Look To Your Laurels

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The procession has reached St Anthony’s chapel.

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The garlanded statue of its patron saint is displayed.

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But St Anthony is not the only bearer of garlands.

A few chosen men are sporting laurels of pastelled flowers and richly coloured capes:

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The influence of western Mediterranean Catholicism, which came to Kerala in the seventeenth century, along with Portuguese military conquest.

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A markedly different style to the two thousand year-old, Syrian Christian community of Kerala,

whose rites and vestments are close to those of the Orthodox Church.

And their liturgy, until very recently, still celebrated in Aramaic.

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