Indian Antiquary Vol 52

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 121

MAY, 1923)
REGARDING THE CHRISTIANS OF ST, THOMAS IN SOUTH INDIA
105
As regards Quilon itself, after stating (p. 97) that it was "a very great city with a right good haven," Barbosa says that "Hither come Moors, Heathen and Christians in great numbers." And he then proceeds to remark (pp. 97 ff.) that "At a certain point where the land projects into the sea is a very great church, miraculously built by the Apostle Our Lord Saint Thomas." Then follows a variant of the well-known story of the great log at full length, but it is told of Quilon and not here of Mailapur: "The Christians of Saint Thomas asserted to me that they had found this written in their book which they preserve with extreme reverence." With the log, "The Apostle then, whom they call Matoma ( = Syrian, Mar Thoma]," miraculously built his Church.
Barbosa then makes some statements as to these Christians which are worth excerpting (pp. 100-101):
Beholding these miracles and many others, which Our Lord daily worked through him, many became Christians from Cochin to the great Kingdom of Coilam, whick extends to the Coast facing towards Ceilam, in which there may be well twelve thousand [variously 2,000 and 7,000 households of Christians scattered among the Heathen, and there also some churches in the inland country. The more part of these lack both doctrine and baptism, having only the name of Christians, for St. Thomas in his time baptised all who desired baptism, and as the King of Coilam perceived that so many people were receiving his doctrine he took heed of it, saying that they would take possession of the land. So he began to shun them, and on this Saint Thomas departed thence, persecuted by them and by the Heathen, towards the land of Charamandel and came to a great town named Mailapur, where he received martyrdom and where he lies buried, of which I will speak more fully in its place further on. Thus from that time the Christians remained in this Kingdom of Coilam with that church, and levied duties on pepper, of which it possesses somewhat, and also other duties. These Christians, thus continuing without instructions and with no priest to baptise them, were for long Christians in nothing but name only. Then they gathered together and took counsel one with another, and determined to send forth some from among them into the world where the Sacrament of Baptism was known. With this intent five men set forth into the world at great cost, and came to stay in the land of Armenia (Syria] where they found many Christians and a Patriarch who ruled them, who, understandinig their object, sent with them a Bishop and five or six clerks to baptise them and say mass and instruct them, which Bishop tarried with them for five or six years, and when he went back there came another, who stayed with them for as many years. Thus for a long time they continued to improve.
These Armenians are white men; they speak Arabic and Chaldee. They have the church law and recite their prayers perpetually. Yet I know not whether they recite the whole office as do our Friars. They wear their tonsures reversed, hair in the place of the tonsure, and the head around it shaven. They wear white shirts, and turbans on their heads; they go barefoot, and wear long beards. They are extremely devout and say mass at the altar as we do here, with a cross facing them. He who says it walks between two men, who help him, one on each side. They communicate with salted bread ingead of the host, and consecrate thereof sufficient for all who are present in the church ; they distribute the whole of this as if it were blessed bread, and every man comes to the foot of the altar to receive it from the priest's hand. And the wine is in this wise. As at that time there was no wine in India they take raisins brought from Mecca and Ormuz, and leave them for the night to soak; the next day when