Malankara Church - Terminology

Terminology

The word Malankara derives from the name of the island of Maliankara near Muziris, which according to tradition was the first place Thomas the Apostle landed in India. Initially the terms 'Malankara Christians' or 'Malankara Nasranis' were applied to all Saint Thomas Christians, but following the split the term was generally restricted to the faction loyal to Mar Thoma I, distinguishing them from the Catholic faction. Later, many of the churches that subsequently branched off have maintained the word in their names.

At the time of the split, the branch affiliated with Mar Thoma was called the Puttankuttukar, or "New Party", while the branch that entered into Catholic obedience was designated the Pazhayakuttukar, or "Old Party". This latter group evolved into the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. These appellations have been somewhat controversial, as both groups considered themselves the true heirs to the Saint Thomas tradition, and saw the other as heretical (relations today have improved considerably).

Following the association with the Syriac Orthodox Church, the church was often known as the Malankara Syrian Church (Malayam: മലങ്കര സുറിയാനി സഭ ) in reference to their connection to the West Syrian tradition. As such they were often known as 'Jacobites', 'Syrian Jacobites', or 'Jacobite Syrians', a reference to the Syriac Orthodox Church's connection to Jacob Baradaeus. After the split between Metropolitan- and the Patriarch-supporting factions, the Jacobite designation has been chiefly associated with the latter group, who emphasize their connection with Antioch.