Several ancient writings refer to the holy relics of St. Thomas the Apostle in Edessa. These sources suggest that these relics were brought from India. It was in India that Thomas preached the Gospel and died as a martyr. One such record is the Peregrinatio ad loca sancta, or “Egeria’s travel diary,” written by a pilgrim woman named Silvia from Spain. After returning from Edessa to Spain, she adopted the name Egeria upon becoming the head of her monastery.
This text provides valuable information about the church in Edessa and specifically the place where Thomas’ relics were kept. She writes: “In the name of our Lord Jesus, we reached there safely. Once arrived, we soon visited the church and the place where the relics of the holy Thomas were preserved. Following our usual practice, we performed the acts of worship and visited the holy places. We also read a portion from the ‘Acts of Thomas.’”
Regarding the church housing Thomas’ relics, Egeria writes: “It is a large and beautiful building, newly constructed. It is worthy to be the house of God. As there were many places I wished to visit within the city, I stayed there for three days. During that time, I was able to see numerous shrines of martyrs and dwellings of holy monks. The holy bishop, a true believer and ascetic devoted to faith, received me very kindly. He said to me: ‘My daughter, since you have undertaken such a long journey from the farthest corners of the world for the sake of devotion, if it pleases you, I will gladly show you all places of Christian interest.’ He then first led me to the site of King Abgar.”
The Acts of Thomas that Egeria saw in Edessa was the original text, unaltered by the Gnostics or Manichaeans. Only later, when it gained wide circulation in the Syriac world, did Gnostic writers falsely claim alterations. Even though the Byzantines eventually lost control of the city, Thomas’ relics continued to be preserved in this church for centuries.
When the Crusaders later captured the city, they encountered Thomas’ relics there. As the entire region of Asia Minor fell under Muslim control, the relics were moved to an island off the coast of Chios for safekeeping. In 1127, the Vicar General of the diocese, Perennich, together with the Archbishop of Lensino, transferred the relics from Chios to Ortona in Italy. The cathedral, previously dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, was later renamed St. Thomas. In 1556, when the Turks sacked Ortona, the church was destroyed, but the relics remained unharmed. After their departure, the residents of Ortona safeguarded the relics once again in a newly constructed cathedral.
Rev. Dr. James Puliurumpil
