"The
Apostle St. Thomas landed at Maliankara (i.e Cranganore) with Habban,
the merchant. He (St. Thomas) worked great miracles and in eight
months established in that town, the Church of Jesus Christ. Then
he went to Mailepuram (Mylapore - Madras) where he preached the
Gospel of the Lord for four months and a half and embarked for
China. He remained in China for four and a half months and returned
to Mailepuram. After he had been there for a month a so, the son
- in- law of the King of 'Tiruvanchikulam' come to him and besought
him to return to Malabar. They embarked on a ship and come to
Maliankara (Kodungallore), where, in less than six months, the
Apostle converted the King and his family, 40 Jews and 400 heathens.
He
was preaching to the people Church surmounted by a cross and ordained
priests. One of the first that he ordained was the Son - in -
law of the King. King was named Andrew and the Son - in - law,
Peter. Accompanied by Peter, the Apostle went to Quilon (Kollam)
where he planted a cross and baptized 2400 heathens. From Quilon,
he went to the mountain place, Chayal' remained there a whole
year as he had done at Quilon and baptized 2,800 heathens and
planted a cross. At the request of the two chiefs of 'Triepalesuaram'
he returned to that village. But seeing that the people had desecrated
the cross he had erected there, he cursed the village (which at
the present - day is a heap of ruins) Nevertheless, he remained
there for two months. He again erected the cross and instructed
the people so that they might not return to heathenism and ordained
priest St. Thomas, one of the chiefs who had always remained strong
in his faith. During this two months that he remained at 'Triepalesuaram',
he confirmed in their faith all the Christians and converted 200
pagans. Not far from there, to the south, he built the Church
of 'Niranam' and ordained priests, his first disciple St. Thomas Maliyakel
who has a native of the place. He then repaired to 'Kokkamangalam',
where he dwelt one year and converted 1500 heathens erected a
cross and taught the people how to honour God. He visited again
Kottakavu - Paraur, remaining there nearly a year and converted
2,200 people.
There
he went by the southern road to Maliankara and was pleased to
see the flourishing state of that Christian community. He stayed
there only two weeks and started for the north, proceeding to
'Palayur' where in one month he baptized 1,280 pagans, and according
to his habit, erected a great cross. Towards the end of the year,
59 (AD 59) he returned to Maliepuram (Mylapore).
He
came back to Malabar and the Angels protected him during the journey.
He remained two months in 'Maleattur' and converted 220 pagons.
He stayed a whole year at 'Niranam' and was satisfied with the
faith of the people there and with the exemplary life they led,
and gave Confirmation to all those that had not yet received sacrament.
He proceeded to 'Chayal' taking with him his disciple, St. Thomas
Rabban Malikayal. During the year he stayed there, he built a
Church and ordained priests and conferred the holy sacrament of
Confirmation on all who had not yet received it. After that he
took leave of the Christians and told them that they would never
see him again.
And
he started for the country of Tamils. St. Thomas Rabban and Peter,
the son-in-law of the King, accompanied him for seven miles and
a half and took leave of him.
The
remaining journey details through the west coast may be learnt
in the west coast part of the website.
Jesus
& St. Thomas | India & St. Thomas
| 7 Churches | St. Thomas
Museum | Archaeology
Little Mount | Martyrdom
| Shrine on the Hill | Tomb
of the Saint | Malayattoor
Chruch
Bibliography | Articles
| Travel Guide | About
Us | Contact Us | Advertise
| Home
