ivide ullathil majorityium Palpodikum ,Rava ,Gothambinum vedi Margam Kodiyavenmara ,allathe Syriansum ,jewish onnum alla
explain?Whare is this 'evide'??
Syrian Christians are 70% of kerala christians and are not converted by portuguese/british.
16 am nootandinu mumpum paal palopodi yakunna technology undayirunno????
Pilgrimage to the tomb of the Apostle.
There are concrete evidences from history, to show that right from the early centuries of Christian Era, pilgrims flocked to the traditional site at Mylapore ( South India ), where Apostle Thomas lay buried. Not only from Malabar ( Kerala ), but also from numerous foreign countries. The candid references from Asseman ( Joseph Aloysius, Professor & an authority on Syro-Chaldaic and Arabic languages, in his book ‘A commentary on Chaldean Patriarchs’ ), about the visits by the Nazranis of Malabar, to the Mylapore tomb. In the pre-Portuguese period, Malabar Christians used to make pilgrimages to the Mylapore tomb. He confirms that, it took 25 days to reach Mylapore, by land route ,as reported by four Chaldean bishops, in 1504, who after their arrival in Malabar, wrote their Patriarch, Elias. Eminent Church historian, from Kerala, Mathias Mundadan, in his book, elucidates the centuries long pilgrimage by Nazranis, to pay homage at the holy sepulcher of Thomasleeha (A.M.Mundadan, ‘ Traditions S T C’, p.12 ).
In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, it is given that Alfred the Great, king of England, send an embassy with offerings to St. Peter at his tomb in Rome and to St.Thomas, at his tomb in India ( 884, AD.). Yet another testimony on the subject, is that of St.Gregory of Tours ( 538—594). In Gloria Martyrum (31,32, qtd.in Thomapedia,p.204.), he gives extensive information about the martyrdom and burial of the Apostle in India ( and transfer of his holy mortal remains to Edessa , in Syria ), on the strength of the first hand information, obtained in writing from certain Theodore of Syria, who visited the Mylapore tomb. Western travellers,including Marco Polo (1293 ),Franciscan Friar, Monte Carvino , John Maringnoli (1349), Nicolo De Conti (1430 ),visited the Mylapore tomb, much early to the coming of the Portuguese. Early church father, John Chrysostom, ( 347—407 ), asserts the significance of Mylapore tomb of Thomas, by comparing it with those of Peter and Paul The great Arab traveler,Berbossa who visited India,in 1515 AD, also confirms that the tomb, at Chinnamala , in Mylapore, is of the Apostle ( Mundadan, Ibid,p.18 ). ( These clear references, will expose the prejudicial approach of eminent historians like Dr.M. G.S.Narayanan, that ‘Mylapore tomb’ has no importance before Portuguese Colonial rule ! ).
Marco Polo mentions being shown this spot ( Mailapore, the city of peacocks ),at the Mount,in the 13th century. Even up to the present day, persons annually performs pilgrimages to this place, kiss this spot, where he was slain, deposit their offerings and report their prayers at the Apostles’ grave. ( Quoted in Land of Perumals,p.212-13 )
After critically examining all the contemporary literature on the subject, Adolf Medlecott , in his book ( India and Apostle Thomas,p.134 ), confirms that he is thoroughly convinced that the claim of Mylapore to be the place of martyrdom and of the burial of the apostle was not based on undeniable fact, the Christians of Malabar would never have acknowledged their neighbours’ claim oto hold the tomb of the apostle, neither would they ever be induced to frequent it by way of pilgrimage. Had this been a case of a fictitious claim put forth to secure public notoriety and importance, they would as probably have, any way, set up one for themselves, and would have certainly ignored the claim of the former. In another place, he says,' Nicolo De Conti, an Italian merchant ( 1423--1430 ), speaks about the tomb of St. Thomas , at Malpuria which was venerated by Nestorians, who were " scattered all over India, as the Jews among us " ( A. Medlecott, Ibid p.95 )
The tomb of Mylapore is unique in the world in the sense that it is the only tomb believed to have been the burial-place of Apostle Thomas. Hosten ( in his book ' Antiquities from San Thome', p.4-5 ), quotes Mar Solomon(Archbishop of Perath-Meshan, 1222 AD.), as saying that the city in India, where Apostle Thomas is buried is Mahluph. No other place in India, but Mylapore answers to the last part of the statement.
