0
The belief that St. Thomas came to India originates in a 3rd century apocryphal religious romance by the Edessan Gnostic poet Bardesanes called the Acts of Thomas.
Bardesanes used the term "India" as a synonym for Asia as did most writers of the day. Those countries east of Jersusalem and the Roman Empire's borders were said to be in India. They included countries as diverse as Egypt and Japan.
The Acts of Thomas states that Thomas was executed by a Zoroastrian king named Mazdai (a Mazdean is Zoroastrian) for cheating and various social crimes including black magic and abducting women.
According to Pope Benedict XVI, Thomas visited Parthia (Iran) and may have reached as far east as North-West India (now Pakistan).
The legend was originally brought to peninsular India by Syrian Christian immigrants to Kerala from Mesopotamia.
The story that St. Thomas was buried on the Coromandel Coast in South India first appears in Marco Polo's famous 13th century travel book Il Milione. The story has no historical value. Marco Polo was repeating travellers tales told to him by Syrian Christian and Muslim traders in Constantinople.
The Portuguese, following Marco Polo, decided quite arbitrarily that Mylapore (Madras now Chennai) was the place of his martyrdom and burial. They destroyed the Kapaleeswara Shiva Temple on the Mylapore beach, created a fake tomb out of materials brought from Goa, built the first St. Thomas Church, and falsely identified the place as Thomas' tomb. Two other Hindu sites in Madras were identified with Thomas by the Portuguese, the temples on them destroyed, and churches raised in his memory.
The legend is highly controversial and is today used by the Roman Catholic Church as a Propaganda tool to malign the Hindu community whom they accuse of Thomas' murder.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Why was Saint Thomas killed?
Thomas was killed for trying to spread the Gospel in India.
Who was the first saint from India?
The first saint of India was actually St. Thomas the Apostle who was martyred there. The first saint born in India is Saint Alphonsa of India who was canonized on October 12, 2008, by Pope Benedict XVI.
Why is Saint Thomas the patron of India?
St. Thomas was the first missionary to preach the Gospel in India and was martyred there for doing so.
Where did Saint Thomas the Apostle live?
Thomas was originally from Galilee but then began his mission and preached in Persia and India. His final years were spent in India and he was martyred there.in south India
Why did Saint Thomas the Apostle become a saint?
Because he was Martyred for the faith all the way out in India.
Who is the first Christian saint of India?
The first Christian saint of India is Saint Thomas the Apostle, who is believed to have arrived in India in the 1st century AD and spread Christianity in the region. He is also known as Saint Thomas the Doubter or Doubting Thomas.
Why was Saint Thomas killed?
Thomas was killed for trying to spread the Gospel in India.
Who was the first saint from India?
The first saint of India was actually St. Thomas the Apostle who was martyred there. The first saint born in India is Saint Alphonsa of India who was canonized on October 12, 2008, by Pope Benedict XVI.
Why is Saint Thomas the patron of India?
St. Thomas was the first missionary to preach the Gospel in India and was martyred there for doing so.
What country was Saint Thomas born in?
St. Thomas was probably born in Palestine but died in India.
Where did Saint Thomas the Apostle live?
Thomas was originally from Galilee but then began his mission and preached in Persia and India. His final years were spent in India and he was martyred there.in south India
Was Thomas there when Jesus was show his desciples the he had come back from the dead?
Saint Thomas was preaching in India when JESUS CHRIST has appeared to His disciples to prove to them that He Has arisen from the death...When Saint Thomas returned from preaching in India,the rest of the disciples told Him that JESUS Has arisen from the death...he didn't believe except when JESUS appeared again and Saint Thomas touched His wounds...
Why did Saint Thomas the Apostle become a saint?
Because he was Martyred for the faith all the way out in India.
When did Saint Thomas die?
St. Thomas the Apostle was martyred in India about the year 72.St. Thomas died in AD 72. He was matryed in Mylapore.
Who is the heavenly patron of the Syro Malabar Diocese?
The heavenly patron of the Syro-Malabar Diocese is St. Thomas the Apostle. St. Thomas is considered the patron saint of India and is particularly revered among members of the Syro-Malabar Church due to his missionary work in India.
Where did Saint Thomas live?
Thomas was probably from Galilee originally. He later preached in Persia and India, where he died.
Why is Saint Thomas the Apostle the patron saint of architects?
Legend and tradition tell us that St. Thomas built several buildings while evangelizing India, including a palace for an Indian prince.
