St. Thomas on the Indian postage stamp

 

On 2nd December 1964, in connection with Pope Paul VI's visit to India, India Post issued a stamp featuring an image of "Saint Thomas," the apostle of Jesus Christ in India. Later, in commemoration of the 19th centenary of his death, another stamp was released by India Post on 3rd July 1973, depicting the cross believed to have been sculpted by him at St. Thomas Mount in Chennai.
(To the best of my knowledge, the stamp depicting the cross was designed by Mr. N. G. Jerome from Thevara, Kochi.)

Christianity, one of the world's oldest religions, has existed for over 2,000 years. Christians believe that Jesus Christ, prophesied as the Messiah in the Old Testament of the Bible, is the Son of God and the Savior of humanity. Born into a Jewish family near Jerusalem, Jesus lived a life preaching the gospel of salvation and performing miracles. Before ultimately suffering and dying on the cross, he chose 12 disciples to spread the gospel worldwide. Among them, Thomas is believed to have been the one who introduced Christianity to India. The debate over whether Saint Thomas came to India and converted local brahmins to Christianity persists even after centuries.

According to Mar Thoma Christian belief, Saint Thomas arrived in India on November 21st. He landed at Malyankara, near the port of Kodungallur (Mussiris). Through his evangelistic efforts, he converted local Jewish communities and indigenous groups to Christianity across southern India. He established seven and a half churches (faith communities) in Kodungallur (Cranganore), Palayoor, Kottakkavu (Paravur), Kokkamangalam, Nirannam, Kollam, and Chayal (Nilakkal). Subsequently, he traveled to Tamil Nadu, arriving in Mylapore, now part of Chennai.

Although Saint Thomas enjoyed a friendship with the King of Mylapore, some of the king's court officials, opposed to the mass conversion to Christianity, plotted to kill him. He sought refuge in Little Mount, a forested area, but his enemies tracked him down and killed him with a spear. It is believed that he was martyred on July 3, AD 72. Following his martyrdom, his body was reportedly transported to Mylapore and buried in a church built there. It is also believed that a vessel containing his blood and the spear that pierced him were interred in his tomb.

The book 'The Acts of Thomas,' written in the 3rd century AD, sheds light on the life of Thomas the Apostle. References to Saint Thomas's visit to India and his martyrdom in Mylapore can be found in the 'Ramban Pattu,' popular in Kerala, as well as in the writings of early Church Fathers such as Aprem, Gregory, Jerome, Ambrose, and Isidore, and in various martyrologies. These various historical accounts corroborate Thomas's visit to India and his subsequent martyrdom.