FOREWORD
IT is only since some eighty years or so that the tradition
regarding the apostolate of St. Thomas has been subject to
critical study and investigation. The first full-size treatise
written on the subject seems to be the scholarly work of H. E.
the Rt. Rev. Dr. A. E. Medlycott, entitled: ‘India and the
Apostle Thomas’, an Enquiry with a critical Analysis of the
Acta Thomae. He had been in charge of the diocese of Trichur
(Kerala) between 1887-1896 A.D. The book was published in
1905 A.D.
In 1912, H. E. the Most Rev. Ladislas-Michael Zaleski,
the Delegate Apostolic in India between 1892 and 1916
published The Apostle St. Thomas in India, which summarised
the history, tradition and legend regarding St. Thomas,
After 1912 books and articles by several authors like A.
Vath, S.J., J. N. Farquhar, Dr. P. J. Thomas etc. appeared. In
1928, Mr. F. A. D’Cruz, K. S. G., of Mylapore, published a
monograph on the Apostolate of St. Thomas in India.
In 1936, was published a voluminous work entitled:
Antiquities from San Thome and Mylapore, the traditional site
of Martyrdom and Tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle, compiled
by the Rev. H. Hosten, S.J.
All these were meant to be critical studies and therefore,
when a pilgrim or tourist to Mylapore or St. Thomas’ Mount
asked for a handy, easily readable book on St. Thomas, none
was available. Taking note of this Rev. Fr. Herman D’Souza
(at the time acting as Chaplain to the Sisters of the Holy
Apostles’ Convent on the hill) set to work to produce a
popular, handy volume for the benefit of tourists and pilgrims.
This was first published in 1952, on the occasion of the 19th
Centenary of the arrival of St. Thomas in India. It contained
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all the relevant information regarding not only the tradition
but also the various places connected with the tradition, and
proved so popular that a second edition was printed some
years later. A revised edition, the third, appeared on the
occasion of the 19th Centenary of the Apostle, in 1972. And
now comes the IV Edition.
Fifty years ago the opinion of Scholars was perhaps
against the St. Thomas tradition: but today it seems decidedly
in its favour. A reading of In the Steps of St. Thomas, may
bring about the conviction with which Buchnan, a pioneer
protestant missionary, says about this: ‘We have as good
testimony, that the Apostle Thomas died in India as that the
Apostle Peter died in Rome’.
I wish here to quote the words of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, a
former president of India, in his speech at the St. Thomas day
celebration in New Delhi on December 18, 1955.
‘…Remember St. Thomas came to India when many countries
in Europe had not yet become Christian and so those Indians
who trace their Christianity to him have a longer history and
a higher ancestry than that of Christians of many of the
European Countries. And it is really a matter of pride to us
that it so happened…..’
I wish to place on record at this time of the appearance
of this Edition the lasting indebtedness of this Archdiocese to
the Author, whose sad demise occurred in the first week of
December 1981. May his soul rest in peaceFOREWORD
December 1981. May his soul rest in peace
