St. Thomas the Apostle travelled freely throughout South India. The limited facilities of that time did not hinder him from proclaiming the Kingdom of God. The situation of the other Apostles was not different in that period. This is evident from several of the letters of Paul the Apostle. During his second missionary journey, Thomas primarily preached the Gospel along the southwestern and southeastern coastal regions of India. This can be understood from the Acts of Thomas.
Santhome Mylapore, St. Thomas Mount, and Chinnamalai are the three principal sites in the southeastern region associated today with the martyrdom and tomb of St. Thomas. These three places are closely connected and are situated near each other, forming part of present-day Chennai. Although this coastal region and its towns, especially Mylapore, had connections with foreign lands, stronger links existed between foreign traders and the Malabar coast, particularly with Muziris, Niranam, and Purakkad. As Mylapore was the most prominent town on the southeastern coast, it came to be known as the “Gateway of the East.”
Besides Mylapore, other important towns on the eastern coast included Kaveripattanam and Pondicherry. Recent studies indicate that Christians were present from Kaveripattanam in the south up to Supattanam (Mylapore) in the north. The coastal towns not only maintained connections with foreign countries but also had extensive trade relations among themselves. These connections were facilitated both by land and sea routes. Roman gold coins discovered along the Malabar and Chola coastal regions testify to their international trade links. Hence, it can be reasonably assumed that the apostolic activities of St. Thomas, centered in these towns, were carried out with relative ease. The routes used by traders and travellers were also utilized by the Apostle. Journeys across forests, mountains, and rivers were not uncommon in those times. The martyrdom of St. Thomas the Apostle at Mylapore, a major town of the eastern coast, transformed it into a holy place for the St. Thomas Christians.
Rev. Dr. James Puliurumpil
