FOREWORD BY THE EDITOR

Rev. Fr. Bernard of St. Thomas, T.O.C.D., the author of this book, needs no introduction to the public of Malabar. Malayalees are familiar with his original historical works in Malayalam. But, to outsiders, he may require introduction. He is the great historian of the Malabar Syrian Church. His chief works are the History of the St. Thomas Christians in two volumes and the History of the Syrian Carmelite Congregation of Malabar. These works are unrivalled for their accuracy, historical insight and the free expression of conclusions to which a study of fifty years has led the author. The Syrian Catholics of Malabar expressed their appreciation of his first work and their gratitude for it by conferring on him a gold medal during their annual Social Gathering held at Koravalangad in 1916, under the presidentship of Rev. Palokaren, M.A., of Trichur. There is no exaggeration in saying that Fr. Bernard's works have the same importance with regard to the Syrian History as the work of Elphinstone has with regard to Indian History. Dr. P.J. Thomas, an Oxford scholar, in his lecture before the Royal Asiatic Society of London, on the occasion of the recent celebration of its centenary, gave expression to his appreciation of the original work done by Fr. Bernard with regard to the history of the Indian Apostolate of St. Thomas and of the St. Thomas Christians.

The present book, as its name indicates, is only a brief sketch of the larger work of the author. It emphasises certain aspects and especially the Nestorian question. The author has confirmed the longstanding, continuous and unanimous tradition of the Catholic Syrians about their uninterrupted orthodoxy. Certain modern writers have taken the liberty to condemn the contention of Syrian orthodoxy as a novel claim brought forward by the younger generation among the Syrians. They would not have made such an erroneous assumption if they had tried to ascertain the tradition of the Syrians. The Syrian tradition is clear and undoubted. From the time of the Synod of Diamper, they continually resented Portuguese injustice and occasionally gave expression to their firm belief in the uninterrupted orthodoxy of their forefathers and their loyalty to the Holy See.

The occasion of knowing and refuting Portuguese misrepresentations was offered to the Syrians only a few decades ago. It was on the strength of their tradition alone that they contradicted the Portuguese contention. Owing to the burning of Syriac books by Menezes, and

other causes, they could get no books or documents of their fore fathers from Malabar. They turned their attention to Rome. The Procurator of the Chaldean Patriarch at Rome searched the Vatican archives. He discovered and published many documents which favour the Syrian view.

Heresy is a voluntary error of a Christian against a truth of faith proposed by the Church to be believed. In order to establish that a Christian fell into a heresy, it is necessary to prove from his words or deeds that he voluntarily admitted and adhered to a heresy against the teaching of the Holy See. The Portuguese writers say that the Portuguese authorities discovered many errors in the books used by the Syrians. If they had supported their assertion by preserving a few books officially recognised and used by the Syrians as containing the exposition of their faith, these testimonies would have carried weight. But in the absence of such confirmation of the errors imputed to Syrians, we cannot accept the Portuguese assertions as historical proof. On the contrary, contemporary documents by Syrians contradict the Portuguese assertions. In the third chapter the author quotes many of these documents in order that the readers may judge for themselves.

Owing to the brevity of the present work, other aspects of Syrian history have been dealt with very briefly. It is hoped that the present work will indicate the chief outlines of the history of the Syrian Church of Malabar to the general reader.

ROMEO THOMAS

OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION,

T.O.C.D.,

A Brief Sketch of The History of the

St. Thomas Christians in Malabar

 

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