St. Thomas and Benedict XVI
Thomas Chandy
General Secratary, Akhila Malankara Orthodox
Almayavedhi

A Statement by the Pope Benedict XVI “Lastly, let us
remember that an ancient tradition claims that Thomas
first evangelized Syria and Persia (mentioned by
Origen, according to Eusebius of Caesarea,
Ecclesiastical History 3, 1) and then went on to
Western India (cf. Acts of Thomas 1-2 and 17ff.), from
where Christianity also reached Southern India. Let us
end our reflection in this missionary perspective,
expressing the hope that Thomas’ example will never
fail to strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ, Our Lord
and Our God.” can only be understood as the Pope
stating that the first person to speak the Gospel of
our Lord Jesus in South India is some unidentified
person from Western India, i.e. the Geographical area
presently called Pakistan, Afganistan, NEFA etc. What
a fall my country men for the Syro Malabar and Syro
Malankara rit es! By one address on September 27 at
Vatikan City dedicated to St. Thomas, delivered to the
General Audience, the Pope has told his followers in
Syro Malankara and Syro Malabar rites that their
spiritual father is not St. Thomas any longer, but
some unknown person from Western India. Arch Bishop
Pawathils attempt of damage control has made the
position still worse (See Malayala Manorama dated 2oth
November 06). The Arch Bishop quotes Pope’s Paul VIth,
John Paul IInd and Cardinal Ratsingher for assuring
that St. Thomas is indeed the founder of the Church in
Kerala! It has made confusion worsed confounded. Who
is right? Pope Benedict VI or Cardinal Ratsingher; or
Paul VIth or John Paul IInd? The Catholic doctrine of
infallibility of papl pronouncements in matters of
faith has gone for a sixer. Who among the three Popes
do or donot have infallibility ?- the present or his
two predicessors? Either the present Pope is right and
the predissessors wrong or the other two are right and
prsent Pope is wrong. Either way papel infallibility
is gone through the window.
A number of questions arise out of this contraversy.
The catholics are in position of some of the most
important sites in South India connected to the
activity of St. Thomas in this part of the world.
1. St. Thomas mount in Chenni were St. Thomas was
subjected to deadly assaults by spear.
2. Little mount in Saidapat in Chenni were St. Thomas
lived.
3. Basalica at Mylapure were the tomb of St. Thomas is
situated.
4. Malayatoor in Ernakulam District, Kerala were St.
Thomas lived.
5. Churches at Palayoor, Kottackavu and Gokkamangalom
which were founed by St. Thomas as per tradition.
If the Catholic Church beleives in what the Pope
Benedict XVIth Said, they have to apologise to all the
faithfulls who visited these sites and gone on
pilgrimage their thinking that it is connected to St.
Thomas. The Cathelic Church should give up possession
of these locations if they believe that St. Thomas did
not evangelise in South India.
The tomb of St. Thomas situated at Mylapure has been
visited by many faithfuls from early centuries
aboundent records are available to that effect. Infact
all majour churches (including the Catholics)
celebrate St. Thomas day on July 3rd. Significants of
this date is that the Holy Relics of St. Thomas was
removed to Edessa on that date from Mylapure. How will
Cathelic Church explain this if they do not belief
that St. Thomas never visited South India.
The Syro Malabar and Syro Malankara rites should
meditate on I Corinthians 4: 14-16 “I am not writing
this to shame you but to warn you, as my dear
children. Eventhough you have Ten thousand guardians
in Christ you do not have many fathers, for in Christ
Jesus I became your father through the Gospels.” This
is St. Thomas is telling the Syro Malankara and Syro
Malabar rites. The day of reconing for these rites
have come - whom can you forsake, your spiritual
guardian or their spiritual father.
Our brothers in Puthencruz society who question the
presitly ordered of St. Thomas should reflect on this.
Thank God Patriarch Yakub IIIrd stoped with dipriving
St. Thomas of preistly orders, Pope Benedict XVI has
gone one step further - depriving the Apostle of his
spiritual children who he erned by shedding his blood
on top of a hill at Alandur Chenni, now called St.
Thomas mount.



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