Kerala, the cradle of Christianity in South Asia - Part 2

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

[02kazak]

Respond to this video...

There is a difference between what evolved through thousands of years of contact with Hindus and the present age mega conversion activities/

[02kazak]

@madhuri1

There is nothing like that in Syriac Christianity. The ones u are talking about are simply conversion tricks in the north.

[moosl1984]

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

[ruthgladvin28]

This is a great documentary. My husband is from Kerala and this helps me understand church history in Kerala.

[Oreosforlunch]

Are any of these different churches of St. Thomas Christians in communion with each other? I know the Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara are in communion with each other (obviously). But of the rest, are any in communion with different authonomous churches?

[madhuri1]

nasranithomman, can you please tell me more about the hindu influence on Syrian Christianity in Kerala. There were some depictions in the video that weren't explained like Jesus Christ sitting in a medatative position, the bhajan sang about Jesus, etc Thank you

[nainachadha]

i know, its is very informative

[NawticJ]

Indian Christianity is sooo beautiful. Makes me so happy to know about it.