• Calendar
• Videos
• Photos
• Catholic Links

The St. Thomas Cross is the unique symbol of the St. Thomas Christians. This cross represents the risen Christ and the joy of resurrection. The government of India published the picture of St. Thomas Cross as a postal stamp to celebrate the 19th death centenary of the St. Thomas, the Apostle in 1972.

The Liturgy of the Syro-Malabar rite belongs to the Chaldean liturgical family. From around the 4th Century to the 16th Century, the mass in the Syro-Malabr rite was celebrated in the Aramaic(East Syriac) language . But at the Daimper Synod in 1599, changes were made in the Liturgy and the liturgy was made to conform to the Latin rite . But with the restoration of the Liturgy that took place in 1962, the Liturgy of the Pre-Diamper began to be used. Now, the Liturgy is being celebrated in Malayalam. The Eucharistic Prayer of Addai and Mari, which is one of the oldest Eucharistic prayers in the Catholic Church, is used in the Syro-Malabar Liturgy.

The Eucharistic Liturgy has three forms: the most solemn form is known as the Rasa, the Solemn and the Simple Form.

 

 

The Syro-Malabar Church liturgical calendar is ordered according to the flow of Salvation history and the life of Lord Jesus.
It has nine seasons:

1) Season of Annunciation (Subara) is the first season of the liturgical year.

2) Season of Epiphany  is centered on the great solemnity of Denha, Epiphany, Jesus' Baptism in Jordan,

3) Season of Great Fast :  Reflection on and meditate over the public life of Jesus and especially the death and burial.

4) Season of resurrection : The Church celebrates the Resurrection of our Lord during the weeks of Resurrection seven weeks.

5) Season of Apostles: The descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles marks the beginning of this particular liturgical period.

6) Season of Summer : The maturity and fruitfulness of the Church are specially meditated on during the weeks of summer (Qaita).

7) Season of Eliya-Sliba. The great solemnity of the Glorious Cross that we celebrate on September 14th is the basic theme meditated on and absorbed in all through this liturgical period of Eliyah-Sliba.

8) Season of Moses is, indeed, a God-given occasion for meditating on the end of time and the last judgment.

9) Season of Qudas-Edta The weeks of dedication of the Church, is the last four weeks of the Syro-Malabar liturgical year.

 

Eucharistic Adoration

In the Roman Catholic tradition, at the moment of Consecration the elements (or "gifts" as they are termed for liturgical purposes) are transformed (Transubstantiation) into the actual Body and Blood of Christ. Catholic doctrine holds that the elements are not only spiritually transformed, but rather are actually (substantially) transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ.
 

Copyright 2008 by St.Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Santa Ana.