International Orthodox Christian Articles

St.Thomas Christians of India

The St.Thomas Christians of India are amongst the world's most antiquitous , ancient Christian communities--next to only the Christians in Jerusalem and Antioch.

Marthoma Sleeha(St.Thomas) reached India in AD 52,keep in mind that even St.Peter reached Rome only in AD 64.MarthomaSleeha was martyred at Mylapore, TN and is the Apostle of India and Persia.The St.Thomas Christians of India are said to be "Hindu in Culture, Christian in Religion and Hebrew-Syriac in Worship.The major St.Thomas Christian churches in India today are:(they broke into so many denominations after the European Catholics, British Anglicans, other protestants etc came):

1)Malankara Syriac Jacobite Orthodox Church.(Syriac Orthodox)--7,00,000 members
2)Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. (Indian Orthodox)---18,00,000 " "

The above are the two oriental orthodox churches of India. Together they form 2.5 million believers. They are at present in court litigations with each other. The former wants antiochean administration in India.
While the latter accepts the Catholicos the East, successor of the Throne of St.Thomas in India, and is self-ruled, autnomous. But yet accepts the Patriarch of Antioch in theory as the supreme spiritual father.

3) Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church. (Reformed Orthodox-anglican)--4,00,000
4)Malankara Syrian Catholic Church.(eastern catholic rite)--2,50,000
5)Syro-malabar Catholic Church.(eastern catholic rite)---- 1.5 million
6)Assyrian Church of the East.(old persian church-nestorian).--30,000

All these churches have most of their churches based in Kerala, thats where Marthoma Sleeha landed in India.(in a jewish trading vessel)
The speciality of the St.Thomas Christians is that they are unique synthesis of Jewish-Hindu-Syriac Cultures. It was said their churches resemble Jewish Synagogues and Hindu Temples.Their traditions, culture, costumes, food delicacies etc are influenced by the best of West Asian and South Indian Brahmin and Dravidian Traditions.

Adithi devo bhava

Adithi Devo Bhava ie,the guest is to be treated like God--hindu scriptures
The ancient Christians of India were showered special privileges, honours, titles etc by the Hindu Kings, they were never persecuted. Kings of Thrissur(kerala) ,like Shaktan Thampuran even built churches for the St.Thomas Christians.
(of 144 countries that the Jews went ,they were persecuted in all 143 nations, except in India)The St.Thomas Christians were even afforded high caste status, since most early converts were Brahmins, and to this day many carry brahmin family names.
Until 1800s,high priests in the Malankara Orthodox Church came predominantly the Pakalomattam family.The four legendary brahmin families that St.Thomas converted were Kalli, Kaaliyaankal, Pakalomattom and Shankarapuri.It is recorded by a Jesuit missionary who visited a St.Thomas church in kerala in the 16th century that he was frightened to see the believers carrying their weapons inside the church .Because many St.Thomas Christians were warriors who always carried weapons with them.Around 6th century,a group of Persian jewish christian families,under the leadership of KnaiThomman,a trader fled to Kerala, fearing persecution against Christians in their homeland.They were welcomed by the Hindu Kings,they were given a "chepped"(titles and privileges engraved).They were given land, and settled by the King.The group of families who came that day today form a small church today in kerala--The Knanayas.(after the name "knai").They form upto 2,00,000 members and marry only within themselves. The Knanayas belong to two churches--Orthodox and Catholic--but as a distinct group/rite within the Church.

Koonan Cross Rebellion--1653.

Prior to portuguese arrival,all indian christian were either nestorian or oriental orthodox.

In 1653,after about 50 years of Roman atrocities and domination--the murder of the syrian bishop was the boiling point reached. They had captured Ahatallah, a Syrian bishop from Antioch on his way to India and had him tortured to death in the Goan Inquisition Chambers. Then they abandoned his body in the sea.The enraged St.Thomas christians gathered in a place called Mattancherry and rioted--about 25,000 of them.They destroyed the portuguese gateway arch to India.Then they assembled under a Cross and took the legendary Oath---"neither us nor our descendants will have anything to do with the roman papa or the roman church!".Only 400 families abstained from the oath. Their descendants along with later converts form the Syro-malabar catholic church--an eastern catholic rite. They worshipped in east syriac liturgy.Then the romans changed it into an east syriac translation of the roman liturgy.
And now they completely use 'malayalam'-the local language in liturgy,with no traces of syriac.

