Rachel Evans
Kerala, a lush, green state in southern India, is known for its spice gardens, waterways, and forests. It is also known for its large Christian population, which is proportionally much larger than that of India as a whole. According to the 2011 Indian census, there were 6,411,269 Christians in Kerala, with Saint Thomas Christians forming 70.73% of the state's Christian population and 12.5% of the total population. Of these Christians, 61% were Catholics, including Eastern Catholics and Latin Catholics. The percentage of Catholics among Christians is the highest in the Thrissur district.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total Christians in Kerala (2011 census) | 6,411,269 |
| Percentage of Christians in Kerala (2001 census) | 18% |
| Percentage of Christians in Kerala (2022 estimate) | 20% |
| Saint Thomas Christians as % of Kerala Christians | 70.73% |
| Saint Thomas Christians as % of Kerala population | 12.5% |
| Latin Catholics as % of Kerala Christians | 13.3% |
| Eastern Catholics as % of Kerala Christians | 61% |
| Total Catholic Priests in India | 40,000 |
| Total Nuns in India | 25,000 |
| Number of India-linked Catholic Saints | 7 |
| Number of Saints from Kerala | 4 |
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What You'll Learn
- Kerala has produced the most Catholic priests, nuns, and saints
- The population of Christians in Kerala is large compared to other Indian states
- The Christian population of Kerala is proportionally much larger than that of India as a whole
- The Catholic faith of St. Thomas Christians in Kerala dates back to the 1st century
- The Catholic Church in Kerala has a strong presence in the state's educational sector
Kerala has produced the most Catholic priests, nuns, and saints
Kerala, a small state in southern India, has produced the most Catholic priests, nuns, and saints. With an estimated population of 36 million in 2022, Kerala is known for its lush green paddy fields, spice gardens, waterways, and thick forests. It is also known for its large Christian population, which accounts for about 18% of the state's population, according to the 2001 Indian census. The 2011 census recorded a total of 6,411,269 Christians in Kerala, with Saint Thomas Christians constituting 70.73% of the state's Christians, followed by Latin Catholics at 13.3%.
The deep roots of Christianity in Kerala can be traced back to the arrival of Saint Thomas the Apostle in 52 AD, who introduced Christianity to the region. The tradition of origin among Saint Thomas Christians is linked to the arrival of Thomas, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, at the ancient seaport of Muziris on the Kerala coast. The Saint Thomas Christians, also known as the "Nazaranees," have maintained their faith while also embracing the culture, social customs, and decorum of Kerala.
Over time, the Kerala Church established relations with other regions, including Persia, and its bishops were sent from Persia during the second half of the third century. In 154, Thomas of Cana arrived from Syria with a group of Christian immigrants, including priests and a bishop, and they settled in Kodungalloor, integrating with the existing Kerala Christians. The arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century further strengthened the presence of Christianity in the region.
Today, Kerala is known for its high number of Catholic priests and nuns, with an estimated 40,000 priests and 25,000 nuns across India hailing from the state. The state has a reputation for producing educated individuals, both in temporal and spiritual fields. The large Christian population, the historical presence of Christianity, the prestige associated with religious orders, the prosperity of Christians under British rule, and the significant role of Catholics in education are all contributing factors to the high number of Catholic religious figures from Kerala.
Additionally, out of the seven India-linked Catholic saints, four are from Kerala: Sr. Alphonsa (1910-1946), who was declared a saint in 2008, and three others who are on the path to sainthood, including Devasahayam, who was martyred in 1752 and recommended for Beatification by the Diocese of Kottar and various Catholic councils in 2003.
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The population of Christians in Kerala is large compared to other Indian states
Kerala, a lush and verdant state in southern India, stands out for its significant Christian population, which is proportionally larger than in other Indian states. According to the 2011 Indian census, there were 6,411,269 Christians in Kerala, comprising 18% of the state's population. This makes Christianity the third-largest religion in the state.
The Christian population in Kerala is predominantly composed of Saint Thomas Christians, who make up 70.73% of the state's Christians. They include multiple Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, and Protestant denominations. Among the Catholics, there are Eastern Catholics, such as the Syro-Malabar Church and the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, and Latin Catholics, who together account for 61% of the state's Christians. The Latin Catholics of Kerala have a long history, dating back eleven centuries, with a revival in evangelization efforts by western missionaries in the 13th century.
The roots of Christianity in Kerala can be traced back to the arrival of Saint Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, in 52 AD. Traditional accounts describe how Thomas introduced Christianity to the Malabar region, and the deep-rooted history of Christianity in the state is reflected in the various churches and denominations that have flourished there over the centuries. The arrival of Europeans, particularly the Portuguese in the 15th and 16th centuries, further strengthened the Christian presence and contributed to schisms that led to the formation of Catholic and Orthodox communities.
Kerala's Christian population, particularly the Syrian Christians, also prospered economically under British rule. This prosperity, combined with the prestige associated with religious orders, may have contributed to the large number of Catholic priests and nuns that the state has produced. The state's Christians are also well-represented in the educational sector, running a significant number of schools and institutions of higher learning.
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The Christian population of Kerala is proportionally much larger than that of India as a whole
Kerala, a lush and verdant state in southern India, stands out for its significant Christian population, which forms a larger proportion of its demographic makeup than in India as a whole. This religious demographic is a notable feature of the state, alongside its natural beauty.
Christianity has deep historical roots in Kerala, introduced by St. Thomas in 1 AD or 52 AD, according to different accounts. The arrival of the Syrian merchant Thomas of Cana in the 4th or 9th century further bolstered the Christian population, particularly the Syriac Christians (Jewish-Christians). The Saint Thomas Christians, including multiple Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant denominations, constitute the majority of Christians in Kerala, at around 70.73%.
