We will not hide them from our children
We will tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord
and his might and the wonders
that he has done .
Psalm 78:4
After returning from a short trip to a coastal metropolitan city in southern India , where St Thomas , the apostle of India was buried , I am tempted to take a jump to the present!
Chennai , formerly called Madras,has a rich history that spans centuries – Merchants from far away lands flocking to its port- for its cotton , silk and spices .
The city has a special place for Indian Christians . It’s where Thomas , the apostle was martyred. Over his tomb was constructed Santhome Cathedral, one of the three such cathedrals that houses the tomb of an apostle ; the others being St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican &Santiago Basilica Galicia, Spain .
When we decided to take a short break, St.Thomas came to my mind .. A visit long over due .. There are three sites connected to St Thomas in Chennai – Little mount where St Thomas lived , St Thomas Mount where he was martyred and Santhome cathedral where he was buried .
Thomas is believed to have traveled to Kerala on the west coast of South India, along with some Jewish traders . There he preached the gospel to the Jews and the locals . Soon a strong community of Christians emerged thanks to the favourable atmosphere in the state . The Christians in Kerala came to be called Nasranis – (followers of the one from Nazareth ) a name that exits even today ..
It’s believed that the early converts were Brahmins , the priestly class . However historians point out that Brahmins came to Kerala much later .The DNA analysis of the early St thomas Christians reveal an interesting amalgam – of Jewish & South Indian decent .
In a caste centred social system, one can guess why the early converts opted to be known as Brahmin Christians !
After establishing 7 and a half churches ( half being a small church) in Kerala, Thomas is believed to have travelled to the neighbouring state . There too ,many forsook their old ways and embraced the faith . It’s believed that a great number of them migrated to Kerala(could be either due to persecution or natural calamities) and joined their brethren.
St Thomas was killed by a spear while he was in prayer at st Thomas mount .
As I knelt down at the shrine at st thomas mount , where the bleeding stone cross is kept , my heart swelled up in gratitude remembering my ancestors who must have listened to the good news as preached by St Thomas around AD 70.
I am not sure about their lineage or the colour of their skin .. but one thing is certain- they had responsive hearts ,hearts that melted when they heard about the Messiah , hearts that received the good news and passed it on to their children ..
Thomas Christians , as we are called , have a lot to be thankful for – Beginning with St Thomas . One of the earliest Christian community in the world came up in the least expected place only because of Doubting Thomas .. The community though split into different groups now , under Catholic , orthodox and Protestant churches , still retain their fervour. The mighty hand of the Lord has protected us from attacks from within and without.
He allowed no one to suppress them ;
He rebuked kings in their account
Psalm 105:14
The seed had indeed fallen on good soil , enriched by the blood of St Thomas !
Thomas, whence thy lineage,
That so illustrious thou shouldst become?
A merchant thy bones conveys;
A Pontiff assigns thee a feast;
A King a shrine erects.
Neither promised nor hoped for,
One thing more did he [the creator] give.
In India thy wonders,
In our land thy triumph,
Everywhere thy festival.
Wonders during life thou performest,
These, after death, thou still continuest :
Under great bodily fatigue
In one region only didst thou heal.
Now, everywhere, without labor thou cure.
— From a hymn by Saint Ephraem
Notes from the Sycamore Tree .. 