The descendants of those who took part in the Oath form the Malankara Orthodox Syrian(Indian Orthodox) and the Malankara Syrian Jacobite Churches(Syriac Orthodox).
Until late 1800s,they used complete West Syriac in worship. The liturgy was transalated to malayalam then and today the worship is predominantly in malayalam with some traces of syriac.

Kevin

When the renaissance period drew in Europe it was the slogan that man should be governed by his conscience that was gaining ground. The protestants made sure that it was appropriated as a slogan for reform and hence the denial of saints. However in the Catholic Church St.George’s legacy was at the receiving end of reason. They said that it is known that there cannot be an animal of such mythical proportions and the portrayal of the saint as killing the dragon was an inappropriate way of assigning sainthood. So they logically reduced the understanding to the extend that since the creature did not exist so the saint was a creation but not to be denied hence he was reduced to the state of a minor saint in Catholicism. However, ancient Libya at the time of the Romans was a place was the remnants of the pagan religion of the Nile delta were prevalent. There is a possibility that this religion did hold strong in Libya under its vassal king. My understanding is that the Nile crocodile or a salt water crocodile might have been used in the city's ponds to supplement the religion that must have been on the basis of a crocodilian God. St George rescued a princess that was meant for this Crocodilian God through giving her as human sacrifice to the crocodile. Ancient world saw these creatures as dragons and were not classified. St George killed the crocodile and rescued the victim and proclaimed Christianity in that region. Hence he is not a minor saint but a major one and it is the naming of the creature and understanding of the incident that could have triggered the anti St George wave. But there are further miraculous stories of the saint that must have been overlooked by his critics. [Citation needed]

Beyond all criticisms St. George the Great Martyr still remains one of the greatest Christian Saints of all time.

Recently Vatican declared that ‘Roman Catholic Church is the only true Christian church in the world. This has deeply hurted all Christians around the world especially the Orthodox Christians who uphold the true apostolic faith. It must be understood that the Roman Catholic Church was created in the year in 1054, when the Pope of Rome broke way from the other four Apostolic Sees (Patriarchates) which were namely Jerusalem, Alexandria, Constantinople and Antioch. The Orthodox Church has been constituted by the Apostles of Jesus Christ.

It is to be keenly observed that the Bishop of Rome was addressed by the name Patriarch. The term ‘Pope’ was introduced only in the middle of 5^th century A.D. This is accepted by all historians and it is the truth. The Roman Catholic Church is nothing but a sum total of colonial and imperial domination. Even there is no proper evidence in the history to prove that St.Peter was the first Pope. Except the Orthodox Christian Church all other Christian churches and denominations were created by individual initiatives, which will be clear from the below description.

Now Lets look how old is the orthodox Christian Faith

Orthodox Christian Faith and Its Age

(By Priest Dr. Miltiades Efthimiou - www.thvoiceoforthodoxy.com)

• If you are a Lutheran, your religion was founded by Martin Luther, an ex-monk of the Roman Catholic Church, in the year 1517.
• If you belong to the Church of England, your religion was founded by King Henry VIII in the year 1534 because the Pope would not grant him a divorce with the right to remarry.
• If you are a Presbyterian, your religion was founded by John Knox in Scotland in the year 1560.
• If you are a Congregationalist, your religion was originated by Robert Brown in Holland in 1582.
• If you are a Protestant Episcopalian, your religion was an offshoot of the Church of England, founded by Samuel Seabury, in the American colonies in the 17th century.
• If you are a Baptist, you owe the tenets of religion to John Smyth, who launched it in Amsterdam in 1606.
• If you are of the Dutch Reformed Church, you recognize Michelis Jones as founder because he originated your religion in New York in 1628.
• If you are a Methodist, your religion was founded by John and Charles Wesley in England in 1774.
• If you are a Mormon (Latter Day Saints), Joseph Smith started your religion in Palmyra, New York in 1829.
• If you worship with the Salvation Army, your sect began with William Booth in London in 1865.
• If you are a Christian Scientist, you look to 1879 as the year in which your religion was founded by Mary Baker Eddy.
• If you belong to one of the religious sects known as “Church of the Nazarene”, “Pentecostal Gospel”, “Holiness Church,”, or “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” your religion is one of the hundreds of new sects founded by men within the past hundred years.
• If you are a Roman Catholic, your church shared the same rich apostolic and doctrinal heritage as the Orthodox Church for the first thousand years of its history since during the first millennium they were one and the same Church. Lamentably, in 1054, the Pope of Rome broke way from the other four Apostolic Sees (Patriarchates), by tampering with the original Creed of the Church, and considering himself to be the universal pastor over other Sees and infallible.
• If you are a Uniate Roman Catholic of any Eastern Rites, you had your roots in the Orthodox Church, but were forced into the Roman Catholic Church, either by financial hardship, or regional political/ecclesiastical unrest (e.g. Malankara Syrian Catholics), or by western colonialization (e.g.: Syro-Malabar Rite), or by military strength.
• And finally, If you are an Orthodox Christian, you religion was founded in the year 33 by Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It has not changed since that time. Our Church is now almost 2000 years old. And it is for this reason, that Orthodoxy, the Church of the Apostles and the Fathers is considered the true “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.”

