Author

M. Matthews

Date of Award

3-10-1971

Document Type

Paper

Department

Seminary

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to make an intensive survey of the origin and develoment of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of India. The name 'St. Thomas Christians' came to be known among the Church historians and among several Christian writers much earlier on account of the long standing tradition that St. Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Christ, brought the Gospel to the South Western coast of India early in the second half of the first century and founded the first seven Churches in South India. The reliability of this tradition has been a matter of much controversy and remains to this day. This group of Christians which traces its beginning back do~m to the first century and boas tingly connects it with St. Thomas has grown to be an independent and indigenous denomination of India today. The question arises in one's mind as to the validity and truth involved in this claim and long cherished heritage of the St. Thomas Christians. This research is directed to a brief survey into the subject.

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