THE ARAMAIC PROJECT



TO RESUSCITATE AN INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF HUMANITY

By

Dr. Joseph J. Palackal

A program to honor and preserve the unparalleled legacy of an ancient language and music tradition that are part of the history and an intangible treasure in the world’s cultural heritage .

Dedicated to :

  ܐܲܠܟܣܲܢܕܪܘ̇ ̇ܣ ܗܸܢܕܘܝܐ

Alexander the Indian (1588-1677)
 

Inspired By :

ܦܵܠܲܝܟܲܠ ܬܵܐܘܡܵܐ ܡܲܠܦܵܢ

Palackal Thoma Malpan (1780-1841)
Introduction

The Aramaic (Syriac) language in which Jesus and His disciples preached the Gospel reached South India in the early Christian era. Until the 1960s, the St. Thomas Christians in Kerala, who trace the origin of their faith to St.Thomas the Apostle, celebrated liturgy in this language. Since the vernacularization of the liturgy, the language and the melodies are on the path to extinction in the Syro Malabar Church (3.25 million members)....

Purpose & action plan

The Aramaic project is a part of a larger plan of a digital library of Christian music in India under the auspices of the Christian Musicological Society. This library will be beneficial to the general public, as well as academic departments that specialize in such topics as South Asian and West Asian studies, Indology, musicology, anthropology, theology, religion, Church history, Syriac Christianity, liturgy, and linguistics....

Dedication

This website is dedicated to Fr. Chandy Kadavil (1588-1677), a great son of India and a celebrated St. Thomas Christians from Kaduthuruthy, in central Kerala. He was also known by his nickname in Syriac, “Alaksandros hendwāyā” Alexander the Indian. Fr. Kadavil was a great scholar, orator, and a prominent leader of the St. Thomas Christians. He lived at a tumultuous period in the history of the St. Thomas Christians,, who reacted vehemently ....

Source of Inspiration

The source of inspiration for the Aramaic project is the life story of the saintly Palackal Thoma Malpan (Pālackal Tōmmā Malpān, circa 1780-1841), my collateral ancestor, a teacher and scholar of the Syriac language and liturgy, founder of the first seminary of the Syriac Christians in India, founder of the first indigenous religious congregation for men in India (see video), and a father to the Syro Malabar Church......

PROJECT CO-ORDINATORS

Image
Dr. Joseph J. Palackal C.M.I.

Founder

Image
 Felix Simon
Co-Founder

 

Image
 Mathew Thalikasthanam
Research Associate

 

Image
Joseph Puthenkudy
Research
Assistant

 

Image
Rosy Kurian
Field Work
Coordinator

 

Image
Sherin Joseph
Project
Coordinator

 

Latest Videos

Aramaic (Syriac) Mantra : 'Ennana Nuhre d’Alma' - I am the light of the world

The composer-performer, Prof. Dr. Krishna Pad Mondal uses two complimentary sayings of Jesus, Ennana Nuhre d’Alma : I am the light of the world and Athon ennon nuhre d’ alma : YOU are the light of the world. .

Acrostic hymn of St. Ephrem ഈശോ മാറൻ മിശിഹാ Īśō māran m’śihā MalpanVellanickal

Malpan Vellanickal sings the famous acrostic hymn of St. Ephrem the Syrian. The hymn has ten stanzas each beginning with a letter in the Aramaic name, Iso Mishiha, Jesus the Christ.

THE CHOSEN DUO | JERRY AMALDEV & FR. JOSEPH MANAKKIL | നിർമ്മലമായൊരു ഹൃദയമെന്നിൽ

NIRMALAMAYORU HRUDAYAMENNIL നിർമ്മലമായൊരു ഹൃദയമെന്നിൽ നിർമ്മിച്ചരുളുക നാഥാ |Music : Jerry Amaldev | Lyrics : Fr. Joseph Manakkil

AUDIO TRACKS

Qambel Maran
Syriac Chants from South India - CD

Chants in Syriac (Aramaic) from the Chaldean liturgy of the Syro-Malabar Church of the St. Thomas Christians. 

Solemn Syriac Qurbana 
Fr. George Nellikkatt

This recording of the solemn Syriac Qurbana in the golden voice of a celebrated singer, Fr. George Nellikkatt (1935-2006)

Theshbohtha
Rev. Fr. Varghese Mattathil


Collection of Syriac Chants from Solemn Syriac Qurbana Celebrant - Rev. Fr. Varghese Mattathil. Produced By Archdiocese of Changanacherry

COPYRIGHT RESTRICTED VIDEOS
(VIEW ONLY)

Image
Image
Image

TESTIMONIALS

This was one of the most memorable moments of this Qurbana! To hear the words of consecration in the language of our Lord... It felt like I was there on the night of Passover with the disciples.
There is nothing more heartening than seeing one's efforts bearing fruit and I'm sure Rev Palackal Kathanar would have felt so , interviewing Sophia Chirayil.
Thank you for the English captions....so appreciated by your English speaking followers...the chants, always soul reaching, are more meaningful.
A belated note to say thank you for your most interesting talk and video recording which you presented to CWC at SOAS last Monday evening.