Christian Cyclopedia

Also called Thomas Christians. Christians in SW India who trace origin to the apostle Thomas on basis of apocryphal Acts of Thomas; perhaps of E Syrian origin; maintained connection with Nestorians (see Nestorianism); connected with Rome at Syn. of Diamper* as Malabar Uniat Ch.; broke with Rome 1653; divided 1662, some realigning with Rome, others with Jacobites (see Jacobites, 1). In 1930 Metropolitan Mar Ivanios with ca. 10,000 followers, formerly Jacobite, formed the Malankarese Uniat Ch. See also India, 5–7; Uniate Churches.