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G. U. Pope is of opinion that he was a restore of Sivaism in
Southern India. The descendants of those Christians who
remained unaffcted by the teachings of Manichaen are now
called the Dhariyakal which means non-wearers of the non-
christian symbols. They are very few in number, comprising
only two or three families and living mostly in the village of
“Thiruvithankode” near Trivandrum, and having there a
Church of their own.
It was while the Christians of Malabar remained in this
unsatisfactory condition that the Bishop of Edessa in Asia Minor
had a wonderful dream. A voice asked him. “Is it no sorrow to
you that the Christians of Malabr, whom I died to gain are
wasting and perishing?” The saintly Bishop informed about his
dream to the Patriach of Jerusalem who consulted the other
Bishops as to what should be done in this matter. They therefore
decided that Thomas a native of Cana, a respectable merchant
then living at Jerusalem, should immediately be deputed in his
ship to ascertain the condition of the Christians of Malabar.
Then, he was agreeably surprised to find a good number of
Christians wearing the badges of their religion. From them he
ascertained about their condition, and then taking the cargo of
pepper in his ship, Thomas immediately returned to Jerusalem
and informed the Bishop of Jerusalem and the Partriach of
Antioch all what he saw in Malabar.
The Patriarch of Antioch soon deputed Thomas on a second
visit to Malabar, and with him were also sent about 400 persons
from Bagdad, Ninevah and Jerusalem including Mar Joseph,
the Bishop of Edessa, several priests, deacons, men, women and
children. They reached the flourishing sea-port of Cranganoor,
twenty miles to the north of Cochin and called Mouziri by
ancient geographers. The old community of Christians especially
the members of the 64 families called the Dhariyakkals
assembled together, accorded them a hearty welcome and
accepted the Bishop of Edessa as their Metropolitan. Thomas
established the Christian community on a sound footing, and
formed a colony of Christians with those who were already living
there.

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