imported>Grayfell: WP:BE. Way, waaaaaay too many images, also.

2021-07-29T08:16:41Z

WP:BE. Way, waaaaaay too many images, also.

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{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Nasrani people}}
{{Christianity in India sidebar}}

'''Saint Thomas Christian crosses''' are ancient crosses which are associated with the community of [[Saint Thomas Christians]] of [[India]], who trace their origins to the [[evangelism]] of [[Thomas the Apostle]] in the 1st century [[Anno Domini|AD]]. It is thus one of the oldest Christian communities of the world.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=lZUBZlth2qgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=isbn:9780802824172&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FqQhVL6gCMnjuQSKrYKYDw&redir_esc=y#v=snippet&q=Muziris&f=true ''The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 5''] by Erwin Fahlbusch. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing - 2008. p. 285. {{ISBN|978-0-8028-2417-2}}.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=qhKGPprbQaYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=isbn:9652781797&hl=en&sa=X&ei=i5q6VKj1F4yJuASKnIKADQ&ved=0CB8Q6wEwAA#v=onepage&q=St.%20Thomas&f=true ''The Jews of India: A Story of Three Communities''] by Orpa Slapak. The Israel Museum, Jerusalem. 2003. p. 27. {{ISBN|965-278-179-7}}.</ref><ref>Cf. The first dozen articles in the ''St Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India'', Vol. II,1973, Ed. George Menachery</ref> Saint Thomas Christian crosses are broadly classified as '''Mar Thoma Sleeva''' (Saint Thomas cross),<ref name="Saint Thomas cross">''Vazhuthanapally, ”Archaeology of Mar Sliba”''.</ref> '''Indian cross''',<ref name="O'Flynn2017">{{cite book |last1=O'Flynn |first1=Donnel |title=Holy Cross, Life-Giving Tree |date=2017 |publisher=Church Publishing, Inc. |isbn=978-0-8192-3368-4 |page=74}}</ref> '''Persian Cross''', and '''Nasrani Sthambam'''.

Mar Thoma Sleeva are found at [[Kadamattom]], [[Muttuchira]], [[Kothanalloor]], [[Kottayam]], [[Pallippuram, Alappuzha|Pallippuram]] and [[Alangad]] in the South Indian state of [[Kerala]]. Outside Kerala, they are found in [[Goa]] and [[St. Thomas Mount|Tamil Nadu]] in India, [[Anuradhapura]] in [[Sri Lanka]] and [[Taxila (modern)|Taxila]] in [[Pakistan]].<ref name="nasrani.net">{{cite web |date= 29 February 2008 |publisher=Nasrani.net |url=http://nasrani.net/2008/02/29/analogical-review-on-st-thomas-cross-the-symbol-of-nasranis/ |title=Analogical review on Saint Thomas Cross - The symbol of Nasranis-Interpretation of the Inscriptions }}</ref> Floriated Indian crosses are found at [[Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church, North Paravur|Kottakkavu]], [[Pallippuram, Alappuzha|Pallipuram]] and [[Niranam]].<ref name="Stone Crosses of Kerala"/> The large open-air rock crosses known as Nasrani Sthambams are found on the facades of many [[Saint Thomas Christian churches]] in Kerala. It is recorded that before the arrival of Portuguese explorers there were more than 150 Syrian churches in Kerala.<ref name= "William Logan ">Malabar Manual by William Logan - 1996 published by Asian Educational Services</ref>

==Mar Thoma Slīva==
Mar Thoma Sleeva is a [[Syriac language|Syriac]] term which means Saint Thomas cross.<ref>[https://www.nasrani.net/2010/10/09/saint-thomas-cross-a-religio-cultural-logo-of-saint-thomas-christians/ NSD Network: Mar Thoma Sliba- Saint Thomas’ Cross- A religio cultural logo]</ref> Antonio Gouvea, in the sixteenth century work ''Jornada'', states that the old churches of Saint Thomas Christians were full of crosses of the type discovered at S. Thome (Mylapore).<ref name="ReferenceA">Antonio Gouvea, ''Jornada of Dom Alexis de Menezes''</ref> He also states that veneration of the cross is an old custom in Malabar. ''Jornada'' is the oldest known written document which names the cross ''St Thomas cross''. The original phrase used is ''Cruz de Sam Thome'', meaning Cross of St Thomas. Gouvea writes about the veneration of the Cross at Cranganore mentioning it as ''Cross of Christians''.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

