Saint Thomas Christian cross

The famous Persian cross or Nasrani cross at Kadamattom Pally
Persian cross at Kottayam Knanaya valiya pally
Persian cross @ St Thomas mount Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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Saint Thomas Christian crosses are ancient crosses which belonged to the ancient community of Saint Thomas Christians of Indian sub continent who trace their origins to the evangelistic activity of Saint Thomas in the 1st century thus making it one of the oldest Christian communities of the world.[1][2] Saint Thomas Christian crosses are broadly classified as Mar Thoma Sliba (Saint Thomas Cross),[3] Persian Cross, and Nasrani Sthambam.

Mar Thoma Sliba are found at Kadamattom, Muttuchira, Kothanalloor, Kottayam and Alangad in the South Indian state of Kerala. Outside Kerala, they are found in Goa and Tamil Nadu in India, Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka and Taxila in Pakistan.[4] Flowery Persian Crosses found at Kottakkavu, Pallipuram and Niranam.[5] The large open air rock crosses known as Nasrani Sthambams are found at the frontage of many Saint Thomas Christian churches in Kerala. It is recorded that before the arrival of Portuguese explorers there were more than 150 Syrian churches in Kerala.[6]

Mar Thoma Sliba

Mar Thoma Sliba is a Syriac term which means Saint Thomas Cross. Antonio Gouvea in the sixteenth century work, "Jornada" states that the old churches of Saint Thomas Christians were full of crosses of the type discovered from S. Thome (Mylapore).[7] He also states that veneration of the cross is an old custom in Malabar. "Jornada" is the oldest known written document which calls the cross as St. Thomas Cross. The original word used is " Cruz de Sam Thome " meaning Cross of St. Thomas. Interestingly, Gouvea writes about the veneration of the Cross at Cranganore mentioning it as "Cross of Christians"[7]

Locations of Mar Thoma Sliba

Kottakkavu Sliva, the Persian cross founded by Mar Sabor and Mar Proth, is preserved at Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Center, North Paravur.
Open air rock cross also called Nasrani sthambam in front of Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Church, Arakuzha, Kerala

The crosses are at the following locations,[4]

Interpretation of the inscriptions

Arthur Coke Burnell, archeologist, in 1873, translated the inscriptions as follows:

"In punishment by the cross (was) the suffering of this one;
He who is the true christ, and God above and Guide ever pure."[11]

Prof. F. C. Burkitt and C. P. T. Winckworth, the then reader of Assyriology in the University of Cambridge studied the inscriptions and produced a translation. This has been discussed at the International Congress of Orientalists held at Oxford in 1925.

The interpretation is as follows:

"My Lord Christ, have mercy upon Afras son of Chaharbukht the Syrian, who cut this (or, who caused this to be cut)."[12]

On the large cross, there is this additional sentence in Estrangelo Syriac. (Galatians 6:14)

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The inscription at Kadamattom church when translated is,

"I, the beautiful bird of Nineveh has come to this land. Written by me Shapper, who was saved by the Holy Messiah from misery."

Symbolism of Mar Thoma Sliva

Unlike crosses in other traditions, the St. Thomas Cross does not carry the effigy of the Christ. In addition to this unique quality, each of its elements carry symbolic meanings. Generally the Cross symbolizes life rather than death and suffering.[13]

Persian Cross

Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church, North Paravur and St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Pallipuram under the Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Ankamaly of the Syro Malabar Church and St. Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Church, Niranam under the Niranam diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has ancient flowery Persian Cross.[5]

Nasrani Sthambam

Nasrani Sthambams are giant open air stone crosses.[14] The plinth of these crosses represents lotus petals and lotus flowers and has a square base. It also has a variety of iconographic motifs, including elephants, peacocks and various other animals to name a few. [15]These crosses are found in Puthenchira, Parappukkara, Veliyanad, Kalpparambu, Angamaly, Kanjoor, Malayattoor, Udayamperoor, Kuravilangad, Uzhavoor, Chungam, Kaduthuruthy, Muthalakodam, Muttuchira, Kudamaloor, Niranam, Arakuzha, Kothamangalam, Chengannur, Thumpamon, Chathannur and many other places.[16][17]

References

  1. ↑ The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 5 by Erwin Fahlbusch. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing - 2008. p. 285. ISBN 978-0-8028-2417-2.
  2. ↑ The Jews of India: A Story of Three Communities by Orpa Slapak. The Israel Museum, Jerusalem. 2003. p. 27. ISBN 965-278-179-7.
  3. ↑ Vazhuthanapally, ”Archaeology of Mar Sliba”.
  4. 1 2 "Analogical review on Saint Thomas Cross - The symbol of Nasranis-Interpretation of the Inscriptions". Nasrani.net. 29 February 2008.
  5. 1 2 3 "Stone Crosses of Kerala". Nasrani.net. 16 January 2007.
  6. ↑ Malabar Manual by William Logan - 1996 published by Asian Educational Services
  7. 1 2 Antonio Gouvea," Jornada of Dom Alexis de Menezes"
  8. ↑ kothanalloorchurch.org
  9. ↑ Picture and description in the St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India, Ed. George Menachery, Vol.I, 1982 in article Christianity in Pakistan by Bishop Young,
  10. ↑ See image: File:St Thomas Killinghall 667.JPG
  11. ↑ On some Pahlavī inscriptions in South India (1873) by Arthur Coke Burnell, page 11
  12. ↑ The Journal of Theological studies (1929), P-241, NSC Network (2007)
  13. ↑ "St Thomas Cross". Thenazrani.org.
  14. ↑ name= "Menachery"Rock Crosses of Kerala, Article by George Menachery, 2000
  15. ↑ Rock objects in Kerala Churches, in George Menachery, Glimpses of Nazraney Heritage, SARAS, Ollur, 2005
  16. ↑ Menachery, George. "Rock Crosses of Kerala". 2007.
  17. ↑ George Menachery, Indian Church History Classics Vol.I "The Nazranies", Ollur, 1998.It has photos of dozens of Rock Crosses
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