It is to be clearly understood by the Orthodox Christians that our church holds the true apostolic teachings and values. It is only The Holy Orthodox Church offers 2,000 years of unbroken true Christian faith, teachings, doctrines and values from Christ and His apostles. This is the greatest legacy we can pass on to the young people of the new millennium! Be proud to be an Orthodox Christian, be proud to uphold the true Christian faith.

George Alexander

Orthodox Faith is the true Apostolic Christian faith which has got two thousand years of unbroken Christianity. The Orthodox Church has not violated the holy teachings of Jesus Christ and his Apostles. The Orthodox Churches have been established by Different Apostles in different nations and regions. Hence the growth of Orthodox churches was regional in nature. But now all Orthodox Churches are international Churches will large membership of people around the world. Though they believe the same doctrines, faith and Apostolic teaching, the Orthodox Churches have failed to establish a common International platform. There has been a lot of discussion going on behalf of the unity of Orthodox churches, but it has not brought out any effect of lasting unity.

Various authentic studies and reports say that Orthodox Christianity is the fastest growing faith in the world. Many Catholic and Protestant believers are finding Orthodoxy as their true Christian faith. Many people with their family who earlier practised Catholicism or Protestantism are now members of the Orthodox Church. These are not forceful conversion providing money or any charismatic subjugation, but people willingly accept Orthodox Christianity as the true apostolic faith. Orthodox Christian faith is experiencing fats growth in Russia, America, and Latin America, in Europe and even in China. This is not a forceful conversion or by providing amenities as the catholic or protestant churches do, but people around the world is now accepting orthodoxy as the true Christian faith and that too on a voluntary basis. It is said that if an authentic research is carried out to find out the true Christian faith one will end up in Orthodoxy Christianity. It must be understood by our people that Orthodoxy is not a mere Christian faith, but it’s an experience as well as a way of life. It is also believed that Orthodox Christians will become the largest Christian group in the world, in near future.

There have been a lot of efforts going through out the world to unify both the eastern and oriental orthodox churches. Each Orthodox Church as well as Each Orthodox Christian must analyse what contributions they have made till this day for the unification of the Orthodox Christian family! What contribution have we made and is that all enough? We must be able to perceive and accept the Orthodox Church as one single church but at the same time we must recognise uphold and accept the independent nature of each Orthodox Church.

Most of the Orthodox Churches are members of World Church Council which is more protestant in nature. How can we ignore our family members to shake hand with a distant family? There must be a base for the unity of Orthodox Christians. As part of it annual Orthodox Christian Conferences must be arranged. This must be aimed at sharing the doctrines, faith, apostolic teachings, problems, issues of Orthodox Churches around the world. This is not to bring any small church under the captivity of big church, but to reinstate we are one and the same. What we require is to have a strong relationship between the Orthodox Christian Family. Is the Orthodox Christian Unity still a distant dream that will never come true? Lets all unite ourselves to work together for the unity of our family.

George Alexander
www.theorthodoxchurch.info

The Orthodox Church believes every child receives from God a Guardian Angel.

The Lord Jesus Christ said: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you, their angels in heaven always behold the face of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:10).

