St. Thomas landed in Muziris (Musiri was one of the busiest ports of the Chera Kingdom) or Thamizhagam in South India – today called as North Paravur and Kodungalur – in AD 50. He preached the gospel in Kerala and established “Seven room assemblies” (Ezharaipalli) churches (not European style) for the converts who call themselves Saint Thomas Christians (Mar Thoma Nazranis) even today. One such church building is in Palayur, Thrissur district in Kerala. The dominant Jewish Brahmins chased him away from every place he visited to preach the gospel.

A Jewish community was already there at the time Thomas landed in India. [The Jews of India: A Story of Three Communities by Orpa Slapak. The Israel Museum, Jerusalem. 2003. p. 27. ISBN 965-278-179-7].
India during the time of Thomas (AD 52) had petty kingdoms ruled by small kings. They had trade relations with Asian and European traders who landed here to buy indigenous goods – pearls, muslin, ivory, diamond, spices, perfumes and silk. –Barbara C Johnson, Cochin Jews of Kerala P27.

St Thomas then moved southward to Thamizhnadu preaching the gospel all along the way landing finally in Chennai.

St.Thomas lived in St.Thomas Mount or Parangimalai (the hill of the foreigner / man of a different skin colour) giving rise to the name Mount Road in Chennai. His message was opposed by the local Jewish Aryans again as it threatened their domination of the local population and even the local ruler / king. They pushed the king (they were his Rajagurus) to kill the disciple. They chased him down to the Little Mount in Saidapet, stoned him and pierced him with a spear/ javelin, killing him gorily. St.Thomas shed his blood in the Indian soil as a martyr for Jesus Christ. Every drop of blood that he shed resulted in a multitude of believers in the Thamizhagam - a region that includes Kerala, Tamilnadu, Pondicherry, Karnataka and Andhra.