===Locations of Mar Thoma Sleeva===
The crosses are at the following locations:<ref name="nasrani.net"/>
* St Thomas Mount, Tamil Nadu: The Cross is at Our Lady of Expectations Church under the Roman Catholic diocese of Chingelpet ([[Madras]]-Mylapore).
* Alangad, Kerala. This Cross is at St Mary's Syro-Malabar Church under the Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the [[Syro-Malabar Church]]. This Cross is considered as the oldest cross in India.
* Kadamattam, Kerala. This Cross is at [[Kadamattom Church]] of the [[Oriental Orthodox Church]].
* Muttuchira, Kerala. This Cross is at Ruha d' Kudsha Church under the eparchy of Palai of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]].
* Kottayam, Kerala. This Cross is at Kottayam Valiapally (St Mary's Knananya Church). One cross is considered of late origin (c. 10th century).
* [[Kothanalloor]], Kerala. This Cross is at St Gervasis and Prothasis Church<ref>[http://www.kothanalloorchurch.org kothanalloorchurch.org]</ref> under the eparchy of Palai of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.
* Agasaim, Goa. The Cross is now kept at [[Pilar, Goa|Pilar]] Seminary Museum. This Cross dates from the 6th Century.
* [[Anuradhapura]], [[Sri Lanka]]. The [[Anuradhapura cross]] is kept at Anuradhapura museum. It was found during excavations of Anuradhapura in 1912. This cross is considered as the oldest cross in Sri Lanka.
* [[Taxila|Taxila, Pakistan]]. It is a very small cross that found in a field near the ancient city [[Sirkap]] near Taxila. The cross is kept at the [[Cathedral Church of the Resurrection, Lahore]].<ref>Picture and description in the ''St Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India'', Ed. George Menachery, Vol.I, 1982 in article Christianity in Pakistan by Bishop Young,</ref><ref name="taxila_cross_1984">{{Cite book|url=http://www.pcbcsite.org/?page_id=58|title=Shadows in the Dark (Pakistan Christian History Monograph No. 1)|last=Rooney M.H.M|first=Fr. John|publisher=Christian Study Center, Rawalpindi|year=1984|pages=42–45|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318114524/http://www.pcbcsite.org/?page_id=58|archive-date=18 March 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> However, experts point out that the cross shares only one characteristic with other St Thomas crosses that they are mostly equilateral, with arms of equal length. They claim that the Christian antiquity of this cross cannot be conclusively proven, as the same characteristic is also observed in pre-Christian Buddhist crosses and Swastika-variants found in the region, and even in the [[Christian cross variants#Greek cross|Greek crosses]].<ref name="taxila_cross_1984"/><ref name="expresstribune_2011">{{Cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/307594/taxila-cross/|title=Taxila Cross - The Express Tribune|date=2011-12-16| first=Salman| last=Rashid| work=The Express Tribune|access-date=2017-12-23|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://odysseuslahori.blogspot.com/2014/07/TaxilaCross.html|first=Salman| last=Rashid|title=Taxila Cross|access-date=2017-12-23|date=2014-07-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://odysseuslahori.blogspot.com/2013/03/st-thomas-in-taxila.html|first=Salman| last=Rashid|title=St Thomas in Taxila|access-date=2017-12-23|date=2013-03-10}}</ref>
* An Indian cross is depicted on the rock-piece at the front of the Parur (North) church, first published in the ''St Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India'', Vol.II, 1973, Ed. George Menachery.
* There is a St Thomas cross in stone on the porch of the [[Church of St Thomas the Apostle, Killinghall]], carved by Charles Mawer of Leeds.<ref>See image: [[:File:St Thomas Killinghall 667.JPG]]</ref>

===Interpretation of the inscriptions===
Arthur Coke Burnell, archeologist, in 1873, translated the inscriptions as follows:
::"In punishment by the cross (was) the suffering of this one;
::He who is the true christ, and God above and Guide ever pure."<ref>''On some Pahlavī inscriptions in South India'' (1873) by Arthur Coke Burnell, page 11</ref>

Prof. [[Francis Crawford Burkitt|F. C. Burkitt]] and C. P. T. Winckworth, the then reader of Assyriology in the [[University of Cambridge]] studied the inscriptions and produced a translation. This has been discussed at the International Congress of Orientalists held at [[Oxford]] in 1925.

The interpretation is as follows:

::"My Lord Christ, have mercy upon Afras son of Chaharbukht the Syrian, who cut this (or, who caused this to be cut)."<ref>The Journal of Theological studies (1929), P-241, NSC Network (2007)</ref>
On the large cross, there is this additional sentence in Estrangelo Syriac. (Galatians 6:14)
::"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The inscription at Kadamattom church when translated is,

::"I, the beautiful bird of [[Nineveh]] has come to this land. Written by me Shapper, who was saved by the Holy Messiah from misery."

