Christianity is one of the prominent religions in India. At present there are about 25 million Christians in India. It is interesting to note that the Christian population in India is more than the entire population of Australia and New Zealand or total population of a number of countries in Europe. Kerala, Goa and Mizoram states have high concentration of Christian population in India. Kerala has the largest number of Christians among the states. Christians including Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants form the third largest group in India.
About 73% of the Christians in India are Catholics. The Catholic Church in India is composed of three individual Churches- Latin, Malabar and Malankara. Christian community includes Syrian Christians, Knanaya Christians, Goan Christians, Tamil Christians, Anglo-Indians, Naga Christians etc. All these Christian communities differ in language, social customs and economic status. It is not surprising that Christians in India occupy high positions like cabinet ministers, governors, high court judges, University vice-chancellors, bureaucrats etc.
St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, came to India in 52 A.D. and landed at Kodungallur on the Malabar Coast. He preached the Gospel to the Brahmin families of Kerala. St. Thomas established seven Churches at: Kodungallur, Kottakkavu, Palayur, Kollam, Kokkamangalam, Niranam and Chayil. St. Thomas came to India when many European countries had not yet become Christian and so those Indians who trace their Christianity to him have a longer history and a higher ancestry than that of Christians of many of the European countries."
