The Historical Saint Thomas Cross (Mar Thoma Sleeha) is an ancient, distinct Christian symbol in India associated with the 1st-century arrival of St. Thomas the Apostle. Primarily found in Kerala and South Tamil Nadu, these, 6th–7th century, stone carvings often feature Pahlavi inscriptions (Middle Persian) meaning "By this cross is the Messiah victorious," blending East Syriac Christianity, with local Indian artistic traditions. Among the age old crosses, the Bleeding Cross (St. Thomas Mount) is significant from the history point of view. Found in 1523 by the Portuguese at the site of St. Thomas' martyrdom in St. Thomas Mount of Chennai (Tamil Nadu), this is the most famous cross. It appeared to have stains that "bled" on anniversaries, now preserved in the Santhome Cathedral, Mylapore, Chennai.
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| Saint Thomas cross en.wikipedia.org |
Above image: The image is that of a Cross called Saint Thomas Christian Crosses and are ancient crosses that belonged to the pretty old community of Saint Thomas Christians of India, whose forefathers were initiated into Christianity way back in the first century by St Thomas the Apostle, one of the disciples of Jesus Christ. century..........
it is a universally accepted fact that Cross has been a symbol of Christians of various denominations all over the world. Way back in the beginning, it is said that Primitive Christian groups used the image of fish as their symbol. According to Tertullian (b AD 160) the Sign of cross was reported to be used by primitive Christians.
Only in the third century cross was linked with divinity and Clement of Alexandria mentions that the Cross was considered as the symbol of the Lord. Emergence of cross as the public symbol of Christians took place in the 4th century after the finding of the real Cross of Calvary by saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine who made the declaration that Christianity was the official religion of the Roman Empire. Earlier, Romans and Greeks used cross as a sign of punishment and executed people on crosses. Later the cross became a well-established symbol of Christianity.
Being a multi-religious country, India has been home to many religions for centuries, dating back to first and second centuries. No doubt India’s Christian communities are among the most ancient in the world and Christianity came to India far long before the arrival of European colonists. There is a strong evidence of the presence of Christianity in India from AD 190. From the writings of Eusebius of Caesarea in the early 4th century, and of Saint Jerome in the late 4th century, in which they mentioned about the visit of Pantaenus, the head of the Alexandrian school of theology, at the end of the 2nd century (Koonam Makkal 2012). it is obvious the Christian community in India is pretty old.
The Saint Thomas Christian community of India traces their origins to the time of the arrival of St. Thomas in the 1st century. His main purpose was to spread the Gospel of Christ among the natives and engage in evangelistic activities in India. Considered as one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, the Cross been venerated by all St Thomas Christians from ancient times. They have inscriptions in Pahlavi (Middle Persian) and Syriac which indicate that they date to before the eight century. An attempt is made to cover as many historical sites possible
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| Indian postal stamp honoring St. Thomas en.wikipedia.org |
These carved crosses are decorative and are set inside the churches and are not typical crucifix as it is commonly found to be. It is a plain cross which doesn’t show Christ on the cross. It is imperative to note that in Eastern and Syrian Christianity, the plain cross is the symbol of the triumph of Christ’s life over death, a typical symbolism in Eastern Christianity.
The Saint Thomas Christian crosses come under different categories. They are: Mar Thoma Silba (Saint Thomas Cross), Persian Cross (also called leaved cross as they have a set of leaves at the bottom) and Nasrani Sthambam (open-air rock cross; the plinth of this cross has rose petals, lotus flowers and a square base).
As for cross with leaves on either side, it is symbolic of the 'Tree of Life'. The Syriac fathers believed that the Tree of Life symbolizes Christ and the Cross. Jesus himself is the tree of life, and at the burial a person is being planted like the cross in the earth. In the case of crosses with pearl-like design at the ends of the four arms is also associated with Syriac spirituality. It highlights the pearl as salvation; Crosses with arms flare out at their ends into one or three pearls.
’An interesting feature is in the Christian settlements of Kerala, Pahlavi-inscribed granite bas-relief crosses, were widely found in many places. The script found on these tablets is called ‘Pahlavi that was used to write Middle Iranian. The crosses discovered in many Asian countries suggest the the East Syriac Christians had a harmonious relation with many countries,
Mar Thoma cross is found at Kadamattom, Kottayam Muttuchira, Kothanalloor and Alangad in the South Indian state of Kerala. Outside Kerala, it is found in Goa and Tamil Nadu, Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka and Taxila in Pakistan. Flowery Persian Crosses are found at Kottakkavu, Pallipuram and Niranam. The large rock crosses with no shelter over them called Nasrani Sthambams are found in the front part of many St. Thomas Christian churches in Kerala.
