St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, is the founder of the ancient church in India. Christian writers and historians from the 4th century refer to the evangelistic work of Apostle Thomas in India, and the Indian Christians ascribe the origin of their church to the labors of the apostle in the 1st century.
"Insistent tradition ascribes the introduction of Christianity to India to the Apostle Thomas, one of the original Twelve."
History of Christianity. Vol.1. By Kenneth Scott Latourette. Page 80. 
It is reasonable to believe that the St. Thomas came to India, preached the gospel, established the church and died there as a martyr. It is believed that St.Thomas arrived in Cranganore, Kerala, India, in 52 AD He preached the gospel and founded churches at seven places; Cranganore, Palur, Paraur, Gokkamangalam, Niranam, Chayal and Quilon, and appointed prelates and priests. He is believed to have been martyred at Mylapur, Madras, India, around 72 AD Malankara Orthodox Church in India is as old as any other ancient Christian communities elsewhere in the world.
South India had trade connections with the Mediterranean and West Asian world since ancient times. This enabled the Church in those areas, particularly Persia, to have knowledge of the existence of a Christian community in India. Many Christians, when they were persecuted in Persian Empire, fled to the southwestern coast of India and found there a ready and warm welcome.
 

There is no documentary evidence referring to the way the Indian Church was governed during early centuries. According to tradition, the successor of St. Thomas corresponded with the leaders of the Christian Churches in the Middle East; and prelates from that part of the world guided the church of India from time to time.

Like the other churches, the Indian Church maintained its autonomous character under its local leader. When the Portuguese established themselves in India in the 16th Century, they found the Church in Kerala, as an administratively independent community. Following the arrival of Vasco de Gama, the Portuguese General, in Calicut, Kerala, India, in 1498, they came to South India and established their political power there. The Portuguese brought with them missionaries to carry on evangelistic work in order to establish churches in communion with the pope of Rome under the Portuguese patronage.


 
These missionaries were eager to bring the Malankara partly assembly called Church also under the Pope. They succeeded in their efforts in 1599 with the `Synod of Diamper'. The representatives of various parishes who attended the assembly were forced by Portughese Authorities to accept the Papal authority.

Following the synod, the Indian Church came to be governed by Portuguese prelates. They were as a whole, unwilling to respect the transitions and the integrity of the Indian Church, and a majority of people was not happy about the state of affairs. This disaffection led to general revolt in 1653, which resulted in an oath of seperation  known as "The Coonen Cross Pledge". They demanded administrative autonomy for the Indian Church. Kerala Syrian Christians had an inevitable role in that revolution

  The party that sought to preserve the Church's freedom stood in need of assistance in restoring its Episcopal succession. It appealed to several eastern Christian centers for help. The Antiochene Syrian Patriarch responded and sent metropolitan Mar Gregorios of Jerusalem to India in 1665. He came to India and confirmed Marthoma I as the bishop and both of them worked together to organize the Church on firm footing. The Malankara Church began to grow steadily. 

The parishioners of Karingachira and the neighbourhood had a fair role in this awakening in 722 AD. Karimgachira church was separated from the Edapally church, which was an offshort of  Kottakyavu (or Paravoor) church. It is believed that Cochin Hindu Royal Dynasty had an official affection and respect towards Karingachira church. Historically well known Synod of Diampor (Udayamperur Suhannados) and The Coonen Cross Pledge are closely related to this church. They echos the remarkable contribution to Malankara Orthodox church when it had undergone a lot of strife and pain to uphold its old ties with the Holy Apostolic Throne of The Syrian Patriarchete of Antioch And All The East.
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