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Apostle St.Thomas

Apostle St.Thomas one of the disciple of Jesus Christ came to India in AD 52 and was died in AD 72. He was buried at Mylapore, Santhome chennai, India. national shrine of St.Thomas basilica is built over the tomb of St.Thomas.

After the pentacost, disciples set journey to different part of the world. st.thomas came to India along with a trader called Habban.

According to acts of Thomas , he came to the court of king Gundaphar or Gondaphorus, who was looking for an architect to build a big palace. The king entrusted the work to St.Thomas.
St.Thomas spent the money for building palace for charity among the poor people. On the appointed day king came to see the palace built for him. He was disappointwed as there was no palace in sight. St.Thomas told the king that he built the palace in heaven instead on earth. The king got angry and put him in prison.

That night Gad , brother of king, had a near death experience  and saw the palace St.Thomas built in heaven. Upon this King released St.Thomas and accepted the new way preached by him. Along with the kinghis brother wife and many others accepted the discipleship of St.Thomas.

Malabar Tradition

According to Malabar (Kerala) tradition St.thomas landed at Kodungallur in 52 A.D. and established seven churches 9 or group of christians) at seven palcaes called, Kodungalloor, Palyur, Niranam, Nilackal, Kottakkavu, kokkamangalam and Kollam. There is a saying that it is seven and half churches adding a half church at Thiruvithamcode 9 Kolachal).









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