Dear friends in Jesus,
Historically four churches claim their origin from St Thomas the Apostle.
They are Church in India, Persia, Eddessa and Chaldea. Of these four, only two are directly evangelized by St Thomas the Apostle: Church in India and Persia (present-day Iran).
Churches in Eddesa and Chaldea (Iraq) were founded by Addai and Mari.
Addai was the disciple of Thomas and Mari was the disciple of Addai.
Since all these four Churches had the same ‘Thomite’ origin, the Church in Kerala had close contact with the Christians of these area and bishops were sent from Chaldea who ordained our priests.
At the same time the Indian Church of Thomas Christians was an independent Church maintaing communion with other Churches.
Owing to an unfortunate division in the 17th century, the one Church of Thomas Christians got fragmented but all of them owe their faith to Thomas!
Churches with Thomite pedigree are: The Syro Malabar Church, The Syro Malankara Church, The Indian Orthodox Church, The Jacobite Church,The Mar Thoma Church and the Surayis.
All these belong to one family – the Thomas family!
All these have the same father in faith – St Thomas the Apostle!
Getting to the root is getting united!
May St Thomas the Apostle intercede for all of us! Fr John Kudiyiruppil
Website : http://www.stmarysmcc.com
Email : email@stmaryssmcc.com
” Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching. ” — Hebrews 10:25