The 2011 Indian census recorded a total of 6,411,269 Christians in Kerala, forming 18% of the state's population according to the 2001 census. Among these Christians, 61% are Catholics, including Eastern Catholics and Latin Catholics. The Thrissur district has the highest percentage of Catholics in the state.
The Christian population in Kerala has had a significant impact on the state's society and culture. They were historically accorded a special status outside the Varna system, similar to the Brahmins. They held privileged positions and played a role in neutralizing pollution between castes. Additionally, Christians, particularly Syrian Christians, prospered economically during British rule.
Catholics have a strong presence in Kerala's educational sector, managing over 30,000 schools and numerous colleges. The state has also produced a large number of Catholic priests, nuns, and saints. The prominence of Christianity in Kerala, therefore, contributes to its reputation as "God's Own Country."
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The Catholic faith of St. Thomas Christians in Kerala dates back to the 1st century
Kerala is home to a significant Christian minority, with the religion being the third-largest practiced in the state, accounting for 18% of the population according to the 2001 Indian census. The 2011 census found a total of 6,411,269 Christians in Kerala, with Saint Thomas Christians (including multiple Catholic, Oriental Orthodox and Protestant bodies) constituting 70.73% of the state's Christians.
The Catholic faith of St. Thomas Christians in Kerala does indeed date back to the 1st century. According to traditional accounts, Thomas the Apostle, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, sailed to the Malabar region in 52 AD and introduced Christianity to the area. Thomas is said to have travelled as far as modern-day Kerala and to have established seven churches in the state.
The Saint Thomas Christians, also known as Syrian Christians of India, Marthoma Suriyani Nasrani, Malankara Nasrani, or Nasrani Mappila, are an ethno-religious community of Indian Christians based in Kerala. They speak Malayalam and employ the Eastern and Western liturgical rites of Syriac Christianity. Their culture is largely derived from East Syriac, West Syriac, Hindu, Jewish, and Latin liturgical influences, blended with local customs and later elements derived from indigenous Indian and European colonial contacts.
The Nasrani or Nazarene was a Syriac term for Christians, who were among the first converts to Christianity in the Near East. The Saint Thomas Christians had been historically part of the hierarchy of the Church of the East but are now divided into several different Eastern Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, Protestant, and independent bodies, each with their own liturgies and traditions.
The tradition of origin among Saint Thomas Christians relates to the arrival of Thomas at the ancient seaport of Muziris on the Kerala coast in AD 52. It was possible for an Aramaic-speaking Jew, such as St. Thomas from Galilee, to make a trip to Kerala in the 1st century. The Cochin Jews are known to have existed in Kerala at that time. Several Roman writers from the 3rd and 4th centuries mention Thomas' trip to India, and Eusebius of Caesarea records that St. Clement of Alexandria's teacher Pantaenus visited a Christian community in India in the 2nd century.
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The Catholic Church in Kerala has a strong presence in the state's educational sector
Kerala is known for its highly educated workforce, which is spread across the world. The state has the largest number of Christians in India, with 18% of its population identifying as Christian according to the 2001 Indian census. Within this Christian population, 61% were Catholics in 2016, including Eastern Catholics and Latin Catholics. The Catholic Church in Kerala has had a significant influence on the state's educational sector, with the Church Missionary Society (CMS) and the London Missionary Society (LMS) shaping the educational landscape in the 19th century. CMS missionaries established schools in several regions, including Mavelikkara, Tiruvalla, and Mallapalli, and played a crucial role in promoting education for oppressed and lower castes.
The history of the Catholic Church's involvement in education in Kerala can be traced back to the early 19th century. In 1815, British resident Colonel John Munro founded a seminary in Kottayam for the theological education of Jacobite Christian priests. This marked the beginning of the Church Mission Society's connection with the Saint Thomas Christians of the Puthenkuttukar. The first Catholic school for girls, St. Joseph's LP School, was established in Koonammavu, and the first convent in Kerala was founded by Mother Eliswa in 1868. Mother Eliswa later established more schools for girls across the state.
The educational transformation of Kerala was driven by the efforts of various pioneers, including missions like the Church Mission Society, British administrators like John Munro, caste and community movements, and clergy of the Catholic Church, such as Fr Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Fr Charles Lavigne. These pioneers promoted mass education in the early 19th century, challenging traditional social norms and bringing about radical change in Kerala's social structure. Kottayam, known as the first pioneer of higher education in the state, is home to some of the oldest colleges in the region. CMS College Kottayam, built by CMS missionaries in 1815, and SB College Changanasserry, constructed by Catholic Church clergies in 1922, are among the most reputed institutions of higher education in central Travancore (now Kottayam).
The Catholic Church's presence in Kerala's educational sector continues to be strong, with the "A school along with every church" system introduced by Archbishop Bernardine Baccinelli in the 19th century still in place today. The Kerala Catholic community in Nuneaton, UK, for example, has three family units (St. Mary's, Sacred Heart, and Chavara) through which they organise prayer meetings and pilgrimage trips. The community is actively involved in the activities of Our Lady of the Angels Church, with many children serving on the altar and participating in catechism classes until they move on to university. The quality of education offered by Catholic schools is highly appreciated by the Kerala Catholics in Nuneaton.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2011, there were 6,411,269 Christians in Kerala, with 61% being Catholics. This includes Eastern Catholics and Latin Catholics.
12.5% of the total population of Kerala is Catholic.
Kerala has a much higher proportion of Christians than India as a whole.
Christianity is historically deep-rooted in Kerala, having been introduced by St. Thomas in 1 AD and strengthened by the Portuguese in the 16th century.