===Symbolism of Mar Thoma Sleeva===
Unlike crosses in other traditions, the St Thomas cross does not carry the [[Crucifix|effigy of the Christ]]. In addition to this unique quality, each of its elements carry symbolic meanings. Generally the Cross symbolizes life rather than death and suffering.<ref name= "TheNazrani ">{{cite web |publisher=Thenazrani.org |url= http://thenazrani.org/cross.htm |title=St Thomas Cross }}</ref>
*Lacking the effigy of Jesus, the St Thomas cross presages the discovery of the [[empty tomb]], glorifying the [[Resurrection of Jesus]].<ref name="Stone Crosses of Kerala">{{cite web |date=16 January 2007 |url=http://nasrani.net/2007/01/16/ancient-stone-crosses-of-kerala-saint-thomas-cross-nazraney-sthambams-persian-crosses/ |title=Stone Crosses of Kerala |publisher=Nasrani.net }}</ref>
*The four edges of the cross are [[floral]] in shape, symbolizing fruition and life from the tree of life.
*The [[Nelumbo nucifera|lotus flower]] beneath the cross is a symbol of [[Buddhism]] and India. A cultural adaptation of local imagery, the cross fixed on the lotus would symbolize Christianity in India in the first century. The lotus is also a [[Puranic]] holy flower, an offering to [[God in Hinduism|God in the Hindu tradition]]; anything offered on the leaves of lotus is considered to be auspicious.
*The three steps below the Cross represent [[Calvary|Golgotha]], symbolically referring to the [[Crucifixion of Jesus|death of Jesus]], also the three decks of the Ark and the ascent to Mt. Sinai.
*Finally, the [[dove]] above the cross represents the [[Holy Spirit]], the third person of the [[Holy Trinity]] according to the Christian tradition. It is this spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and bestows [[Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit|gifts upon the Church's faithful]].

==Persian Cross==
{{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 500
| image_style = border:2;
| perrow = 2
| image1 = Niranam Persian Cross.jpg
| caption1 = Niranam Persian Cross
| image2 = Pallippuram Persian cross.jpg
| caption2 = Pallippuram Persian cross was initially established at Gokkamangalam, in a deluge it was lost, later it was found at Mattel, Pallippuram
| align = right
}}

[[Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church, North Paravur]] and St Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Pallipuram under the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly|Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Ankamaly]] of the [[Syro Malabar Church]] and St Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Church, [[Niranam]] under the Niranam diocese of the [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]] have the ancient, floriated Persian Cross.<ref name="Stone Crosses of Kerala"/>

==Nasrani Sthambam==
Nasrani Sthambams are giant open-air stone crosses.<ref>name= "Menachery"Rock Crosses of Kerala, Article by George Menachery, 2000</ref> The plinths of these crosses represent lotus petals and lotus flowers, and they have square bases. They have various iconographic motifs, including elephants, peacocks and other animals.<ref>Rock objects in Kerala Churches, in George Menachery, Glimpses of Nazraney Heritage, SARAS, Ollur, 2005</ref> These crosses are found in [[Puthenchira]], [[St. John Nepumsian's Forane Church, Parappukkara|Parappukkara]], [[Veliyanad]], Kalpparambu, [[Angamaly]], [[Kanjoor]], [[Malayattoor]], [[Udayamperoor]], [[Kuravilangad]], [[Uzhavoor]], [[Chungam]], [[Kaduthuruthy]], [[Muthalakodam]], [[Muttuchira]], Kudamaloor, [[Niranam]], [[Arakuzha]], [[Kothamangalam]], [[Chengannur]], [[Thumpamon]], [[Chathannur]] and many other places.<ref name= "Menachery ">Menachery, George. "Rock Crosses of Kerala". 2007.</ref><ref>George Menachery, Indian Church History Classics Vol.I "The Nazranies", Ollur, 1998. It has photos of dozens of Rock Crosses</ref>

==See also==

* [[Nestorian cross]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Cross of Saint Thomas}}

* {{cite web|url=http://thenazrani.org/cross.htm |title=St Thomas cross}}
* {{cite web|url=http://nasrani.net/2008/02/29/analogical-review-on-st-thomas-cross-the-symbol-of-nasranis/ |title=Analogical review on St Thomas cross- The symbol of Nasranis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012062332/http://nasrani.net/2010/10/09/saint-thomas-cross-a-religio-cultural-logo-of-saint-thomas-christians/|archive-date=October 12, 2010|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|author=Antony Dr.Martin Thomas|url=http://nasrani.net/2010/10/09/saint-thomas-cross-a-religio-cultural-logo-of-saint-thomas-christians/#more-849|title= Saint Thomas Cross- A Religio Cultural Symbol Of Saint Thomas Christians|date=June 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324042547/https://www.nasrani.net/2010/10/09/saint-thomas-cross-a-religio-cultural-symbol-of-saint-thomas-christians/|archive-date=March 24, 2020|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.indianchristianity.com/html/NewsDigest.htm|title= Menanchery article on Rock crosses of Kerala|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071102163747/http://www.indianchristianity.com/html/NewsDigest.htm|archive-date= 2 November 2007}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2003/12/25/fea08.html |title=Daily News report on Crosses in Sri Lanka|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930030731/http://www.dailynews.lk/2003/12/25/fea08.html|archive-date=30 September 2007}}
* {{cite web|url=http://nasrani.net/2007/01/16/ancient-stone-crosses-of-kerala-saint-thomas-cross-nazraney-sthambams-persian-crosses/ |title=Stone Crosses of Kerala}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crosses Of India}}
[[Category:Saint Thomas Christians]]
[[Category:Crosses by culture|India]]
[[Category:Monumental crosses|India]]
[[Category:Indian sculpture]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in India]]
[[Category:Christian crosses]]
[[Category:Mar Thoma Syrian Church]]
[[Category:Salvation in Catholicism]]

Saint Thomas Christian cross - Revision history

imported>Grayfell: WP:BE. Way, waaaaaay too many images, also.