuguese Padroado in India . Vicars Apostolic and Missions Under the Propaganda

The Vicariate of Malabar . [Articles in the chronological articles section]

The Basl Mission . Wynad . General Survey of Evangelisation in India

Formation for Evangelisation among the Thomas Christians . The Syro-Malabar Church : Prospects for Evangelisation

The Catholic Malankara Church and Evangelisation . [Articles on the Ecclesiastical Divisions] . [Atlas Pages]

Minor Articles in Vol. II of the T.En.

Descriptions of the Illustrations in T.En. Vol.II:

Relics of Apostle Thomas at Kodungalloor . The bronze Elephant Lamp of Kanjoor . Silver casket, Niranam . The Great Bell of Kuruvilangad . The pulpit in the St. Thomas Mount Church . The Niranam silver casket with the doors open . Lamp and oil receptacle in the Niranam Church . Wooden pulpit, Palai Cathedral . Iron Persian Cross which once formed the steeple cross at one of the earlier Niranam Churches . Artistic silver Processional Cross from Niranam, probably 16th C. . Eight -tongued 'Chirava', Kuruvilangad . Detail from baptismal font, Kaduthuruthy . Silver model, Marthamariam Church, Trichur . The Ramapuram Church and fortifications . 'Crucifixion', Chathankodam . The Ethiopian Cross, Cheppad . The well-known Thazhekkad or Avittathoor inscription . Old Quilon Church . Holy water font, Aruvithura, with inscriptions . Anceint Thazhikakkudam, Mylakombu Church . The oil-measuring jar presented by the King, Kanjirappilly Church . [ROCK WORK] : The huge open air granite crosses of Chengannoor and Niranam with intricate carvings . Kadamattom Church and baptismal font . First issue of The Deepika . Painting, `Death of the Apostle' from Parur . Imagery in plaster from outside the sanctuary, Kaduthuruthy . [FESTIVALS] : A view of the colourful Pooram festival of Trichur . Kathakali Veshangal or Costumes . A festival scene . Onam . Kathakali, the classical dance-drama . Chinese nets, Cochin . Boat jetty, Changanassery . A back-water scene, Alleppy . Prawns, Narakkal . Madonna by Ravivarma, Mannanam . [ANCIENT PAINTINGS] : Mother and Child, with SS Peter and Paul, Kudamaloor . Wall paintings from Paliekkara . Festival procession, Palliport . Festival fair, Parel . [SEMINARIES] : Marthoma Seminary, Thiruvalla . The St. Joseph's Pontifical University and seminary Mangalapuzha; and,Carmelgiri its philosophy wing . Dharmaram College, C.M.I. Seminary, Bangalore . Artist's-eye-view of the St. Thomas Missionary Institute, Palai . St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, VAdavathoor, Kottayam . The Priests' House, Kuruvilangad . A class in progress at the Orthodox theological College, Kottayam . Seminarians practising a difficult `Yoga' posture at Vadavathoor . A Patriarch visits the Vadavathoor Seminary . Founding of the C.M.I. Order, painting by Gama, Mannanam . Ordination of the first seminarians, painting by Gama, Mannanam . Thomas Christian bridegroom and bride . Wedding ornaments of the bridegroom and bride . Special baskets, stand and tray used at wedding ceremonies . Specimens of metal work in bronze and brass from a Christian house; and a church . Front door and baptismal font of Chengannoor Church ; and the Kothamangalam Church . Replica of a stone temple statue of Pallibana Perumal the first (?) Malabar Christian Emperor . The torch and sword of ancient Christian soldiers . Household utensils in bamboo and cane . Painting on carved wood, Ramapuram . [WOOD - WORK]: `Mother and Child', wood, Cheppad . `John the Baptist'?, wood, perhaps 500 years old . Kallada Ouppen of Kundra . Specimens of wood - work from the ceiling, Mylakombu Church . Kallooppara Church, an extant pre-Portuguese Kerala structure . Puthuppally Church . St. Thomas Mount Church, Madras . Belfry, Punnathra Church . Kottupura, Palai Cathedral . [PRESERVATION] : Granite flights of steps like this are common in churches and temples . The Malayattoor wall destroyed by a wild elephant . Peacocks, tigers, hunters, angels etc. are commonly depicted outside the sanctury along with the cross in many old churches . This is from the Paliekkara Church . Facade of one of the earlier churches at Kuruvilangad . [PROTECTION NEEDED] : This portion of the huge wall of the fort or Kotta still remains at Parur reminding us of the origins of the ancient Kottakkavu or Kottakkayal Church . The Angamaly Church wall and boundary stone . Plaster imagery, Edappilly . Malabar was from ancient times known as the land of black gold or pepper . Cashew fruit being separated from the nut . Coir-making . Muslim girl with ear of paddy . An elephant used to move a log . "Peter, Thou art Rock", a painting by S. Genevieve . "Arrival of St. Francis Xavier in India", S. Genevieve . Ceiling and tip of the altar, Kaduthuruthy . Ceiling, Palai Cathedral . Relics of St. Thomas, Palai Cathedral . Artistic altar piece, Palai Cathedral . Entrance to the Archbishop's house, Changanassery . [CHURCH IMAGERY] : Miraculous statue of St. Sebastian, Kanjoor . St. George and the dragon, rock, from Kanjoor . Artistic wooden statue of the miracle worker of Koratty . Beautiful mountain scene, near the Malayattoor shrine of St. Thomas . A lotus pond, Kattur . A much mutilated painting of Paramakkal Kathanar . Artistic wooden ceiling from the ancient Kudamaloor Church . Wooden cross, Malayattoor . Carved wooden door and granite door-post, Kanjoor . Window from Chennamangalam Church . Woodwork from a cot in the Parur Church . Wooden furniture from the room occupied by the saintly Chavara Kuriakose Elias . Bishop's throne, wood, from Palai Cathedral . [TOMBSTONES] : Tombstone of Gobernador Paramakkal Thomakathanar, Kanjoor . Altar stone, Mannanam . Tombstone of Alexander de Campo, Kuruvilangad . Tombstones with ancient inscriptions, Chowara . A leaf of palm from the journal kept by Chavara Kuriakose Elias . An order, now kept at the Palai Cathedral, in Alexander de Campo's handwriting . A letter of Sr. Alphonsa describing the favours she received through the intercession of Chavara Kuriakose Elias . Rock inscription from the Angamaly Orthodox Church with Malayalam transliteration . Rock inscriptions, Kanjoor Church . Rock inscription, Chennamangalam Church . Inscription on a zinc plate buried with the coffin of the saintly Chavara Kuriakose Elias . [CROSSES] : The Parur Persian Cross . Winged Cross of Kaduthuruthy . Granite Tombstone, Kaduthuruthy . Entrance; and the church of Udayamperur or Diamper . The Muttuchira tower and belfry with a leaning coconut palm in the foregound . An ancient church at Kunnamkulam under Paulose Mar Philexinos III of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church of Thozhiyoor . The Cochin Synagogue with its next-door neighbour the Cochin Hindu Temple . [CHURCHES] : Punnathra . Kuruvilangad . Kothamangalam Cathedral . Palayam, Trivandrum . Kidangoor . [ROCK WORK] : Rock font, Edappilly . Base of the rock-font . Archdeacon George, Angamaly . Death of Thomas, Mount Church . This painting, Mount Church, attributed to St. Luke is one of the most ancient paintings to be seen in the whole of India . The Crucifixion, Angamaly . Malabar girl with Veena . Kolattam, a popular dance among women . In the past Syrian Christian and Malayali Brahmin women used `Olakkuda's as `purdhas' . `Welcome', Malabar style with lamp, paddy and coconut `Pookula' . Kaikottikkali, a dance very popular during the Thiruvathira season . Tying the `Thali' is the most significant moment in a Christian or Namboori marriage . CUSTOMS] : Thomas Christian women when entering the church cover themselves completely except for their faces . `Fish!' A common sight in Cochin . Devotees do different types of penance during festivals. Crawling on the knees along the road to the Church or rolling to the Church are common in many areas . During festivals poor families are fed by Thomas Christians - the three guests represent Jesus, Mary and Joseph . Jesus and the Twelve sit at the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday . The ceremony of the washing of the feet . [RURAL OCCUPATIONS] : The outer covering of the coconut is beaten to separate the fibre, at Alleppy . Palm leaves of coconut tree being plaited to thatch houses . An old man making Baskets (Kotta), Muram, Thotti, Panambu, etc., near Angamaly . Vattis being made at Puthenvelikkara . Matmaking . Fishing, using small boats or valloms . Village fish-market . Paddy land being irrigated . Vallamkali (boat race) is popular during the Onam season . One family each of carpenters, blacksmiths, goldsmiths etc. worked for Nazraney families as part of the privileges . Kerala furniture and wood-work are internationally famous . The great forest wealth of Kerala won fame for the land even at the time of King Solomon and Nebuchadnezzar . A Scene from Chavittunatakam . St. George killing the dragon, scene from Chavittunatakam . Chapals used by priests inside the sanctuary . [FESTIVALS] : Parel (St. Mary) . Kodungalloor (St. Thomas) . The processional ship of Kuruvilangad . Mahe (St. Theresa) . [ALTARS] : Many Malabar churches have three altars as here . Koratty . Edappilly . Irinjalakuda . [ALTARS] : Preciously preserved wooden altar, Alangad . Wooden altar from Puthenpeedika . The old and the new altars of Chowara . Gold and silver work from statues in churches . Crowns of the bride and bridegroom . Wedding ornaments . The chalice of Kariattil . A bridal crown . Gold Cross, Edappilly . Persian Cross, Kadamattom . Gold Cross, Ramapuram . Altar, Chengannoor Orthodox church . Altar, Kottayam Old Seminary . St. George of Edappilly . Chalice, cross and ring of Kariattil . Ancient wooden statue, Mailacombu . St. Sebastian of Kanjoor . The Saint of Parumala . `Pathazham', Trichur . From the Cochin Synagogue . Carriage used by Bishops and Maharajas . From the Cochin Synagogue . Lamp from Chengannoor . [RUINS] : Remains of the mammoth Vaipincotta seminary . The 17th centuryry Dominican seminary at Kaduthuruthy . The Chowara temple rock lamp - stand damaged by Tippu's soldiers has been restored using iron bars to hold it erect . [CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE] : Rock baptismal font of Kudamaloor hidden under crude plasterwork . Many inscriptions, old and recent, have been broken up to pave the steps at the Punnathra Church . A rock baptismal font of old used today to collect rain water . This cross arm in rock came off the open-air cross of Angamaly . [RUINS] : Hindu Temple . The old Vykkom Church, today in ruins . A marble piece from Chennamangalam . The Old Parur Church with the Parur rock inscription and the Tombstone of bishop Roz . Rock lamp stand (Niranam), rock open air double-cross (Angamaly) and the single piece teak flag-staff (Parur) . The metal flag-staff and granite open-air cross in front of the Changanassery Cathedral . The altar at the St. Thomas Mount Church, Madras has on it two excellent paintings, the 'Mother and Child' attributed to St. Luke, and the `Death of the Apostle' . `Mother and Child', Kuruvilangad . `Mother and Child, with SS. Peter and Paul', ancient painting from Kudamaloor . `Doom', and `Hell' are two huge (about 600 sq. ft.) frescoes in beautiful colours at the Angamaly Orthodox Church, c. 1600 . Mural painting in bright colours, one of two, Kanjoor . Open air granite cross, metal flag-staff and facade of the Kudamaloor Church . Grantie double-cross and facade, Puthenchira . Granite open air cross, huge flight of granite steps, flag-staff and towers of the Kuruvilangad Church . [ROCK WORK] : Floral designs in rock, Kanjoor Cross-base . Rock gopuram, Kanjoor Church . Ancient rock baptismal font, Kanjoor . Baptismal font, rock, from Kaduthuruthy . A rock doorway, Kanjoor Church . Base of rock baptismal font, Kanjoor . Statue of St. Thomas, Malayattoor . The arrival of St. Thomas at Kodungalloor in 52 A.D. . St. Thomas in the court of Gondaphras . Conversion of the Namboodris (Brahmins) of Palayoor ( Parur church) . Wooden statue of Mary and Infant Jesus Niranam . Woodn statue of infant Jesus, Kaduthuruthy . [FACADES] : St. Stephen's Forane Church, Uzhavoor, 1631 . St. Mary's Forane Church, Kuruvilangad . St. Thomas Cathedral, Palai . [FACADE ]: The facade of the Kaduthuruthy Marthamariyam Forane Church . Detail from the Kaduthuruthy facade . The Bleeding Cross, granite, St. Thomas Mount, with Phalavi inscription, probably 8th century . The granite cross erected above the `Ponmala' (Malayattoor) in honour of the `Ponninkurusu Muthappan' (St. Thomas) . Rock carvings, base of the Kaduthuruthy open-air granite cross . Grantie base, Angamaly . The Changanassery rock cross, base . The Church Pond of Palayur . Our Lady of Bandra, Bombay . Typical ceiling of a Malabar Church of the 17th century . The Palayam Church and Mosque, Trivandrum . The Angamaly inscription . Old Church, Kunnamkulam . The open air cross and belfry, Muttuchira . The Ship of Kuruvilangad . Mural painting, Kanjoor church-gate . The wall of Chengannoor . Mural painting, Kanjoor church-gate . Painting from the church-wall, Pudukad . Vasco da Gama, from a Ms. . The Santhome Cathedral, Mylapore . Little Mount shrine, Saidapet, Madras

BACK