The following words will show the in separable connection between Mylapore tomb and Nazrani religious practices:
“Their ‘holy water’,the preparation of which was left the Sacristan, consisted of common water, in which a few particles of earth, brought from the grave of St Thomas, at Mailapuram, were dissolved”( Accounts of Portuguese writer, Paoli, quoted by Francis Day in ‘ Land of Perumals’ p.219).
Excavation at Mylapore.
The excavations, conducted by the Portuguese, in 1523, 1524 and in 1970 ( by Fr. Hambye, with the support Archeological Department of Tamilnadu government ) were not very fruitful, except provided some valuable insights to the historicity and authenticity of the tomb.(There is a wrong notion among some secular historians that the Tomb of St.Thomas,at Mylapore was located and identified by the Colonial Portuguese, who came here, in the 16th century. The fact is different. They got information about the tomb, from Nazranis of Kerala, and World travelers and other sources, cited in the preceding paragraph of this article. In the initial period , Portuguese religious leaders were reluctant to conduct any excavation. For them, the ancient East Syriac Christian group, popularly known as MarThomaNazranis ( St.Thomas Christians), was not under the direct control of Roman See, hence schismatic. It was as a part of their strategy to win over these Christians by hook or Crooke, they under took this unilateral excavation. Hence, it is a truth that some secular historians (and even Nazrani writers), view the Portuguese excavation and its findings ( e.g. the 'Bleeding Cross' of Mylapore ), with an element of suspicion. For them, Portuguese are 'master manipulators' in matters connected with religion. ).
“For several centuries there was the Sepulcher of Thomas, well built, indeed; the brick in its eastern wall belong to the 1st century,AD” ( Hambye.S.J,St.Thomas & India.).
These bricks have been well preserved in the eastern wall of the tomb and when Mr. A.H.Longhurst, the Superindent of the Archaeological Department, Southern Circle, visited the tomb in 1921, he said, that it must be very ancient, for the bricks used were of the same type as those used for the Buddhist Stupas, only that those in the Telugu country and in the North of India… ( See Thomapedia, p.5.). Twenty years later, excavations were made to the south of Mylapore. The measurements and nature of the bricks found in the eastern wall of apostle’s tomb ( 15” x 8” x 2.9” ), and the oldest bricks unearthed by the excavation of 1945,at Arikkamedu near Pondicherry ( 150 km south of Mylapore ), the Roman trading station of 1st century, AD, looks one and the same. ( Ibid p.5. ) Remember, according to tradition, Martyrdom,of the Apostle took place in AD,72.
Further, the tomb excavated by the Portuguese at Mylapore, is no ordinary tomb (3 ½ mts deep) like the tomb of the kings buried in the vicinity. ( See references in Rambanpaattu 5,7,3, and 2 ). ( The Indian tradition affirms that apostle Thomas died near the ancient town of Mylapore,his mortal remains were buried in the town, the spot in the chapel known after his name, that the Portuguese excavated in 1523, A D. According to tradition and clear description by Early Church Fathers like St.Ephraem,4th c. , St Paulinus of Nola,431. A.D., and St. Gregory of Tours, 594 A D , the mortal remains of St. Thomas, brought by an unnamed merchant, from India, subsequently buried in the shrine at Edessa, in Mesopotamia. ( See, Carmina Nisibina, 42, qutd. by Meddlecott.) Now the relic is venerated at the Ortona, in Italy. Remember, the excavation,conducted by the Portuguese , in 1524 A D , at Mylapore- tomb,could not discover the body of a person.) . In 1953, part of the relic of St.Thomas, was brought to Kerala and installed at Church at Azhikode near Kodungalloor.
Further excavations and research with the help of modern techniques and tools, ( e.g carbon-14 test) will throw more light to the validity of these conclusions, especially the ‘the age of the tomb’.
