History of Early Christianity in India

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HISTORY OF THE EARLY CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA : M. M. NINAN Didymus means Twin in Greek. He is generally known as the Doubting Thomas since he refused to believe the resurrection unless he has verified it himself. If we apply the criteria of Rom. 10:10 Thomas was the first Christian, since he was the first person to confess that Jesus was indeed God. His acts are not found in the Acts of the Apostles. But an apocryphal book written around 300 AD called "Acts of Thomas”, describes it with embellishments and exaggerations. It was probably written in Greek and was translated in to Syriac. (16). It is also found in Latin, Armenian, Ethiopic (Coptic), and Arabic. These were written by Gnostic writers in Edessa and some scholars ascribe it to Bardaisan (155-223 AD) of Syria. Apart from embellishments and exaggerations typical of these types of writings, the context and historical facts are true. Archeology and Indian traditions substantiate the basic historic and geographic context in this book. “This Pseudepigraphic text relates the adventures of the apostle Judas Thomas as he preaches an ascetical or encratite form of Christianity on the way to and from India. Like other apocryphal acts combining popular legend and religious propaganda, the work attempts to entertain and instruct. In addition to narratives of Thomas' adventures, its poetic and liturgical elements provide important evidence for early Syrian Christian traditions.” (17) One of the reasons for doubting the story was the absence of any King by the name of Gondophores in India. During the last few decades a large deposit of coins turned up which clearly showed Gondophores as the Indo- Parthian King with a brother whose name was Gad as mentioned in the Acts of Thomas. The coins from Taxila with the seal and inscription of King Gundophorus read: "Maharaja - rajarajasamahata -dramia -devavrata Gundapharase". Rock stone called Takhth-i-Bahi Stone of size 17" long and 14.5" broad has this inscription: "In the twenty-sixth year of the great King Gudaphara in the year three and one hundred, in the month of Vaishakh, on the fifth day" (18) Kerala traditions are encoded in oral traditions handed down through generations as folklore, music and drama. 6
HISTORY OF THE EARLY CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA : M. M. NINAN Rambaan Paattu or Thomma Parvom is a song about the Acts of Thomas written around 1600 by Rambaan Thomas. Rambaan Thomas of Malyakal Family descends from the first Bishop whom St. Thomas is said to have ordained. The poem is the oral tradition handed down through generations. It is said to have been originally written by the Rambaan Thomas, the Bishop. Margom Kali (Drama about the Way) and Mappila Paattu (The Songs of the Children of the King) are series of songs of the Acts of Thomas and the history of the Malabar Church. They are sung in consonance with dance forms that are typical of the Syrian Christians. Some of them are dance dramas performed in the open as part of the festivals of the church. These have no specific origin, but grew up in the course of history. Veeradian Paattu is sung by a local Hindu group (called Veeradians) in accompaniment of Villu - a local instrument (a stringed instrument like the bow) - during Christian festivals. This form of art also dates back to unknown period handed down through generations and modified in that process. According to Kerala tradition Thomas landed in Cranganore in Mali Island on the present Alwaye coast in Malabar Coast, in 52 AD. It is also called Muchiri – three lips – cleft lips - as the River Periyar splits into three braches before reaching the Sea to form this island. This came to be known Muziris to the seafarers. The ruler of the Chera kingdom at that time was Udayan Cheran Athen I (page 44 of Cochin State Manual). Other names of this port are Kodungaloor, Cranganore and Maliankara.. There were Jewish colonies in Malabar in the first century. Here he preached to a Jewish community who accepted Jesus as mesia and their synagogue became a Christian church. It is said that Thomas ordained one Prince Peter to be the head of the church of the Jews and left for Takshasila, (Taxila, a University City in the Indus Valley) the capital of Gondaphorus Kingdom. He established a church in that region before he traveled to other areas of India. These churches were annihilated during the invasion of Kushan and Moghal dynasty and the Christians went underground. He returned to Kerala where he established seven and half churches with 12 Brahmin families as teachers and over 3000 converts from Kshatriyas, 7
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third had a face like a man, the fo
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Mark 9:34 But they kept quiet becau
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congregation stand to receive the g
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sacrifice of Jesus on the Calvary a
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the liturgical style as whole. In i
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Phil 2:9 Therefore God exalted him
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History of Early Christianity in India

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