The Blessed Augustine writes, "The angels, with great concern, and with untiring eagerness, reside with us at every hour and in every place. They help us, they foresee our needs, serve as mediators between God and ourselves, lifting up to Him our groans and sighs … Accompanying us in all our travels, they go in and out with us, attentively watching if we deport ourselves with piety and honor among the evil species, and with what effort do we seek the Kingdom of God." A similar thought is expressed by Basil the Great, "With every believer there is an angel, which, as a child's leader and pastor, directs his life." And in confirmation of this he quotes the Psalm that says about God that "He commands His angels regarding you to guard you in all your paths … The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them" (Psalm 91:11, 34:7). Bishop Theophan the Recluse instructs in one of his letters, "We must remember that we have a Guardian Angel and turn to him in our thoughts and heart. This is good during peaceful times and especially so during turmoil. When such contact with the angel is missing, he has no means of influencing us. For example, if one approaches quicksand or an abyss, and has plugged his ears and closed his eyes, how can anyone help him?"

Thus should a Christian remember his good angel, who for the span of all his life concerns himself with him, rejoicing in his spiritual achievements, and grieves over his downfalls.
When a person dies, the angel takes his soul to God.
Having found itself in the spirit world, according to many accounts, the soul recognizes its Guardian Angel.

The Orthodox Church believes that every person has his own Guardian Angel, unless he has driven him away by an evil life.

In the Symbol of Faith we find the following words: "I believe in One God . . . the Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible."

The invisible, angelic world was created by God before the visible world. "When the stars were made, all My angels praised Me with a loud voice" (Job 38:7).

When Adam was expelled from paradise after his fall, one of the cherubim with a flaming sword was set to guard the gates of Eden (Gen. 3:24). When Abraham sent his servant to Nahor, he encouraged him by telling him that the Lord would send His angel before him and prosper his way (Gen. 24: 7, 40). Jacob saw angels both in a dream—the vision of the ladder—and when awake—when returning home to Esau he saw a host of the angels of God. In the Psalter there are constant references to angels, and we also read of them in the Book of Job and the prophets. The Prophet Isaiah saw the seraphim surrounding the throne of God, and the Prophet Ezekiel saw cherubim in his vision of the Temple of God (Is. 6:1-7, Ezek. 10:1-22.)

Mar Chrysostom writes: "There are in truth other powers, whose names even are unknown to us. Not only angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, authorities and powers inhabit the heavens, but there are innumerable other kinds and an unimaginable multitude of classes, which no words can be adequate to express.

"The angel of the Lord will encamp round about them that fear Him, and will deliver them (Ps. 33:7).

No evils shall come nigh thee, and no scourge shall come nigh unto thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. On their hands shall they bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone (Ps. 90:10-12).

Bless the Lord, he His angels, mighty in strength, that perform His word, to hear the voice of His words (Ps. 103:20).

By the above words the Psalmist confirms the common belief that angels protect and help both nations and individuals.

In ancient times, Michael the Archangel was considered as the guardian angel of the people of Israel.
Joshua saw him at Jericho, and heard him saying that he was the captain of the Lord's host (Joshua 5:14-15).
And to Daniel, the Archangel Gabriel spoke of the Archangel Michael, saying: At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people (Dan. 12:1). The Apostle Jude writes of Michael the Archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the holy of Moses (Jude 9). As guardian of the people, he was also the guardian even of the dead body of their leader Moses.

The Fathers of the Church taught that there are guardian angels of nations, countries, churches, as well as of individuals (Rev. 2). Yea, even of elements, stars and planets.

In Orthodoxy, by prayer, an angel is specifically assigned to your life as part of the rite of Baptism.

The Lord Jesus Christ said: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you, their angels in heaven always behold the face of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:10).

Whom Christ loves, His angels love too. He loved children, and ordered His angels to be their guardians.

He even identified Himself with little children saying: Whoso shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth Me (Matt. 18:5). He threatened terribly those who mislead, scandalize and cause children to sin. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea (Matt. 18:6). He also said: Suffer little children to come unto Me for of such is the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 19:14). (This is the very foundation of Chrsitian education, that is, to let children come unto Christ).
This is the reason the angels love and protect children.

excerpt from:

http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2007/01/13/prayer-to-my-guardian-angel-and-some-other-thoughts/

"I do not really understand the objections that Protestants have to such prayers. I’m told “there is only one mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus.”
Well, of course!!

