Mar Thoma Sleeva (Saint Thomas Cross) are ancient crosses associated with the community of Indian subcontinent, who trace their origins to the evangelism of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century AD. The Saint Thomas Christians, which is one of the oldest Christian communities of the world, survive in the Malabar region in state of Kerala, India and have a diaspora in other parts of the Indian subcontinent. Saint Thomas Christian crosses are known as Mar Thoma Sleeva (Saint Thomas cross), Indian cross, or Persian Cross in English, as well as Nasrani Sthambam in Malabarese. Mar Thoma Sleeva are found at Kadamattom, Muttuchira, Kothanalloor, Kottayam, Pallippuram and Alangad in the South Indian state of Kerala. Saint Thomas Christian Crosses have been also found in other parts of the Indian subcontinent, such as Agacaim (Goa), St Thomas Mount (Tamil Nadu), Anuradhapura (Ceylon), Taxila (Pakistan), and in Baltistan. Floriated Indian crosses are found at Kottakkavu, Pallipuram and Niranam. The large open-air rock crosses known as Nasrani Sthambams are found on the facades of many Thomasine Churches. Before the arrival of Portuguese explorers, there were more than 150 Syriac churches in Malabar/Kerala.

Etymology

Mar Thoma Sleeva (also written as Mar Thoma Slīva) is a Syriac-language term which means Saint Thomas cross. Antonio Gouvea states in his 16th-century work Jornada that the old churches of Saint Thomas Christians were full of crosses of the type discovered at S. Thome (Mylapore). He also states that veneration of the cross is an old custom in Malabar. Jornada is the oldest known written document which calls the cross ''cross from (of) Sam Thome (Mylapore). The original phrase used is Cruz de Sam Thome'', meaning "Cross of (from) St. Thomas". For this reason, it can also mean "Cross from Sam Thome", where Mylapore is equivalent to Sam Thomé, the name that the given by the Portuguese to the city of Mylapore. Gouvea also writes about the veneration of the Cross at Cranganore (Kodungallur), mentioning it as Cross of Christians''. ''

Locations

Mar Thoma Sleeva can be found at the following locations: Other similar crosses:

Interpretation of the inscriptions

In 1873, an archaeologist named Arthur Coke translated the inscriptions as follows: F. C. Burkitt and C. P. T. Winckworth, the then-reader of Assyriology in the University of Cambridge, studied the inscriptions and produced a translation, which was then discussed at the 1925 International Congress of Orientalists at Oxford. The interpretation is as follows: On the large cross, there is this additional sentence in Estrangelo Syriac. (Galatians 6:14) The inscription at Kadamattom church when translated is,

Symbolism of Mar Thoma Sleeva

Unlike crosses in other traditions, the St Thomas cross does not carry the effigy of the Christ. In addition to this unique quality, each of its elements carry symbolic meanings. Generally the Cross symbolizes life rather than death and suffering.

Stone crosses of Kerala

Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Church, North Paravur and St Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Pallipuram under the Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Ankamaly of the Syro Malabar Church and St Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Church, Niranam under the Niranam diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church have the ancient, floriated Saint Thomas Christian crosses.

Nasrani Sthambam

Nasrani Sthambams are giant open-air stone crosses. The plinths of these crosses represent lotus petals and lotus flowers, and they have square bases. They have various iconographic motifs, including elephants, peacocks and other animals. These crosses are found in Puthenchira, Parappukkara, Veliyanad, Kalpparambu, Angamaly, Kanjoor, Malayattoor, Udayamperoor, Kuravilangad, Uzhavoor, Chungam, Kaduthuruthy, Muthalakodam, Muttuchira, Kudamaloor, Niranam, Arakuzha, Kothamangalam, Chengannur, Thumpamon, Chathannur and many other places.