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Mar Thoma Sleeva (Saint Thomas Cross) are ancient crosses associated with the community of Indian subcontinent, who trace their origins to the evangelism of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century AD. The Saint Thomas Christians, which is one of the oldest Christian communities of the world,[1][2][3] survive in the Malabar region in state of Kerala, India and have a diaspora in other parts of the Indian subcontinent. Saint Thomas Christian crosses are known as Mar Thoma Sleeva (Saint Thomas cross),[4] Indian cross,[5] or Persian Cross in English, as well as Nasrani Sthambam in Malabarese.
Mar Thoma Sleeva are found at Kadamattom, Muttuchira, Kothanalloor, Kottayam, Pallippuram and Alangad in the South Indian state of Kerala. Saint Thomas Christian Crosses have been also found in other parts of the Indian subcontinent, such as Agacaim (Goa), St Thomas Mount (Tamil Nadu), Anuradhapura (Ceylon), Taxila (Pakistan),[6] and in Baltistan.[7] Floriated Indian crosses are found at Kottakkavu, Pallipuram and Niranam.[8] The large open-air rock crosses known as Nasrani Sthambams are found on the facades of many Thomasine Churches. Before the arrival of Portuguese explorers,[when?] there were more than 150 Syriac churches in Malabar/Kerala.[9]
- ^ The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 5 by Erwin Fahlbusch. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing - 2008. p. 285. ISBN 978-0-8028-2417-2.
- ^ The Jews of India: A Story of Three Communities by Orpa Slapak. The Israel Museum, Jerusalem. 2003. p. 27. ISBN 965-278-179-7.
- ^ Cf. The first dozen articles in the St Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India, Vol. II,1973, Ed George Menachery
- ^ Vazhuthanapally, ”Archaeology of Mar Sliba”.
- ^ O'Flynn, Donnel (2017). Holy Cross, Life-Giving Tree. Church Publishing, Inc. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-8192-3368-4.
- ^ "Analogical review on Saint Thomas Cross - The symbol of Nasranis-Interpretation of the Inscriptions". Nasrani.net. 29 February 2008.
- ^ "A huge "Cross" is found in the highlands of Kavardo mountains in Pakistan's Baltistan region". Pamir Times. 14 June 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
He further calls the Kovardo cross as 'a typical Thomanian Cross of India' and is astonished by the size of it.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Stone Crosses of Keralawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Malabar Manual by William Logan - 1996 published by Asian Educational Services