Thomas of Cana

Who is Thomas of Cana?

Thomas of Cana is a figure in the history and traditions of the Saint Thomas Christian community of Kerala, India. He is said to have led a migration of Syriac Christians from the Middle East to India sometime between the 4th and the 9th century; this may reflect a historical migration that strengthened the ties between the Indian church and the Church of the East. The Thomas of Cana story also factors into traditions of the divide of the community into Northist and Southist factions; the Southists or Knanaya sometimes claim descent from Thomas of Cana and his followers.