I just read a report that the first indian-born saint will soon be canonized. This puzzles me.
In 1900 years of history, have the Kerala based churches produced no saints? If so, does Rome not recognize them?

I'm guessing this has to do with church practice, maybe canonization is not part of their tradition but, with so much latinization that's been going on, one would expect them to have tried to have some holy men canonized.

Any thoughts?

Filipe,

How are you, my friend?

It isn't clear to me that during the centuries of isolation, those of enforced latinization under missionaries, or those of separation from Rome (the three periods that constitute the largest portion of the history of the Syro-Malankara and Syro-Malabarese Churches) that there was a strong history of canonization by acclamation of local saints in either Church, although some clearly were so honored.

In the time since canonizations have been considered Rome's prerogative (some of which overlays the above time periods), I don't know how many individuals, if any, have been advanced for consideration by the relevant dicastry. There are, presently, several that are in various stages of the process. The two whom I know on which formal action has been taken are Venerable Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios, OIC, who brought the Malankara into communion with Rome, and Blessed Sister Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception, FCC, of the Malabarese.

Others whose causes have been introduced, all of the Syro-Malabarese Church include:

Kuriakose Elias Chavara
Thomas Kurialacherry
Mathew Kadalikkattil
Alphonsa Muttathupadatu
Euphrasia Eluvathingal
Joseph Vithayathil
Mathew Kavukatt
Augustine Thevarparampil Kuzhumpil
Rani Maria Vattalil

I'm unaware of any Malankara causes currently pending.

Many years,

Neil