Saint Thomas came to South America

SAINT THOMAS CAME TO SOUTH AMERICA:

 THE LEGEND OF PAY SUMÉ

José Aristides da Silva Gamito

Pay Sumé.

        After the death of Jesus, the apostles depart to all nations following what their Master said:  “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” The Acts of Apostles tells us the story of missionary journeys of Paul and also it tells about the beginning of the Church in Asia and Rome. Peter and Paul are the main characters in the Acts of Apostles. Some years later, in addition to this source many other acts about the destiny of apostles emerged.

The Gospel of Thomas Studies inspired me to set up a relationship between the traditions of the Apostle Thomas and Brazilian indigenous mythology. Thomas is traditionally believed to sailed to India in 52. And he spread the Christianity in Indian state of Kerala. A local tradition believes that Thomas established seven churches in Kerala.

There are different traditions that connect Thomas to Syria, Parthia and India. Eusebius of Caesarea reports that the apostle preached to the Parthians. The Acts of Thomas introduces Thomas as the missionary of India. Another tradition connects his name to Edessa city, in Syria. If you join these traditions it’s possible to thinking that Thomas departs from Syria to Eastern nations.

I just made this introduction to talk about a striking coincidence. There is an indigenous legend in Brazil called Pay Sumé (literally, “Father Thomas”).[1] Thomas is translated into Portuguese as “Tomé”. Sumé is similar to Tomé.[2] When the Jesuit priest Manuel da Nóbrega arrived in Brazil, he heard an important story about some god. Pay Sumé came from the Atlantic Ocean and taught agriculture, fishing techniques and moral rules to indigenous peoples.[3] He did many miracles. But some caciques conspired against Sumé and they tried to kill him. Sumé disappeared at sea.

In Brazilian religious syncretism, the people mixed the two characters (Thomas and Sumé) by Jesuits’ influence. Firstly, the American continent was called India. The information about the journey of Saint Thomas to India was propitious for colonizers to develop this legend.

References

HERRERA-SOBEK, Maria (2012). Celebrating Latino Folklore: An Encyclopedia of Cultural Traditions. [S.l.].

NAVARRO, E. A. Dicionário de Tupi Antigo: a Língua Indígena Clássica do Brasil. São Paulo. Global. 2013.

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[1] HERRERA-SOBEK, Maria (2012). Celebrating Latino Folklore: An Encyclopedia of Cultural Traditions. [S.l.]: ABC-CLIO. 1329 páginas.

[2] Sumé is a name from Old Tupi Language. Pay is a borrowed word from Portuguese and means “Father”.

[3] NAVARRO, E. A. Dicionário de Tupi Antigo: a Língua Indígena Clássica do Brasil. São Paulo. Global. 2013. p. 448.