that heresy hardly exists in Malabar consciousness, unless (as is still more likely) the editor does not know what it means.[1] But he would certainly have denounced confession had he met it. I conclude that its use has fallen into abeyance here, as in many Eastern Churches.
The churches of the Malabar Jacobites appear to be all much alike — halls, not very large, without aisles, with a choir at the east separated by a low rail, and a sanctuary beyond an arch. The building has a simple gabled roof, that of the choir often higher than the rest. At both ends is a cross. The west front is ornamented with pilasters, carving, and sometimes painted decoration, often odd and barbarous looking to us.[2] Inside, from the chancel-arch hangs a curtain which is closed in the liturgy during the preparatory prayers and preparation of the offerings, open during the catechumens' liturgy till the prayer before the gospel, open again during the gospel and till the deacon begins the Ḳathulīki (see p. 350), closed during that, open after it, closed during the Communion of the clergy, open during the people's Communion and till the end. The chancel is slightly raised; it contains the altar, around which (except in front) stands a screen, carved and painted with angels blowing trumpets, crosses, flowers, elephants, and so on. On either side are side-altars or credence-tables.[3]
The clergy in private life used to dress in white cassocks, but put on a black one before vesting.[4] Mr. Howard found one of the rival Metropolitans (the successful one) dressed in "a handsome
- ↑ Howard notes that Protestant missionaries are often ignorant of the very existence of the questions discussed at Ephesus and Chalcedon (op. cit. p. 112, n.).
- ↑ Their tradition says that once their churches were built like Hindu temples, that Thomas "Cannaneo" (p. 357) changed the shape to the usual one in Christendom (see Howard: op. cit. 16). All the pictures I have seen show churches which, in spite of the normal plan, have a strange, rather Hindu look, with a profusion of bad surface ornament. As an example, see the picture of the church at Karingachery (said to be 16th century), fig. 13.
- ↑ It does not seem clear which they are (Howard: op. cit. p. 123). The Jacobites allow side-altars (see p. 344).
- ↑ Howard, p. 133. But it seems that a white cassock is now the mark of the Reformed body. The Jacobite priests wear dark blue (since 1875), the Uniates black (Richards: op. cit. p. 7).
