St. John Chrysostom, one of the foremost among the Fathers of the Church, had good knowledge about India. In speaking about the missionary activities of the Apostles, he also refers to India. In one of his homilies delivered between A.D. 387–397, he states: “He who presides over the Church of Rome knows that the Christians in India are also his members” (qui Romae sedet, Indos scit membrum suum esse). From this declaration of St. John Chrysostom, it becomes clear that in the fourth century there existed a Christian Church in India, just as in Rome (PL LIX 361). This also shows that the Church in India was known and recognized at that time.
He adds that the Apostle who preached the Gospel there was one capable of dealing with different languages and of speaking in foreign tongues. His contemporaries, St. Ephrem and St. Jerome, also clearly and precisely mention in several of their writings the missionary activities of St. Thomas the Apostle in India. St. John Chrysostom further strengthens this by affirming that the tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle is indeed in India.
He also states that during the apostolic age, the Scythians and many other foreign peoples accepted the preaching of the Gospel. His words are as follows: “In the lands of the Romans, the Persians, and the Indians, the Gospel has been proclaimed and altars have been set up.” This means that Christian communities were formed in all these places and liturgical services had already begun. Again he says that through the preaching of the Gospel among non-believers, the Scythians, Thracians, Moors, Indians, and Persians-who were non-Greeks-became Christians.
St. John makes a distinction between Parthia and India. By the fourth century, Parthia included Persia and the northwestern parts of India bordering Persia, whereas “India” referred to South India, that is, Tamilakam. That is why he says, “among the Parthians, the Medes, the Elamites, and the Indians.” This was not said casually in a sermon. Being a learned man and a famous orator, he spoke in the light of the views of other authoritative writers. Thus, when he says that St. Thomas preached among the Parthians, it refers to the Parthian Empire, which included northwestern India, while “India” in his words points to South India.
He also speaks about the tomb of St. Thomas in India: “The tombs of Aaron, Daniel, and Jeremiah from the Old Testament we do not know; but those of Peter, John, and Thomas we know” (PL LXIII 237). He was certain that they were the founders of the Churches in those lands. Therefore, according to him, St. Thomas preached the Gospel in India, died in India, and was buried in India. Just as the tombs of Peter and Paul are famous in Rome, so too the tomb of St. Thomas is renowned in India.
Rev. Dr. James Puliurumpil
