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Saint Thomas the Apostle

Thomas the Apostle
Thomas.jpg
Eastern icon of Thomas
Apostle, Preacher, Christian martyr
Born 1st century AD
Galilee (Roman Empire)
Died 21 December 72
St.Thomas Mount, Chennai, India
Venerated in Malankara Church
Assyrian Church of the East
Roman Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Anglican Communion
Lutheran Church
Canonized Pre-Congregation
Major shrine relics in Ortona, Italy
Feast 3 July - Syro-Malabar, Syriac Catholic, Syriac Orthodox, Latin Catholic,Anglican Communion
21 December - Indian Orthodox, Latin Catholic (traditional calendar), Anglican Communion, Hispanic church
26 Pashons - Coptic Orthodox
6 October and Sunday after Easter Thomas Sunday - Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholic
Attributes The Twin, placing his finger in the side of Christ, spear (means of martyrdom), square (his profession, a builder)
Patronage India, Saint Thomas Christians, Sri Lanka

Thomas the Apostle (called Didymus which means "the twin") was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, according to the New Testament. He is informally called doubting Thomas because he doubted Jesus' resurrection when first told (in the Gospel of John account only), followed later by his confession of faith, "My Lord and my God", on seeing Jesus' wounded body.

Traditional legend written centuries later claims he travelled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, travelling as far as Tamilakam which are the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in present-day India. According to undocumented traditions, the Apostle reached Muziris, (modern-day North Paravur and Kodungalloor in the state of Kerala, India) in AD 52 and baptized several people, founding what today are known as Saint Thomas Christians or Nasranis. After his death, the reputed relics of Saint Thomas the Apostle were enshrined as far as Mesopotamia in the 3rd century, and later moved to various places. In 1258, some of the relics were brought to Abruzzo in Ortona, Italy, where they have been held in the Church of Saint Thomas the Apostle. He is often regarded as the Patron Saint of India, and the name Thoma remains quite popular among Saint Thomas Christians of India.

Today scholars say the legends are "no more than possible" for there is no written claim before centuries later.

Thomas first speaks in the Gospel of John. In John 11:16, when Lazarus had recently died, the apostles do not wish to go back to Judea, where some Jews had attempted to stone Jesus. Thomas says: "Let us also go, that we may die with him" (NIV).


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