An interesting recorded fact is that before the Portuguese explorers landed in India way back in 1498 on the coastal Malabar, there existed more than 150 Syrian churches and many of them disappeared in the wake of Goa Inquisition under Portuguese rule in the 1500s as part of Kerala came under their rule. Proselytizing by the Catholic Church under the Portuguese government took a ruthless, inhuman form. The colonists with demonic intent unleashed terror not only on Hindus, but also other groups, including New Christians.
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| St. Thomas Cathedral Santhome, Chennai culturenow.org |
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| Tomb of St. Thomas, the apostle Mylapore, Chennai, India.upload.wikimedia.org |
The following places are well-known for the installation of Marthoma crosses (silba is a Syriac term meaning cross):
St. Thomas Mount, Chennai, Tamil Nadu:
St. Thomas Mount, Chennai, Tamil Nadu:
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| Nave St. Thomas Church, St. Thomas Mount, Chennai en.wikipedia.org |
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| Our Lady of Expectation),St. Thomas mount, Chennai. Flickr.com |
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| St. Thomas Mount, Senhora Da Expectação (Our Lady of Expectation) cityseeker.com |
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| Bleeding Cross, St. Thomas Mount, Chennai, youtube.com |
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| Persian cross at St Thomas Mount Chennai commons.wikimedia.org |
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Above image: Persian cross at St Thomas Mount, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The Cross is at Our Lady of Expectations Church under the Roman Catholic diocese of Chingleput (Madras-Mylapore). St Thomas, the Apostle of India visited and settled down in what is now Madras (now Chennai) around 70 AD. It is strongly believed that he himself carved a stone cross with his own fingernail. This cross was alleged to have been bleeding for close to 100 years. It was the Portuguese who discovered the mountain and cave they called home and built the Church of "Our Lady of Expectations" here in 1523 and formed the fort town of San Thome in Madras. The shrine was built on the spot where St. Thomas died (martyred) and buried way back in 72 AD. It may be small, but nevertheless, but it is historically an important pilgrimage center for ardent Christian devotees. Among the genre of crosses the Persian cross at St Thomas Mount is a popular one. .........
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| St. Thomas Churches,Kerala stapostle.org |
Kottakkavu Sliva, the Persian cross, Kerala:
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| Kottakkavu Mar Thoma North paravur. Kottakkavu Mar Thoma |
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Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Church, Arakuzha, Kerala:
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| Mariam Syro-Malabar Church, Arakuzha kerala en.wikipedia.org |
Above image: This is the image of an open air rock cross also called Nasrani sthambam (pillar) in front of Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Church, Arakuzha, Kerala.
It is under the Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabar Church. This Cross is considered to be the oldest one in India. It is a historical fact that St. Thomas Christians of Arakuzha have more than 1500 years of recorded history. This region covering Kothamangalam, Vazhakulam, Arakuzha, Mylakompu, Nagapuzha, Muthalakodam of erstwhile Travancore kingdom has some very old Syrian churches dating several centuries back . Arakuzha, being an ancient Syrian Christian centre, it is recorded, gave asylum to thousands of migrant Syrian Christians during the Tipu Sultan (of Mysore)'s invasion here and persecution of Nasranis and destruction of churches.
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Kadamattom Church Kerala:
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| Kadamattom Church,Ernakulam, KE |
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| Nasrani cross at Kadamattom enwikipedia.org |
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| Persian cross, Kadamattom Church. en.wikipedia.org |
Above image: This Cross is at Kadamattom Church of the Oriental Orthodox Church. Situated close to Kolenchery town near Muvattupuzha, Ernakulam District, it is one of the ancient churches in India dating back to the 9th Century AD. It is believed the old church was built before AD 650, as confirmed by the fact that, at that time, Kolenchery Church (built around AD 650) had not yet come into existence. Built on a property donated by the 'Karthas', the then prominent family of Kadamattom, this church is located near the Kochi -Madurai National Highway 49 and lies one kilometer (0.62 mi) after the Peruvannamuzhi Junction. The major attraction here is an old Persian cross with four equal arms and ancient writings inscribed on it and can be seen on the right wall of the Madbaha or Holy of Holies. The wings of the cross also end with floral designs.
