SYRIAN MARRIAGES

The Syrian Christians of Kerala were originally Namboodiri Brahmins and their conversions took place during St. Thomas' visit to India about AD 46.Their Church is the Syrian Orthodox Church, the head of which is known as Catholicos and he resides in Kottayam, Kerala. Although they embraced Christianity,the Syrian Christians retained many of their Hindu customs and till date their marriage rituals follow many of the old Hindu traditions.The Syrian Christians of Kerala were originally Namboodiri Brahmins and their conversions took place during St. Thomas' visit to India about AD 46 and probably continued for several centuries following.One of the best and most reliable source of information about the Syrian Christians of Kerala is written by a Professor/Writer Z.M. Parret.Their Church is the Syrian Orthodox Church and the head of church is known as Catholicos of the East, also known as “Malankara Metropolitan” (Malankara literally means the shores of the mountains). His Holiness resides in Devalokam (abode of the God’s), Kottayam, Kerala. Although they embraced Christianity, the Syrian Christians retained some of their Hindu customs and till date their marriage rituals follow some of the old Hindu traditions.A typical Syrian Christian wedding is an elaborate affair and is usually arranged by the elders with the full knowledge of the boy and the girl. Always the bride's family makes the proposal to the groom's family, and subject to the boy’s family accepting the proposal or rejecting the proposal depending on the status of the family, the dowry the girl’s family is able to provide and finally the boy and girl seeing each other and giving their consent or rejection.