It is no longer disputed that Apostle Thomas came to India in AD 52, preached the
gospel to the high caste Hindus in Kerala, and established a church that is
known as the Mar Thoma (St. Thomas) Church; the oldest church in India. When Islam and western powers colonized
India, this church faced challenges for its existence and identity. It survived the Islamic conquest, thanks to
its close affinity with the local Hindu culture. But it had to fight harder to maintain its
original identity from the encroachments of other foreign church bodies.
It is no longer disputed that Apostle Thomas came to India in AD 52, preached the
gospel to the high caste Hindus in Kerala, and established a church that is
known as the Mar Thoma (St. Thomas) Church; the oldest church in India. When Islam and western powers colonized
India, this church faced challenges for its existence and identity. It survived the Islamic conquest, thanks to
its close affinity with the local Hindu culture. But it had to fight harder to maintain its
original identity from the encroachments of other foreign church bodies.