Antiquity of the term NAZRANI
Nazrani is the commonly used name, for St.Thomas Christians of Malabar ( Kerala ).Opinions varied about the origin of this term.Some people say, it means Nazarene. For some others, the name was given to the converts of the Apostle , by the Jews, in seven Malabar churches ( settlements ), where Thomasleeha , erected crosses first. According to yet another group of historians, it is a Syriac word, meaning NAZARENE, given to converts of Apostle Thomas, even before the name CHRISTIAN, applied to the followers of Jesus , baptized at Antioch ( See Acts 11 /19 - 26 ).
According Bishop Francis Rose, they are popularly called Nasrani, that is for they are called by the Moors and Turks. ( Report of the Serra,George Nedungat, p.321.)
This seems to be a correct conclusion. In places like Ponnani, Malappuam etc,the name Nazrani, is used as a nick name to identify Christians.( The writer has personal experience in the matter.).
As per the Malabar tradition,Nazrani, Nazrani-Mappila,Marthomachristhyani, Margakkar etc.are synonyms to this ancient Christian community.
The facts cited above will pin point antiquity of the origin of the word prior to the time when the followers of Jesus begun to be called Christians, at Antioch.
Maarthoma Maargam ( Way of Thomas)
When ever there were interactions with the Portuguese Colonial priests, Nasranis dare to state that they were lead by Maarthoma Maargam ( Way of Thomas ). This shows that Nasranis,were always conscious about this Law ( Way ) of Thomas, inherited from their Apostle. “ It was the style of Christian life, strictly Indian or Malabarian. It was the sum total of their liturgical,eclesiatical ,social, cultural and political life,” (V.Pathikulangara,the ‘uniat’ Church of Thomas, p.351.) When ever they confront with the Portuguese, they declare that, The Law of Peter is different from Maarthoma Maargam. ( Documenta Intica,xiv /744 ).There were instances that the Nasranis resented with the Portuguese interference like that happened in Kodungallur, when perused them to eat fish and liquor in Lent, in violation of Maarthoma Maargam. ( See , Brown, ‘Christians of St.Thomas’, p.286).
Persian Crosses
Ancient Persian Crosses or St.Thomas Crosses ( ? ), with Pahlavi ( Middle Persian ) inscriptions, unearthed from Mylapore- area , Anuradhapuram ( Ceylon ) and Goa, and found in several Kerala churches, like Kottayam, Kadamattom,Muttuchira, Alengad, and Kothanalloor, attest the Persian – mercantile connection ,at the same time not at all connected with the Apostle.There is evidence that this cross ,as a meaningful Christian symbol, was popularized by East Syrian prelates like Mar Abraham and the alleged Manichaean connection to it, is the ‘invention’ of some perverted pundits.
Some more significant references
One of the earliest facts which can be cited as history, pinpointing the Apostolic origin of Indian Church, is the document of the Council of Nicea, held in 325.AD. There are records in the Vatican archives that,one of the Bishops, signed the decrees of the Council,as John, Bishop of Persia & Great India. We know nothing more, except what his signature tells us. But by all probabilities, he was the representative of Malabar Church of our India.
An interesting, at the same time authoritative, review of the hitherto history about the origin and spread of Christianity in Malabar, is by East Syrian bishop Mar Gabriel ( 1705 ), in the form of a ( lengthy ) letter in Syriac to Vissicher,the Dutch Clergy man. May I take the liberty to reproduce some lines from that write-up:
Fifty-two years after the birth of the Messiah, the holy Apostle Thomas, arrived at Mailapore on the coast of Coromandel, preaching the Gospel and founding churches there. Passing from thence to Malabar, the holy man landed on the island of Maliankarre,( situated between Cranganore and Paroe ), preached and taught, and built churches in that island,and likewise Cottacay,Repolym, Gokkomangalam, Pernetta, and Tirocusngotta; and having finished his work, in these parts, and ordained two priests, returned to the land of the Pandis,to teach the people there. But whilst he was thus occupied, the Apostle was pierced by the Heathens with spears and thus ended his life. In the course of a few years, all the priests in Hindostan and Malabar, died; and many years afterwards , a Tovenaar called Mamukawasser, an enemy to the Christian faith, arrived at Maliapore, performing many miracles to hinder its progress. And many of the principal Christians giving heed to him, forsook Christianity and followed this false teacher, Mamukawasser. ...........( Notes on Vissichers, letters from Malabar ,K.P.Padmanabha Menon,p.44 )
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