Mar Thoma Church

[Bruce Michael]

Hi Friends,
The Thomas Church in India uses a list of practices that are quite dissimilar the the Church in the West:
"The adoption of a more characteristically Indian worship posture
such as leaving foot wear outside the worship, sitting on the floor, prostrating, sitting in circular form, communicating peace through the Namaste gesture etc.

"The use of Indian musical instruments such as Tabla, Mridangam, tribal drum, flute and cymbals.

"The emphasis on lyrical singing and chanting prayers and praises etc. The Bhajans, Namjapa often with an attitude of sharanam (refuge) in response to the calling of the divine titles. The ancient mystic syllable "am" is also chanted at the beginning of some services.

"Considerable significance is also given to the lighting of lamp, centrally placed as an initial act of worship.

"There are frequent pauses for silent meditation.

"Flowers are offered as part of the main offering.

"Offerings also include fruit, broken coconut and camphor, incense too may well be burnt as part of offering.

"All worshippers bring up their offering to the central place or they may be placed in brass pots at the entrance.

"In some services sandal paste, ash etc. may be applied to the forehead.

"There is generally emphasis on awakened consciousness, God consciousness and commitment to social action."

- Eric Lott who was Professor of Religion in U.T. College, Bangalore
giving some common features of Enculturation of Liturgy both in the
Roman Catholic and Protestant churches in India, from the
Book, 'Worship in an Indian Context'.

It appears the Manicheans in India at one time joined the Mar Thoma Church rather than face extinction. They took with them some of their customs (such as their cross).

Here is a good description of the martyrdom of St. Thomas:

"In "The Acts of Judas Thuma", Bardaisan had described St. Thomas's
death. While St. Thomas was travelling for his Gospel work in the
land of king Mazdai, a lady by name Magdonia, who believed in Christ,
came in a chariot to see him. She was the wife of a close friend of
the King. St Thomas baptized her. On a complaint filed by her husband
with the King, St Thomas was arrested and put into jail so that he
might repent. While in jail he converted the Queen, Theresa, to Christianity (Thersamma is a common name among Christians). This made the King more angry. He ordered that St Thomas be killed. Four soldiers took him half a mile away from the palace and killed him by piercing on the back with a spear made up of pinewood. He was buried in a tomb near by that had been prepared to bury kings. The place where he was buried is known as Calamina."

There is another version where he was speared by a Brahman.

-Br.Bruce

[Pico]

Originally Posted by Bruce Michael

There is another version where he was speared by a Brahman.

-Br.Bruce

You mean, like, the main Hindu god?

[Bruce Michael]

Originally Posted by Pico

You mean, like, the main Hindu god?

There are conflicting reports:
St. Thomas

It was reported that several Brahman priests found St Thomas praying in a cave near his home and wounded him with a spear. The apostle dragged himself out of the cave, struggled some distance to a nearby chapel and in the presence of several of his disciples, grasped a stone cross. According to an account noted by Marco Polo, Thomas prayed, "Lord, I thank Thee for all Thy mercies. Into Thy hands I commend my spirit," and entered into rest. So closed the remarkable career of a remarkable man, a man who should be remembered not for being a "doubter", but for his faith and zeal.

No one has identified this city of Calamene or Calamina so far.

St.Thomas the Apostle

Greetings,
Br.Bruce

[flowperson]

This is the most comprehensive source of information on Thomas Didymus that I've found over the years.
flow....

The Gnostic Apostle Thomas

[Bruce Michael]

The "Acts of Thoma" written by Bardaisan, originally a follower of Mani, recorded that St Thomas was killed in the land of Mazdai (Persia) that was at that time part of Greater/Great India.

I posted before that the town of Calamina was associated with St. Thomas, but apparently no such town has been found:

"From the facts that the Roman Breviary declares St. Thomas to have "crowned the glory of his Apostleship with martyrdom at Calamina" and that no traces of any CaIamina exist, various theories - - some of them probably absurd -- have been put forward to identify Calamina with Mylapur, or with St. Thomas's Mount. The writer of this article once suggested that Calamina might be a modification of Cholamandalam (i.e. the kingdom of the Cholas as the surrounding country was in the beginning of the Christian era). On maturer reflection he has found it far more reasonable to believe that Calamina was an ancient town at the foot of the hill at St. Thomas's Mount, that has wholly disappeared, as many more recent, historic Indian cities have disappeared, built as they were of mud, except for their temples arid palaces which were of exquisitely wrought stone. "

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Saint Thomas of Mylapur

Mylapur/Mylapore means place of peacocks- a bird associated with St. Thomas.

-Br.Bruce