Udayamperoor Church

My father had told me that Christians came to Udayamperoor church with sword and shield since they prided themselves to be Kshathriyas and practiced untouchability for a long time. They used to have long hair and had it decorated with golden pins.

When Saint Francis came to India and met Samoodhiri, the King of Malabar, he was met by Christians who said that they will owe allegiance to the Portuguese who were fellow Christians. There was no nationalism and patriotism at that time and no passport or visa as in our day to land in another country.

As I mentioned earlier, Christianity came to Kerala in 52 AD when Saint Thomas landed at Musiris, present day Kodungalloor and he converted Brahmins of the day with whom only he could converse and convey ideas about Jesus Christ who resurrected from the dead on the third day of his burial.

As I told earlier, the reasons why Saint Thomas landed in Kerala were because of the trade between Kerala and Jerusalem from the time of King Solomon. The teak used for building the Jerusalem Church was imported from Kerala. And as I told earlier, even one of the concubines of Solomon was a lady from Kerala. The Song of Solomon in the Old Testament brings out this. It is because of this connection the Hindu King of Kerala embraced Christianity and assumed the name of Mar Thoma Raja. All the Christians in Kerala, irrespective of their location, paid allegiance to Mar Thoma Raja. Very recently 1500 years of the Christian King was celebrated in Udayamperoor Parish Church. It is said 500 years ago there was no issue to the then Mar Thoma King and the Kingdom was merged with the Maharaja of Cochin. Arch Bishop Manezis who landed in Goa from Portugal came to Udayamperoor and met with the Christians under Mar Thoma Raja living in concentration at Udayamperoor.

A connected story is that the trader Thomas of Cana also came from Jerusalem and established himself at present day Kodungalloor. He had brought within his huge family and also recruited a concubine from Kerala. This was in the fourth century.


Other Scribbles & Poems