The Hindi "I AM"

The Silk Road ran from China through Persia and into Europe. After Pentecost, the Apostle Thomas took the Good News to Persia, modern day Iran, where he established churches before moving farther east.

India was also a part of the Southern Silk Road. (Peninsula Foundation) Some historians refer to this as the Spice Route.

Kerala is located on the southwest side of India, reached via the Silk Road from China and further abroad to Bactria, connecting the East with the West. (UNESCO)

The Apostle Thomas arrived in the area of modern day Kerala, India in 52 AD.

Muziris was a major Silk Road port on India’s Malabar Coast, located in Kerala, accessible via the Indian Ocean. Tradition holds that this is where Thomas first landed.

In Kerala, Thomas planted seven churches. Tradition maintains that some of the newly baptized believers were Jewish. (TRC) Together, the natives of India with Jewish believers became the “Thomas” Christians.

Christian Indians have written their oral history, in which they have recorded their earliest meetings with Christ via the Apostle Thomas. This includes Thomas’ trip to China with the Gospel and then his return to India. (Fr. Dr. THOMSON ROBI, “HISTORICAL STUDY OF THE ARRIVAL OF APOSTLE ST. THOMAS IN KERALA AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE LIFE OF THE ST.THOMAS CHRISTIANS,” BASELIUS COLLEGE, India, 2013.)

Oral history is a type of linguistic evidence, or a proof, that Thomas did indeed travel to India.

Many of the Christians of India carry the surname “Thomas,” this too is linguistic evidence of the apostle’s presence in their land 2,000 years ago. (UNESCO)

These Indian believers are truly an apostolic church, originating in 52 AD with the Apostle Thomas. They are both physical and spiritual descendants of the early Indian church. What they say has deep meaning and their knowledge has been doggedly preserved for 2,000 years.

It was kept in remembrance because it was important.

When Christ comes to a people, especially through one who had been with Jesus, placed his hand in His wounds after resurrection and saw Him later ascend to heaven—this is very very important.

Even the travels and the death of Thomas were remembered. Approximately 20 years after his arrival, Thomas was martyred in India, probably by an enemy with a spear.

Another major Indian port on the Silk Road included Cochin. A fairly large Jewish community existed in the city. Arabs had made their home here as well. (Smithsonian) The Apostle Thomas also visited this area.

God sent the Gospel to city centers where there were a variety of languages spoken and where the knowledge of Christ could be taken elsewhere.

To get to these port cities, a country must grant access. Trade was the catalyst which opened the doors. Spices and silk went east. Gold was paid by the west. Strangers were admitted and even welcomed.

The Silk Road trade with India began between 100-200 BC. (PBS) God went ahead of Thomas and prepared the way for him to reach India. God began this move about 250 years prior to Thomas’ arrival.

The Scripture also states that “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:3) The opening of the Silk Road trade between continents was created by God for the sake of carrying the light of the Gospel to the nations.

The Scripture states that Jesus is our forerunner. (Hebrews 6:20) He goes before us and prepares the way. This move of God, included Jesus, because Thomas would go in “Jesus’ Name” and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Before Jesus ascended, He commanded that the Gospel be taken into all the world. (Mark 16:15) When God gives a command, He makes its fulfillment possible. Obedience is what is necessary.

After Thomas came missionaries from the Church of the East to India. (Harald Suermann, “The Mission of the Church of the East to South India and Sri Lanka,” 2021)

The Church of the East had come out of Persia via the Silk Road, to India. Early church believers and their descendants from the time of Thomas became joined to this branch of believers.

Natives became church leaders and there was unity across Asia through this branch of the faith.

Church unity is essential. In His prayer just before going to the cross, the Lord prayed for unity among believers. This was one of the reasons He gave up His life.

“I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.” (John 17:11)

Unity of the church demonstrates love and is a witness to the world.

Jesus stated, “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

The Church of the East used the Syriac (Aramaic) liturgy for their church services and this continued in India.

The Church of the East remained united in India for hundreds of years until division arrived with the Portuguese. There was a movement to force the Church of the East to implement the liturgical Latin language of the Catholic Church. A split occurred in the body.

This should not have happened. Both Syriac (Aramaic) and Latin are early church languages.

The Scriptures show the faithful singing about the worthiness of the Lord, the Lamb, in heaven:

“…for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9b)

The language one speaks is not important. What is key is that these people are covered with the blood of Jesus and they use their words to praise Him.

This diplomatic issue between the Catholic Church and the Church of the East was partially resolved in 1994 in a meeting between Pope John Paul II and Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV. (Vatican News)

The result was a written document titled Common Christological Declaration. A common ground in Jesus Christ was formally stated. This is biblical.

It is the responsibility of popes, patriarchs, and Protestant leadership to respond to God’s call to Christian unity and to retain this unity. Division should not enter. Pride and sin create division.

God is at work. Just as He prepared the Silk Road, Roman roads, and the spread of the Greek language across many lands, so too is He preparing the way for the unity of the church in this time.

