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In the ancient history of Christian Church in Southern
India. Thomas of Cana (also called Thomas the Merchant), the
Syrian colonist of Malabar occupies an honoured place, next in
importance only to St. Thomas the Apostle who is now generally
believed to have first inroduced Christianity to India.
The circumstances which led Thomas of Cana to visit
Malabar are peculiar and interesting. As the result of his labours
St. Thomas the Apostle, from A. D. 52 to A.D.68, founded seven
churches, created several Chapels and crosses, and converted
many Hindus to Christianity from different castes, among
whom there were 32 families of Brahmins and Nampoothiris,
of which two families were specially set apart by the Apostle
for the several offices of Bishops and priests. After establishing
his Church on a sound basis, the Apostle then went to the
Coromandel coast, and while continuing his missionary work
there he met with a marty’s death at the hands of a non-christian
fanatic on the 21st December 68 A. D. at St. Thomas Mount
near Madras.
During the period of about 200 years succeeding the
Apostle’s death, the religious life of the Christians of Malabar
degenerated in various ways. This was mainly because they had
no new priests after the death of the two priests whom St.
Thomas had ordained. At that time Thomas the Manichaen
persuaded 96 families of Christians to follow his doctrines who
thus secured the name of Manigramakars (followers of Mani
or Manes). Three different theories are now held as to this
Manichaen some assert that he was a Persian heretic of the
School of Manes others think that he was a sourcer, while Dr.

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