Syro-Malabar churches adorned with feast flags and oil lamps

India
Visual Culture
Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
  • Syro-Malabar chapel-shrine at a chapel at the burial place of the Archdeacons in Kerala.
  • Syro-Malabar chapel-shrine at a chapel at the burial place of the Archdeacons in Kerala.
  • A family's shrine in Kerala occupies the central room of the house. Family members gather in the evening to pray aloud and silently together.
  • Looking past the brass flagpole to the enormous parish hall at St. Mary's Forane church, a site especially important for wedding feasts.
  • Worshipers line up to offer prayers at a Syro-Malabar church.
By
Thomas M. Landy

Visually, and in terms of many cultural practices, Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara and Latin rite Catholic churches look quite similar. Churches can look baroque, or gothic or contemporary. They similarly feature prominent flag poles for parish feasts.

 

They are often differentiated by oil lamps for burning oil, or for pouring oil over the cross.