The tradition of St. Thomas’ mission to India in the light of Patristic sources

Authors

  • Jan Żelazny Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15633/ochc.1041

Keywords:

St. Thomas, Christians, India, Patristic literature

Abstract

The Church tradition calls the followers of Christ in India Saint Thomas Christians. Where does this designation come from and why is it connected with the name of one of the Apostles of Christ? Taking into account the extant records, it seems that the appearance of Christ’s disciples in India was formerly associated with another Apostle, St. Bartholomew. According to Ecclesiastical History written by Eusebius of Caesarea, the hypothetical founder of the Catechetical School of Alexandria, Pantaenus, travelled to India in the middle of the 2nd century.

References

Atti di Mar Mari, I. Ramelli (ed.) Brescia 2008.

Bardesanes [Bardaisan], Księga praw narodów, translated by. J. Woźniak CM [in:] Polska Syrologia, Warszawa 2010, pp. 32–252.

Festugiére A.-J., Les Actes apocryphes de Jean et de Thomas, Genève 1983.

Kalita S., Grecy w Baktrii i w Indiach, Kraków 2005.

Mitchinger M., Undo – Greek and Indo Scythian coin – age, London 1975–1976.

Schlumberg D., Une bilingue gréco – araméenne, “Journal Asiatique” 1–48.

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Published

2011-11-05

Issue

Section

Articles