East Indian Catholic
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East Indians
|
|
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| →Bombay (1960s) | ~92,000 |
| Languages | |
| East Indian Marathi | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity (Roman Catholicism) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Kuparis, Marathi Christians | |
East Indians or East Indian Catholics are an ethno-religious Indian Christian community adhering to the Catholic Church, based mainly in the city of Mumbai, and also parts of Palghar and Thane districts in the state of Maharashtra, India.
Although it is commonly thought that the origin of Christianity in North Konkan, originated with proselytizing activities in the 16th Century, it may have actually been St. Bartholomew, one of the twelve Apostles of Christ, who preached in North Konkan much earlier. There is evidence of this in the writings of Kosmas Indicopleustes, of his having seen in Kalyana a flourishing Christian Community in the 6th Century and of Jordanus, of his having labored among the Christians in Thana and Sopara in the 13th Century. The Dominican friar Jordanus Catalani, who was either Catalan or Occitan (southern French), started evangelizing activities in Thana and Sapora was the first work of Rome in North Konkan. Sopara was an ancient port and an international trading center. The water once extended all the way to Bhayander creek thus making the whole area extending from Arnala to Bhayander an island – referred to as Salsette island. In the time of the Buddha, Sopara (ancient Shurparaka), was an important port and a gateway settlement. Perhaps this induced Ashoka to install his edicts there. Sopara is referred in the Old Testament as Ophir, the place from which King Solomon brought gold, Josephus identifies Ophir with Aurea Chersonesus, belonging to India. Septuagint translates Ophir as Sophia, which is Coptic for India. This refers to the ancient city of Soupara or Ouppara on the western coast of India.
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