{
  "bookName": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials",
  "authorName": "M. K. Kuriakose",
  "publisherName": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge",
  "publicationYear": 2011,
  "chapterNumber": 54,
  "chapterName": "1721. Mar Thoma IV’s Letter to Schaaf on the St. Thomas Tradition",
  "pageFrom": 60,
  "pageTo": 60,
  "pages": [
    {
      "pageNumber": 60,
      "ocrText": "60\nHISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA\nReverend and Beloved - Your letters, dated the 20th of January\nof the present year, were most welcome to us; not only because\nthe work undertaken by you, of converting the Heathen to the\nChristian faith, doth, by the grace gra of God, prosper; but also\nbecause that in this our kingdom, such a laudable zeal for the\npromotion of the Gospel prevails.\nWe pray you may be endued with health and strength of body,\nthat you may long continue to fulfil your ministry with good success;\nof which, as we shall be rejoiced to hear, so you will always find us\nready to succour you, in whatever may tend to promote your work\nand to excite your zeal. We assure you of the continuance of our\nroyal favour.\nGeorge R.\nGiven at our Palace of Hampton Court, the 23rd August,\nA.D. 1717, in the fourth year of our reign.\n54. MAR THOMA IV'S LETTER TO SCHAAF ON THE\nST. THOMAS TRADITION (1721 A.D.)\nThis letter, written by Mar Thomas IV to Carolus Schaaf, the\nDutch scholar of Leiden, constitutes a reply to the latter's questions\nconcerning the Indian tradition of St. Thomas and the history of Chris-\ntianity in India. The letter is reproduced in Land, ed., Anecdota\nSyriaca, and is dated 8 July 1721. Cited in Mingana, Early Spread of\nChristianity, pp. 48-50.\nO great and learned teacher Carolus, you asked me concerning\nthe one who preached to us the holy Gospel, and I answer thus:\nThere was a king called Pirmal Shoyin who ruled over India. He\nhad but one desire, and that was to build a very beautiful palace.\nAfter many enquiries he learned that if he could call in the builders\nwho built for Solomon, his desire would be fulfilled. He sum-\nmoned, therefore, his majordomo who was called Habban, and\nordered him to proceed to Jerusalem and bring to him the builders\nwho worked for Solomon. After Shoyinpirmal despatched the\nmajordomo, our Lord appeared to the latter while he was walking\nwhile\nin the road, in the form of an artisan, and said to him: 'Where\nart thou going to, and from where are thou coming?' And he\nanswered him: 'The king of India\nthe artisans who built for Solomon.'\n'I am the head of all the builders.\nan angel lifted Thomas from Edessa, and made him stand behind\nour Lord, who made a sign to him and said to Habban: 'This will\nerect all your buildings, and he sold him and delivered him to\nHabban.\nordered me to go and bring\nOur Lord then said to him:\nWhile he was still speaking,",
      "status": "completed"
    }
  ]
}