Kerala, the cradle of Christianity in South Asia - Part 1

The six million Christians in Kerala, on the southwest coast of India, follow a variety of liturgical and musical traditions some of which date back to the early Christian era. This film explores the historical embeddedness of these traditions that came about as a result of the region's commercial, cultural, and religious interactions with the Middle East, Europe, and America. The narrative follows the events that led to the introduction of the Chaldean, Antiochene, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and other liturgies along with the musical styles associated with them. Over the centuries, these styles have become an integral part of the musical mosaic of Kerala. A renewed attempt in the recent past to interpret Christianity in Indian terms has contributed to adaptations of semi-classical and bhajan styles of music into Christian worship. The film documents excerpts from the current practice of chants in East Syriac, West Syriac, Latin, Sanskrit, English, and Malayalam. The film also showcases a unique performance context in which Hindu instrumental ensembles share space in a church festival, indicating the extent of religious harmony that exists in the region; the festival includes several ritual elements that the Portuguese missionaries introduced in the sixteenth century. Drawing attention to the lesser known aspects of the religious, musical, and linguistic complexity of the region, the film presents Kerala as a potential field for inquiries in an emerging area of scholarship on Christian music in India.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Syrian
• Christians
• Kerala
• Orthodox
• rituals
• St.Thomas
• history
• tradition

[nainachadha]

I belong from India, but not from Christianity. But interested to know about Christianity (Roman Catholicism.)

[nasranithomman]

I am not a Catholic or Protestant Christian.Our head of the church is in Kerala

[nainachadha]

Very Informative!

[nasranithomman]

If you want to know in depth history of Indian Christianity,contact me

[pb182]

St xavier Francis, a Christian missionary witnessed and documented the death of the 5th Sikh guru, Guru Arjun dev ji!!

[AbunaMiguel]

Hello, thanks for this nice, interesting and very informative work. I'm an Anglican/Episcopal priest from Mexico (Fr Miguel Zavala+). Would you tell me which denomination are you. I know some MarThoma Church is in communion with us in the Anglican Communion. Thanks a lot, no matter which denomination, you're my brethren in Christ. M+

[graceinmay]

Thank you for making this video! I would love to hear more about the Church in India before the Portuguese came, what the worship and culture was like, and traditions.

[moosl1984]

Say God is One God Samad begets not and was not fun art

[Ozarkorthodox]

I enjoyed the video, though there seem to be some gaps in it. I attend an Orthodox church in the Ozarks, we have a family of Mar Toma ? Marlankara Christians that occasionally attend serices.