Arrived Chennai by train (Shathabdi Express) from Bangalore late evening on Thursday, January 19 and stayed in a service apartment by name The Lotus on Venkitaraman Road. This nice place was arranged by my Mr. Jacob Kuruvilla (my son's father-in-law). We woke up to greet a busy Friday. After a nice vegetarian breakfast, our driver, Mr. Pandian took us to a cousin's (Babykochamma) flat. It is quite an experience to sit in the car and watch how our driver maneuver through the busy streets of Chennai, known earlier as City of Madras. This city has grown so much since 1971, the first time I came to obtain my visiting visa from the American consulate. Babykochamma served us some typical Syrian Christian treats to eat and take home with. From Babykochamma's flat we went over to Sunnychayan (P. M. Mathew) and Kocheri Kochamma's place in another part of the city. They had visited us in the US in November. Over a nice lunch, we talked about politics in India and the US and how both our democracies are struggling to get anything meaningful done to improve the quality of life for ordinary people. Despite the efforts by Anna Hazare, corruption is rampant here in my country of origin. The economy in India hit a bump especially in the IT sector due to the economic slump in the West.
It took all our energy to climb the Saint Thomas Mount. I had looked forward to visiting this place with great anticipation and expectation. However, to tell you the truth, I was disappointed. The place is not kept well. Except for the chapel and the church at the top of the mount, everything was else was dirty and smelly. I shared with Susan, if there was a place as historically significant as this place in the West, it would be taken care with utmost care and the place would be immaculate and clean. It was here Thomas, the doubting turned great confessor disciple of Jesus, was pierced by a lance while praying in front of the stone cross sculpted by Thomas himself. The original cross, known as the bleeding cross, is at the altar of the church built on the spot where Thomas killed. The entrance to the chapel bears the words of Thomas's confession, "My God and my Lord". This was what Thomas said when he recognized the Jesus after the resurrection. Pope John Paul prayed at this spot during his visit to India in 1986. As this place is at higher elevation, you get a panoramic view of the city of Chennai.
Coming down the mount was not as exhausting as climbing. Pandian, our diriver then took us to the San Thome Church near Marina Beach. I was impressed with the beauty of this church and how they take care of its campus. This was where Thomas was buried back in 72 AD. According to the historical accounts, Thomas first came to a place called Kodangaloor, on the west coast in Kerala in AD 52. After preaching the gospel in several places in Kerala, he reached Saint Thomas Mount. While he was there, he met with strong opposition from Hindu Brahmins. According to the legend, a Hindu brahmin pierced Thomas on his back while he was praying. San Thome is one of the only three churches in the world built on the tomb of a disciple of Christ. The others are in Rome over St. Peter's tomb and in Spain over St. James' tomb. Pope John Paul conducted visited this place also in 1986.
It took all our energy to climb the Saint Thomas Mount. I had looked forward to visiting this place with great anticipation and expectation. However, to tell you the truth, I was disappointed. The place is not kept well. Except for the chapel and the church at the top of the mount, everything was else was dirty and smelly. I shared with Susan, if there was a place as historically significant as this place in the West, it would be taken care with utmost care and the place would be immaculate and clean. It was here Thomas, the doubting turned great confessor disciple of Jesus, was pierced by a lance while praying in front of the stone cross sculpted by Thomas himself. The original cross, known as the bleeding cross, is at the altar of the church built on the spot where Thomas killed. The entrance to the chapel bears the words of Thomas's confession, "My God and my Lord". This was what Thomas said when he recognized the Jesus after the resurrection. Pope John Paul prayed at this spot during his visit to India in 1986. As this place is at higher elevation, you get a panoramic view of the city of Chennai.
Father Koshy,
ReplyDeleteI am right there with you...with St. Thomas. Amazing! This is my favorite story in the history of Christianity and I wish more people in the West knew about. Has any sacred scripture been found from the St. Thomas Christians?
Lisa C