Anecdota Oxoniensia. Semitic series.

INlDIA. 299
receive the holy mysteries out of tlhe palm of that pure hand. and they
continue to communicate in this manner one after the other until the
hand grasps one of the congregation; then they all glorify God, and
the priests communicate the rest of the people. Afterwards the priests
carry that chest in their hands with chanting and with great rejoicing,
and set it again in its place, after tlhe people have kissed it and been
blessed by it. When this religious service is over, and as the people
are about to disperse, they are blessed by that man, whom God has
chosen out of the people to remain for a year in the service of that
pure body, to keep the candles lighted before it night and day. The
people also leave with him all that he can need, and all depart to their
own homes. And when they reach the shore, and not one of them
is left behind. then the sea returns as it was before, and covers the road
to the church. This custom has continued without interruption for ages.
When the people return the following year, they find that that man, who
was left to serve the body of Saint Thomas, has died at that very hour
and is still warnm. Praise to God, who is great and glorious in his
saints, and works miracles for their sakes. To him be glory!
Town of KIulam2. All the Christians who live here are Nestorians. Fol.llOb
accipiunt sacramentum (le manu apeostoli. Patriarcha vero ministrat seu porrigit
apostolo sacramentum ad digitos qui dignis tribui t et rctahit indignis. Apostoli
autem manus stat aliqualiter elevata et semiclausa, et ob reverentiaml duo archiepiscopi apponunt mianus suas ad brachium apostoli, non talmen regendo manus
ejus. Corpus auteln apostoli cst incegrum et illesum cum crinibus et barba
vestimcntisque suis quibus vivus utebatur. Est itaque pannis pretiosissimis
coopertumn. Etiam ad praedictam ministrationlem corporis dlomini serviunt dluo
alii arclliepiscopi tenentes patenas sub manu apostoli.' See Gustav Oppert, Der
PresbyJlerJohannes lin Sage und Geschichfe (2nd ed. 1870), p. 189.
One of the first visitors to the church and relics of St. Thomas at lMailapur
in modern times, the Portuguese, Diogo Fernandes, who was there in A.D. 1517,
found an old man who attended to the lamps of the church, and stated that this
office was hereditary in his family. The church was then in ruins. See Barros,
Da Asia Dccada i. (ed. 1777), t. iii. pt. ii. p. 223 ff. In A.n. 1547, the Portuguese
laid the foundations of a new church; ibidr. p. 226.
2 I.e. Quilon, on the coast of Travancorc. See Yal.kit, Gcogr. Horl. i. p. r..
q1 q 2