But that sense of mediation is a meaning of the word that Christ alone could perform. No angel, no other creature can unite me to God. Only God become man is able to unite man to God."

But we’re talking about prayer, not union, per se.
Can someone else pray for me? I hope so and the last time I checked, even Protestants are allowed to pray for me (please do).

Can angels pray for me (yes they can and they do). Is it wrong to ask them to do so or thank them for it (certainly not). Can saints in heaven pray for me (the Bible says they do). Is it wrong to ask them (Holy Tradition says it is not).
In the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the Rich Man prays to “Father Abraham” to intercede with Lazarus for him. It is of no use in his case, but he was not rebuked for speaking to Abraham. Being told “No,” and being rebuked for even having the conversation are two very different things.

God is the “Lord of Hosts.” He is always surrounded by such a cloud of Angels, saints, etc. He cannot be approached “alone.” This great company of witnesses, as the book of Hebrews calls them, bears witness to my prayers before God, and hopefully improves greatly upon them.
I just know that part of the joy of being an Orthodox Christian is the fact that prayer is never a lonely thing .

a)"The King of Heaven, Whom Hosts of Angels praise, let us praise and exalt throughout all ages.
Holy Angel, my Guardian, pray for me."

b)"Holy Angel, my Guardian, pray for me.
O radiant light, make radiant my soul, my Guide and Guardian Angel, given me by God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
Keep me awake who sleep from the burden of my sins, O Angel of God, and by thy prayers raise me up to glorify Him. "
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

c)O Angel of Christ, holy guardian and protector of my soul and body, forgive me of everything I have done to offend you every day, and protect me from all influence and temptation of the evil one. May I never offend God by my sin. Pray for me to the Lord, that He may make me worthy of the grace of the All-holy Trinity, and of the Most Blessed Theotokos, and of all the Saints. Amen.

d)To the blessed Theotokos to pray with our angel:

Theotokion: "Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, who gavest birth without seed to the Lord of all, pray Him with my Guardian Angel to deliver me from all doubt, and to give to my soul feeling and light, and to cleanse me from sin, for thou alone art a quick defender."

e)"O Holy Archangels and Angels,
Pray to God for us sinners.!"

Compiled by Kevin[contributing editors/theorthodoxchurch.info]

(1) It is the Oldest Christian faith that has remained unchanged thousand years.

Oriental Orthodox accepts the First 3 Ecumenical councils, while the Eastern Orthodox accepts the first Seven. Our faith will never violate the principle of these first 7. We Orthodox Christians believe the same doctrines and are one and the same.

On the other hand,. The catholic religion keeps changing---they introduced new concepts such as the Immaculate Conception of Mary .And has about 21 ecumenical councils done according to their whims and wishes...and other heresies as late as the 1800s!

The protestants are people who became disgruntled by catholic heresies, decay and non-christian ways. But they in their eagerness to shun everything catholic have also done away with Saints, Apostolic continuity, Holy Qurbana (liturgy) etc...Which are integral to true Apostolic ancient Christianity.


(2) ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY WAS/IS NOT A TOOL of IMPERIALISM

Both Catholicism and Protestantism was/is used by the west to spread their imperial influence and culture.


(3) ORTHODOXY DOES NOT IMPOSE FOREIGN CULTURES.

Everywhere the Orthodox Churches are National churches and they have customs and practices indigenous to their Mother Country.

While Catholicism brings with it Roman traditions, customs, architecture, culture etc...Similarly protestantism brings with it an appeal for Westernism and denial of local cultures as something evil/pagan.


(4) Orthodoxy teaches to respect authority.

Nowhere in the world has an Orthodox Christian minority anywhere tried to secede from their Mother Country in the name of Religion. Even in Egypt, the Coptic orthodox who are persecuted by the 90% Muslim majority, they remain staunch nationalists.

While in India, Catholic Goa was a part of Portugal until late 1950s, the North East Protestant Christians harbor a feeling of secession and separatism from India.

(5) ORTHODOX CHURCH has the most perfect, unblemished, unchanged ChristianTheology.

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