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9. COMING OF THOMAS
of all creation who cared enough for mankind that he incarnated himself on this earth to redeem those who are heavy laden.
Brahmins all over India took this message seriously. After all they had very little to survive. In Kerala alone seventy five families of Brahmins - all who were in that part of India - took shelter under the new religion. The cases elsewhere were no different. However, in Kerala we know that there were no Brahmins until the seventh century showing thereby that it was a people's movement. The whole Brahmin community surrendered to Christ. Kerala Christians still claim descend from those seventy-five. The story of these conversions is handed down orally through the powerful medium of folk songs and arts. These include:
1 The Song of the Deacon - the Chapter on Thomas known to us as "Rambaan Pattu - Thoma Parvam" 2. The Morality Plays of the Christians. - The Drama of the Way known in Malayalam as "Margam Kali" 3. The Songs of the Sons of the Great Kings : known in Malayalam as Maapilla Paattu. 4. Songs on Stringed Instrument - Veeradian Pattu - Villadichan Pattu 5. Chavittu Nadakam : Tap Drama
all
The Malabar (Kerala) and Indian traditions are referred to by the early Church Fathers through the history of the church. Among them are the following references:
Clement of Alexandria 3rd CAD ( 235) Doctrine of the Apostles 3rd CAD Syria Oriegen 3rd (185-254 AD) quoted in Eusebius Alexandria Eusebius (early 4th cent.) Caesarea St. Jerome (342-420 A.D.) about the mission of Pantaenus, to India. St. Ephrem (306-373 A.D.), St. Gregory of Nazianze (324-390 A.D.), St. Ambrose (333-397 A.D.), St. Jerome, St. Gregory of Tours (6th cent.) Isidore of Seville (7th cent.)
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