By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi, July 3, 2022: Christians cutting across denominations came together at various parts of India July 3 to organize special programs to mark the 1950th martyrdom day of Saint Thomas the Apostle.
Saint Thomas, one of the 12 disciples of India, is believed to have come to India in 52 AD and preached the Christian faith in the western and southern regions of the country. He was martyred 20 years later in Chennai, currently the capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Since 2021, the day is being observed as the Indian Christian Day to “love the neighbor, serve society, celebrate Jesus and bless India.”
The ecumenical annual day helps Christians to remember and celebrate “the person and message of Lord Jesus Christ in India.”
The also helps them preserve their identity with the Indian cultural heritage and promoting unity.
The day, a people’s movement, saw Christians organizing festivities, cultural programs, community service, health and literacy camps, food and clothes drive, environmental cleanup and workshops.
In the national capital, Christians came together in the downtown Constitution Club from 10 am to 1 pm, and at B M Gange School in Old Delhi’s Raj Niwas Marg, from 5 to 8 pm.
A part of the celebrations was the play, “Rahi prem marg ke” (traveler of the path of love), by the artistes of Prerna Kala Manch, the theater wing of Varanasi’s Vidhwa Jyoti Communications.
The play narrates persecution of Christians in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and pictures the missionary work of the apostle in northwestern and southern India.
In Indore, the commercial capital of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, Christians gathered at the St Raphael’s School auditorium to celebrate the day.
Meanwhile, one of India’s new cardinals — Anthony Poola of Hyderabad, the archbishop of Hyderabad – hailed the day as an occasion for millions of followers Jesus Christian in India to proclaim the faith with courage, renewed vigor and strength like the apostle.
“May the Christian Unity Day on July 3 and every day of life become an occasion to witness Christ’s love,” the cardinal-elect said in a video message circulated on social media platforms. He also prayed that Saint Thomas help Christians in India remain strong in their faith.
The organizers of the Indian Christian Day have declared 2021-2030 as a decade of celebration to honor the 2000th anniversary of Christ’s earthly ministry.
A name’s sake celebration indeed! In reality and at grassroot level, Christian groups are not united. In the name of Christ, numerous/countless groups exist. SHAME!
July 3 is celebrated as St Thomas Day all over the world. Why some people want to remove the name of St Thomas and make it “Indian Christian Day” is not clear.
On Sunday, July 3, Syro-Malabar Church observed St Thomas Day, which also marks the Syro-Malabar Church Day. As part of the celebrations, Cardinal Mar George Alencherry hoisted the flag of the Church at its headquarters at Mount St Thomas in Kochi.
As the Cardinal said: “St Thomas’ life teaches that togetherness should be nurtured not just during the time of joy and prosperity but during the time of suffering. When encountered with pain and sufferings, instead of retreating due to the fear of failure, one should be able to face it with courage through the power of unity”.