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CHRISTIAN APOSTLE THOMAS
My Lord and my God!
St. Thomas is truly one of the most beloved of all the
disciples of Christ. It was he who doubted the Resurrection
of Christ and demanded proof. The story which is told in the
Gospel of St. John Chapter 20:19-29, relates how Thomas was
missing when Jesus visited the other disciples. Jesus
returned and showed Thomas His hands and His pierced side.
Thomas fell to his knees and said, “My Lord and My God!”
St. Thomas preached the word of God in the Far East in what
is now known as India. In the section of India called the
Malabar Coast, there is a magnificent Church dedicated to
St. Thomas. Almost every Christian male child born there is
called Thomas, after the Patron Saint of the province.
Because of his preaching, St. Thomas angered King Misdai,
the ruler of India, who ordered his soldiers to lead St.
Thomas up to the highest mountain in Malabar. They all ran
their spears through his body. Thomas, also called “the
doubter” not only believed the truth about Christianity, but
gave his life for its preservation as so many other martyrs
of the Christian Church.Although the Feast of St. Thomas is October 6th, he is also
commemorated on the first Sunday after Easter, the Sunday of
Thomas.
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Symbol - Carpenter's Square
Thomas is remembered by a lance and a carpenter's square. He is said
to have built the first Christian Church in Babylon and another
church with his own hands in India, where he also preached the
Gospel and was later shot with arrows, stoned to death and left to
die. A priest then ran a spear (lance) through him. St. Thomas' Day
is December 21.
Thomas, because thou hast seen me,
thou hast believed:
blessed are they that have not seen,
and yet have believed.
John, 20:29
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