CHENNAI (Agencies): On July 3, the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, Indian Christians of all denominations celebrate a day to remember that Christianity is not a foreign religion in their country. Starting last year, all denominations began to mark the day as Yeshu Bhakti Divas—Indian Christian Day.
This year takes on a special significance since it is the 1,950th anniversary of the martyrdom of the apostle in Chennai. According to tradition, arrived in India in 52AD and was martyred in 72 AD.
Archbishop Anthony Poola of Hyderabad, who will be made cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory on August 27, explained the meaning of this anniversary in a video message given to AsiaNews.
“Millions of Christians in India join in observing this jubilee anniversary,” the cardinal-elect said, adding that this is an “annual day of remembrance by the Indian followers of Jesus Christ to celebrate the person and the message of Jesus Christ, which was brought to India in 52AD by one of his 12 disciples, St. Thomas, the Apostle of India.”
The Archbishop Poola observed that the celebration of Indian Christian Day is a reminder to “proclaim, like St. Thomas, with courage and renewed vigour and strength, the message of Christ. May the Christian Unity Day and every day of our life become a true witness of Christ’s love.”
He said, “May Saint Thomas the Apostle help us to be strong in our faith.”
The concept of [the] Indian Christian Day celebration was born from the need to assert our historical and cultural rootedness in India and to remove all the misconception about Christianity in India [being] a European religion
Father Babu Joseph
Indian Christian Day was an idea expressed by members of the various Churches of the country to come together as disciples of the One Lord, and to reiterate the fact that Christianity is not a foreign religion in India.
Speaking to AsiaNews, Divine Word Missionary Father Babu Joseph, former spokesperson for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India [CBCI], said, “The concept of [the] Indian Christian Day celebration was born from the need to assert our historical and cultural rootedness in India and to remove all the misconception about Christianity in India [being] a European religion.”
Father Joseph added, “This is all the more significant in the contemporary socio-political context where misconstrued narratives about the Christian community is pushed to the front through the media.”
He noted that “India is a melting pot” of various faiths and cultures. “For instance, the food habits of Syriac Christians of Kerala, their clothing and festivals have absorbed Hindu aspects. Similarly, tribal Christians have accepted the Christian faith but continue to live their culture. The architecture of churches and shrines, rituals associated with birth, marriage and death are also rooted in various Hindu customs and practices.”
According to Father Devasagaya Raj M. Zackarias, former national secretary of the Episcopal Commission for disadvantaged castes, Indian Christian Day is a time to reflect on one’s own history.
Although Christianity in India started in 52AD, unfortunately it remained with the upper caste people and it never reached the lower castes and the Dalits. Only with the arrival of the European missionaries in the 16th century did it start to spread among lower caste people. Caste divisions are still prevalent in the Church in many parts of India.
“This division still continues. There are separate cemeteries and churches for the upper and lower caste Christians. Members of the lower caste in many places are not recruited to be altar servers or choir members,” Father Zackarias observed.
Still, for Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, July 3 is everyone’s day. “We tribal Christians are devoted to Jesus, we love Jesus,” he said. The tribal Church observes this day with gratitude for the faith.
“I am a tribal Oraon and we believe in the Supreme God. Our tribal Culture cannot be separated from faith,” Archbishop Barwa says.
