MALANKARA MAR THOMA SYRIAN CHURCH

MALANKARA
MAR THOMA SYRIAN CHURCH

Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church (MMSC) is traditionally believed to have been founded by Saint Thomas (Mar Thoma), one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ, and known by the name of the Apostle, in the year AD 52, Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar is one of the oldest denominations of Christianity. The Church defines itself as "Apostolic in origin, Universal in nature, Biblical in faith, Evangelical in principle, Ecumenical in outlook, Oriental in worship, Democratic in function and Episcopal in character”. Headquartered at Thiruvalla in Kerala, in India, the church has followers across the globe. Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church (Malankara Mar Thoma Suriyani Sabha as it is called in native Malayalam) is one of the oldest groups of praticing Christians in the world. Believed to be followers of one of the original disciples of Jesus Christ - St. Thomas, also called Didimus or Thomas, the doubter. The logo of the church consists of a shield emplazoned with a Christian Cross with representationof Ashoka Chakra at its centre. It is flanked in the right by a Lotus and left by by a Hand Lamp. The official colour of the logo is red.