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Muttuchira church, Kerala:
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| Muttuchira Church en.Wikipedia.org |
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Cross in the Kaduthuruthy Valiyapally:
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| Kaduthuruthy Valiyapally St.Mary's Knanaya catholic church reddit.com |
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| 10th CE Persian cross, Kottayam upload.wikimedia.org |
Above image: Famous Persian cross, Kottayam Knanaya Valiya pally probably from 10th century CE. (U. of Chicago, published 1892). .........
Above image: The Cross here at St. Mary's Knanaya Church is considered of late origin (Ca 10th century); the Pahlavi inscriptions of this church are famous. Built in 1550 C.E, this church belongs to the Knanaya Orthodox Syrian Community. The Persian cross, believed to be one of the seven brought here by St. Thomas. St. George's Feast, an annual event, falls on April 24. It is situated 2 km to the west of Kottayam city.
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Akaparambu Catholic Church, Kerala:
This Cross is at St. Gervasis and Prothasis Church under the eparchy of Palai of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.
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| St. Gervasis and Prothasis othanalloorforanechurch.com |
Catholic Church at Akaparambu is about 1.5 km. away east of Kariyad on Angamally-Aluva national high way. The Akaparambu Catholic Church, which is one of the twin churches, is named after twin brothers, Saints Gervasis & Prothasis, who were martyred in Milan, Italy for protecting the Christian faith in the second century. This is the only church in the patronage of these twin Saints in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly. The Christian faith and tradition of Akaparambu goes back to first century. Knanaya rite was introduced with the arrival of Knanaya priests along with foreign migrants in the fourth century. At that point of time, a church was built here with the support of Knanaya missionaries in 825 A D. This Church has been known as ‘Church of Kanthisans’ since the ancient time.
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Thomas Cross at Agassaim, Goa:
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| Thomas Cross in Agasim, heraldgoa.in |
Above image: On 27 April 2001, Fr Cosme Costa S.F.X. of the Pilar Society of Goa unearthed a remarkable granite stone cross from a bushy, snake-infested mound near St. Peter’s Chapel, Dando, Agaçaim, Goa........
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| Thomas Cross in Agasim,700 AD gaunkar.com |
Above image: The Thomas Cross found in Agasim is from 700 A.D and has Pahlavi letters. It suggests the presence of Persian Christians living in Goa. The Cross is now kept at Pilar Seminary Museum.
Agassaim: The port of Goa Pakpattan on the banks of Zuari was once a busy one, but now has receded into relative obscurity long ago, and the archaeological remains of its glorious past and global links are faded beyond redemption due to neglect. The Port's links with Persia in the 6th century and the first archaeological findings have become a heap of trash and stones. A cross with unique features at Dandi marked the past links with Persia.
Lying in a serene corner of Agassaim, barely 500m north-west of the Zuari bridge, this cross outside St Peter's chapel holds sentimental value for researchers, as another small granite cross with an inscription in Persia's Pahlavi language was found within its structure that shows signs of fading due to age and vagaries of weather conditions.
According to a historian and priest of Pilar society, Fr. Cosme Costa, ."The unique half broken granite cross is a valuable find for Goa's history, as it resembles other crosses found on the rim of Indian Ocean," . The cross is two-and-half feet in height, about one foot in breadth and six inches in thickness. Adorned with a lotus pedestal, it has a depiction of the Holy Spirit descending on it. The existence of Christianity in Goa before the advent of the Portuguese has been always known.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/A-cross-to-pay-homage-to/articleshow/44903344.cms
Other Crosses:
Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is at Anuradhapura museum and was found during excavations of Anuradhapura in 1912. This cross is considered as the oldest cross in Sri Lanka.
Taxila, Pakistan: The cross is kept at the Cathedral Church of the Resurrection, Lahore.
There is a St Thomas cross in stone on the porch of the Church of St Thomas the Apostle, Killinghall, carved by Charles Mawer of Leeds.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kottakkavu_Mar_Thoma_Church,_North_Paravur
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arakuzha
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Thomas_Christian_cross
K. N. Jayaraman (Author: navrangindia.blogspot.com)
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