- By Joji Mathews

Christianity is well known for its interesting history. We should be proud of our glorious past and our 'steeped in tradition' roots. Christianity was founded in the 1st century in the Levant region of the Middle East (modern Israel and Palestine) by the followers of Jesus of Nazareth who they believed to be the Christ or chosen one of God. Since then our brotherhood has grown in size and many willingly joined the faith over the centuries.

Kerala is the cradle of Christianity in India. Being a Kerala Christian is a privilege where we get to live the culture and tradition of two different worlds. The Kerala Christian community is a tight knit family where it becomes difficult to differentiate between family and friends within the community.

One thing that unites every Christian born in Kerala is the inborn nature to help uplift the society. Following the words of love shared by our Father, Kerala Christians are active in participating in deeds that will benefit the entire society.

In the educational field, we have made noteworthy contributions. Our effort along with that of the government and other religious and cultural groups has helped Kerala to become the leading state in India for literacy.

We are proud to say that we Christians are a close knit community. Our devotion towards our faith unites us all. Attending the Sunday Mass is a relief from the hustle of life and we take this opportunity not only to pray and offer help to the needy; but also to establish contacts and maintain friendly relationships.

Life and religion are not two separate entities for us, as we love the life we live and live the life we love!

The cuisine of Kerala is linked in all its richness to the history, geography, demography, and culture of the land. Kerala cuisine has faced a huge European influence. We are proud experts of various delicacies that currently have gained huge popularity.

• A Palestinian business man, Thomas Cana, along with 72 families came and settled in Kerala, thereby augmenting the Christian community.
• In 1841 Benjamin Bailey translated the first of many Bible translations into Malayalam.
• Christianity is believed to have reached the shores of Kerala in 52 CE.
• Christianity is the third-most practiced religion in Kerala with 19% of the population according to the Indian census.