#memory
St.Thomas.
3 July is St Thomas Day.
The Apostle of Christ was also known as Didimos ( twin ).
In the Bible, he is recorded as doubting Thomas, since he refused to initially believe in the resurrection of Christ after the crucifixion.
Though his arrival in India in AD 52 has been questioned for lack of conclusive historical proofs, it’s largely a non-issue, since undoubtedly a Christian community has existed in South India for the past 2000 years.
The St Thomas Christians, called Syrian Christians / Marthoma Christians, suffered a vertical split after the Udayamperoor Soonahadose (Synod) organised by the Latin Portuguese Arch Bishop of Goa, Alexis Menesis, 400 years ago.
The Syro Malabar, Malankara Orthodox, Malankara Jacobite, Mar Thoma, and the Syro Malankara, are the major Christian Churches who claim the legacy of St Thomas.
The Syrian Christian community in Kerala has grown into the most financially and educated group in Kerala, and it’s reach has spread all over the world, with millions of migrants flourishing in many countries.
However, the social and economic prosperity has been marred by the constant infighting, which is virulent especially among the Orthodox and Jacobite factions. The affliction has now caught the Syro Malabar Catholics also. The sharp division is threatening the unity of the church.
The irony is that there is little difference in matters of faith among the various Church denominations.
– Joy Kallivayalil.
p.s.
Mylapore near Chennai, where St Thomas was martyred has been a place of pilgrimage of the Mar Thoma Christians for centuries.
Sasikala Joseph and I have visited Mylapore several times and we,
in April 2023, were fortunate to visit Orthona in Italy, the final resting place of the relics of the Apostle after being transported from India.
