ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost, I thank God for his amazing grace and overwhelming providence, by which I have been guided and moulded all my life, especially during my BD programme With a heartful sense of gratitude, I acknowledge my indebtedness to my Thesis guide Rev. M. C. John for his guidance, encouragement and care. I owe a lot to him for his time and his input he rendered in my search for History of Christianity at both B.Th and B.D level I extend my immense gratefulness towards the Library and Archives of the Mar Thoma Theological Seminary, Kottayam. I also offer my gratitude to the Library Staff, Mrs. Susheela Jacob and Mr. Mathew M. Mathai for their valuable support. I am also thankful to my Seminary friends especially Dennis Abraham, Nebu K. Varghese, Jijo Varghese, Dr. Jacob George, Merin Mathew, Prem T. Mathew, Sujith John, Prathish George M, Deepak Daniel Thomas and Koshy Bijo Samuel for their valuable support and co-operation. I am extremely obliged to Mr. Samuel Abraham and family, who worked hard to bring this work in the present form. Above all, I express my heartfelt gratitude to my father T. P. Issac who worked hard for me, my mother Thankamma Issac who supported me with love and care, my younger brother Saji Issac and my youngest sister Sujitha Thomas. Last but not least, I extend my immense gratitude to all who prayed for me and stayed with me in the shadows of death which I passed through in October 2010, especially Mumbai Diocese of the Mar Thoma Church, my Hindu neighbours, friends, relatives and my home parish Avaneeswaram Immanuel Mar Thoma Church.

28th February 2011, Kottayam.

SABU ISSAC