While in jail, Paul told his jailer:

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)

That jailer was a Philippian, a Gentile.

The church body has many different parts and various purposes, and it is formed from people of all types, tongues and races. Each part is necessary.

There should be no separation of unity within the church across the globe. The Church of the East, the Catholic Church, the Protestants, the Oriental Church and the Orthodox Church essentially all believe that Jesus, the Son of God is the Christ.

The Head of the global church is Jesus. He is the High Priest who continues to intercede for His people. God placed Him in this position by oath and He will not change His mind. (Hebrews 7:20-28)

Today the Indian church is divided into several denominations; though varying liturgical languages are used, each calls Jesus “Lord.” Many speak Hindi.

There are approximately 26 million Christians in India, 3 million in Pakistan (once part of India), and close to 500,000 in Bangladesh (also once part of India).

It is God who has kept His church for 2,000 years. To honor Him and the church in India,  वह मैं हूँ। (That’s me) from John 18:5, the words of Jesus, have been included in this artwork.

Above, see the photo from the embroidery of “I AM,” declaring that Jesus is the Great I AM in many languages.

Listen to the Lord’s Prayer in the original Hindi:

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon 2025

The Georgian "I AM"

Georgia is a country in the Caucasus; an important location, it is the juncture of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. The area has been contested for by the ancient Persian and Roman Empires and in modern days, by the former USSR.

Georgia first heard the Gospel in the first century from the Apostle Andrew. Upon this apostolic account, the Georgian Orthodox Church is founded.

God’s timing is perfect.

Around the year 300 AD, a young Roman woman, remembered as Saint Nino, came to Georgia. A believer, she led key individuals to the Lord, and they too became known as Christians. This included King Mirian III, who founded the Chosroid dynasty. A royal family, they were descendants of Iranian Mihranids (Persians).

God can use just a few obedient persons as His witnesses to alter a nation for good. He can use women as well as men to lead others to the knowledge of Christ. “For there is no partiality with God.” (Romans 2:11)

It is important that government leaders are true believers. Those who are not may be put in place by God to become godly leaders. Brave men and women who will give a true account of Jesus to political figures are necessary to lead them to the Truth.

Archeological evidence demonstrates that Christians lived in Georgia during the 3rd Century.

The ancient city of Mtskheta is a holy city to the Georgian Orthodox Church; it is considered the birthplace of Christianity in Georgia. In 337 AD, it was in the nation’s capital of Mtskheta that Christianity was declared the official religion of Georgia. The city today remains the headquarters of the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church. UNESCO

The Chosroid dynasty sat squarely at the crossroads of the East (Persian Empire) and the West (Roman Empire) which went to war with one another. The Georgian king was a vassal of the Persians, but his faith was that of the Christians in Rome.

Persian influence spread Zoroastrianism, but the Georgian Church stood against it.

Zoroastrianism is no friend of Christianity.

About 400 AD the Georgian alphabet was created to bring the written Gospel to Georgians. The first reference comes from an inscription on a church in Israel/Palestine.

Literacy is important for the spread of the Truth of Jesus.

Known as Asomtavruli, the oldest Georgian alphabet was based upon the Greek Gospel and birthed by King Parnavaz (Ministry of Education, Georgia). This written script united the Georgians in language, giving it dominance over any other tongue spoken. (Chkhartishvili, Mariam. 2021. Narrative Sources on the Creation of Georgian Alphabet PRO GEORGIA.JOURNAL OF KARTVELOLOGICAL STUDIES. .No 31 — 2021,pp.. 101 -113 ISSN 1230-1604. 31. 101 -113.)

The creation of the written Georgian language was a work of God for His people, the church.

The Georgian letter called “jani” looks like the letter “X” in English. The Georgian word ჯვარი or “cross” begins with “jani” (X).

Jesus is described as “The Word” by John in the Gospel. Words are formed from letters. Jesus stated, “I am the Alpha and the Omega.” These are Greek letters.

Jesus also said, “I am the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:13)

The last letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the “tav.” It too in its first form is the shape of the cross. (Theopolis Institute) In the book of Ezekiel, all those marked with the “sign” or the “tav” would be saved from destruction. (Ezekiel 9:4)

All true Georgian believers are spiritually marked with the sign of the cross or “jani” which is a reminder to them everyday in the usage of their alphabet.

Asomtavruli is still utilized by the Georgian Orthodox Church in religious texts and ceremonies. It is a holy alphabet, a Christian language, as are its descendants, Nuskhuri and Mkhedruli.

The unique Georgian language is included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Humanity.

The Georgian tongue is an early church language. The Georgian people are the physical and spiritual descendants of the early church.

By 500 AD, pilgrims were already making the trek from Georgia to the Holy Land to see where the Lord was born in Bethlehem and where He grew up in Nazareth. Their presence was notable as well in Jerusalem.

In 1226 AD, the Mongol Sultan Jalal al-Din captured the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. It was a city of Christians. Those who would not give up Jesus were put to death. Thousands became martyrs.

