The St. Thomas Tradition

The story begins in Jerusalem, shortly after the Resurrection. Thomas, called Didymus — "the Twin" — was known among the Apostles for his boldness and his hunger for truth. According to ancient tradition recorded in the Acts of Thomas and affirmed by Kerala's own historical memory, Thomas sailed from the port of Muscat along the ancient spice trade route, arriving at Kodungallur (then called Muziris) in 52 AD.
Kodungallur was no remote village — it was one of the greatest trading ports of the ancient world, known to Romans, Greeks, Arabs, and Jews. A Jewish community already resided there, and it was among them that Thomas first proclaimed the Gospel. His message spread rapidly along the coast.
Over the following years, Thomas traveled the length of Kerala, establishing seven churches — each one a beacon of faith in a new land. He ordained priests, baptized thousands, and wove Christian teaching into the existing cultural tapestry of Kerala with remarkable sensitivity. The community he founded became known as the Nasranis, or "people of Nazareth."
Thomas ultimately traveled further east into the Indian subcontinent, and according to tradition, was martyred near Chennai (then Mylapore) around 72 AD, where his remains are venerated at the Basilica of San Thome to this day. But in Kerala, his legacy never departed. The Thomas Christians maintained their faith through the rise and fall of empires, through the arrival of Portuguese missionaries, through colonial upheaval — emerging into the modern era as a testament to the enduring power of the Apostle's first steps on Indian soil.