Oriental Orthodoxy in India is traditionally traced to the apostolic mission of St. Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century, who is believed to have established early Christian communities along the Malabar Coast. These Saint Thomas Christians later developed connections with the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch. The Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church continues as an integral part of the Syriac Orthodox Church. The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church forms an independent church which developed out of the Syriac Orthodox tradition. Both are centered in Kerala and retain the West Syriac liturgical heritage.