In 1624, Queen Consort Ketevan of Georgia was tortured and executed in Iran because she would not give up Jesus.

Islam is no friend of Christianity.

The Georgian Orthodox Church has withstood 2,000 years of the world and its ways. It endured 70 years of Soviet communism, governing control and purges. Churches were closed. Monks were imprisoned and executed. Persecution by the Soviets aimed to banish the Church and promote atheism.

Atheism and Communism are no friends of Christianity.

After that time, the Church rose again, to establish itself as the “custodian” of Georgian nationalism. The Georgian people trust their Church because it has been stable throughout history.

Today, Georgian Orthodox Church leadership stands against immorality, specifically coming from Western allies.

“…one leading Georgian cleric, Metropolitan of Vani and Baghdati Diocese Anton Bulukhia, publicly rebuked the U.S. and EU embassies in Tbilisi and said he was closing a European club in his diocese. ‘You want to force your profligate, obscene and depraved ideals’ on Georgia, he said on July 11. (Archil Gegeshidze and Mikheil Mirziashvili, The Orthodox Church in Georgia’s Changing Society, July 23, 2021, Carnegie Endowment Org.)

Immorality is no friend of Christianity.

Generations of men, like the grass of the field, come and then fade quickly. But the Church must stand. To stand, unity is necessary. The Lord prayed for this unity. In fact, He gave up His life, that the church would be one body, each part covered with His shed blood.

Jesus prayed, “I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:20-21)

The Georgian Orthodox Church has stood together both with the Lord and with the Georgian people, even at the point of martyrdom for 2,000 years. They have survived and will continue to do so. This branch of the church is an inspiration for others, “that the world may believe” that Jesus was sent by God the Father.

What has held the Georgian Orthodox Church together? The Lord Himself. He has prayed that the church would be united. (John 17) His Gospel, His Word, the Name of Jesus is the power of God to stand firm.

Paul equated the ability to “stand firm” to a phalanx—a military unit of eight men across and eight men deep with shields overlapping one another, armed with spears. Together, holding the shield of faith, they hold their place and their faith. (Ephesians 6:13)

The phalanx is armed with prayer, calling upon the power of God. It moves forward in offense and can also maintain a defense against every fiery dart of the enemy.

They are as the church praying to God for the release of Peter from the prison. (Acts 12:5)

All branches of the church—Orthodox, Catholic, Protestants, Oriental and the Church of the East, must stand together peacefully with the Georgian Orthodox Church against immorality which is indeed consuming the world. (Romans 1:24) It should not consume the church as well. (2 Corinthians 10:4)

All branches of the church should be speaking out against immorality. (Colossians 3:5)

When the Lord returns, He will find His bride spotless. To be clean of sin is to be free of immorality. The bride must make herself and keep herself ready. (Rev 19:7)

To honor the Lord and the witness of the Georgian Orthodox Church for Jesus among the Persians, Mongols, Muslims and Communists for 2,000 years, I have embroidered in Georgian მე ვარ , meaning “I AM” from John 18:5 into this artwork titled “I AM.”

Listen to the Lord’s prayer in Georgian:

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2025

The Armenian "I AM"

Bartholomew and Jude, two of the 12 apostles of Jesus, went to the land of Armenia with the good news of Jesus and his resurrection. By the year 301 A.D., Armenia declared Christianity its state religion. The first Christian nation was officially born.

How did this happen? Early Armenian Christians were first persecuted by their kings. Then came Gregory the Illuminator. As a child, he was saved from death during a political conflict between his own father and the king of Armenia. Gregory survived after being taken away from Armenia to the Roman Empire by his nurse. There Gregory was raised as a Christian.

As an adult, he returned to Armenia. After enduring torture and prison himself by the king of Armenia, Gregory persuaded him to receive Christ, baptizing him in the Euphrates River.

Gregory, the first head of the Armenian Church, built churches and schools for the study of Syriac and Greek— Scriptural languages.

By 405 A.D., Mesrop Mashtots, who was an Armenian theologian, created an Armenian alphabet for the purpose of translating the Scriptures from Greek into Armenian. This solidified the Christian faith across the nation.

God uses language, both spoken and written, to unify his church, even nations.

During the 5th Century, the Persian Shah used Zoroastrian priests to coerce Armenians into renouncing Jesus and accepting the pagan religion. The Armenian Church held fast to Christ.

The Armenian Church has stood for close to 2000 years and continues to do so, despite persecution even into modern times.

As Jesus is alive, so too has he kept his church alive.

“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.” (Isaiah 9:7)

In 2016, “The Catholic Thing” publication reported that approximately 9 million people are members of the Armenian Apostolic Church, while 750,00 belong to the Armenian Uniate Catholic Church.

Listen to liturgical Armenian prayer:

To honor the Lord and the Armenian Church, the Armenian words of the Lord, “It’s me,” from John 18:5 have been embroidered in this artwork titled “I AM.”

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2025