Mar Thoma Nazranis of India were blessed to know our lord and our god Ieso mishiha, in the very same language spoken by him, through the words of his beloved apostle Mar Thoma sleeha. This served as the liturgical language of the nazranis for many centuries. The language had contributed much to the Malayalam. Most of the widespread used words related to the church like Ieso mishiha, mar, Qurbana, Dukrana etc were originally derived from Syriac. The decline of the importance given to Syriac started with the use of local languages as the liturgical language.
To some, Syriac is a synonym to Aramaic, the language spoken by Ieso mishiha. To some others Syriac is the renewed version of Aramaic. Syro malabar church belongs to the category of Chaldean churches. Chaldean means East Syriac. Our great forefathers loved and valued this great tradition as their lives.
After the introduction of Malayalam as the liturgical language, the importance given to Syriac was started to decline in our church. This has resulted in such a scenario that the present generations hardly knows a language called Syriac. If this situation continues unchecked, with the next generations, the place of Syriac will be in the archives galleries. This should not happen.
A language can only be saved by spreading it. It can only be saved by letting others to learn the language. So to save Syriac, the best possible method is to teach the language in Sunday catechism classes. Let the young generations grew up by learning the language spoken by our lord Ieso mishiha and our father Mar Thoma sleeha.This will surely give them the chance to know our prestigious traditions and love them.
Syro malabar catechetical commission should take the responsibility of this. There are many Syriac scholars in our church. They can provide the curricula. In the next stage, people who are interested in the language can be called from each parishes and the training can be conducted at the diocesan levels. Once they are ready, they can start teaching the language in the Sunday classes. At the initial stages, classes can be given to some specific age groups. Then it can be expanded to all classes. It will be surely beneficial to start the learning from the lowest possible age.
By this, the young generations can be made familiar with the alphabets, commonly used words and our liturgical songs. With the success of this, the efficient celebration of our prestigious Syriac Qurbana will be possible. Competitions in Syriac can also be conducted as part of the 'Bible kalolsavams'.
This is not just a dream, but the only possible way to save and protect our great Syriac traditions. If the Muslims can efficiently teach Arabic to their young generations, why can't we teach syriac to our generations? Everything needs pain. Fruitful pains will be sweet to taste!! Even if it's not possible in some dioceses, it will be surely possible in the majority of dioceses. If we take the pain now, we can surely taste the sweetness in the near future. Knowing the language will help them to love it and spread it. Let's pray for a good future, where the young generations of Mar Thoma Nazranis, study this great language and celebrate holy Qurbana in Syriac....
To some, Syriac is a synonym to Aramaic, the language spoken by Ieso mishiha. To some others Syriac is the renewed version of Aramaic. Syro malabar church belongs to the category of Chaldean churches. Chaldean means East Syriac. Our great forefathers loved and valued this great tradition as their lives.
After the introduction of Malayalam as the liturgical language, the importance given to Syriac was started to decline in our church. This has resulted in such a scenario that the present generations hardly knows a language called Syriac. If this situation continues unchecked, with the next generations, the place of Syriac will be in the archives galleries. This should not happen.
A language can only be saved by spreading it. It can only be saved by letting others to learn the language. So to save Syriac, the best possible method is to teach the language in Sunday catechism classes. Let the young generations grew up by learning the language spoken by our lord Ieso mishiha and our father Mar Thoma sleeha.This will surely give them the chance to know our prestigious traditions and love them.
Syro malabar catechetical commission should take the responsibility of this. There are many Syriac scholars in our church. They can provide the curricula. In the next stage, people who are interested in the language can be called from each parishes and the training can be conducted at the diocesan levels. Once they are ready, they can start teaching the language in the Sunday classes. At the initial stages, classes can be given to some specific age groups. Then it can be expanded to all classes. It will be surely beneficial to start the learning from the lowest possible age.
By this, the young generations can be made familiar with the alphabets, commonly used words and our liturgical songs. With the success of this, the efficient celebration of our prestigious Syriac Qurbana will be possible. Competitions in Syriac can also be conducted as part of the 'Bible kalolsavams'.
This is not just a dream, but the only possible way to save and protect our great Syriac traditions. If the Muslims can efficiently teach Arabic to their young generations, why can't we teach syriac to our generations? Everything needs pain. Fruitful pains will be sweet to taste!! Even if it's not possible in some dioceses, it will be surely possible in the majority of dioceses. If we take the pain now, we can surely taste the sweetness in the near future. Knowing the language will help them to love it and spread it. Let's pray for a good future, where the young generations of Mar Thoma Nazranis, study this great language and celebrate holy Qurbana in Syriac....
