Apostolic Tradition
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church was founded by St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, who came to India in A.D. 52. Our church is built on this direct apostolic foundation and the unbroken lineage of faith passed down through generations.
Our Core Beliefs
As a member of the Oriental Orthodox family of churches, our faith is centered on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are not a sect or a denomination, but a part of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
Our faith is articulated in the **Nicene Creed**, which we confess at every Holy Qurbana. We recognize and uphold the teachings of the first three Ecumenical Councils: Nicea (A.D. 325), Constantinople (A.D. 381), and Ephesus (A.D. 431).
Worship & Liturgy
Our primary act of worship is the **Holy Qurbana** (the Divine Liturgy, or "Holy Offering"). Our liturgy is one of the most ancient in all of Christianity, with its roots in the Syriac traditions of the early Church.
In the liturgy, we believe we experience the "true Light" and receive the "heavenly Spirit," joining with the angels and saints to worship the Holy Trinity. Visitors are always welcome to join us in prayer and observe the beauty of our ancient liturgy.
Saints, Icons & Prayer
We honor the Virgin Mary as the mother of God (Theotokos) and venerate the saints as heroes of our faith who inspire us and pray for us.
Icons are used not as objects of worship, but as "windows into heaven." They are holy images that help focus our prayer and remind us of the great cloud of witnesses who surround us in our spiritual journey. We also believe in the power of intercessory prayer for one another and for those who have departed from this life.