Icon with Saint Apostle Thomas - embroidered, framed, 15x18cm
In the ancient city of Galilee, Paneada, lived Saint Apostle Thomas, also known as the Twin. During the time spent by our Lord Jesus Christ among people, walking through cities and villages, teaching and healing afflictions, Thomas witnessed His words and miracles.
With a heart full of fervor, he followed the Savior and was deemed worthy to be counted among the twelve apostles, guiding the Lord until the moment of His crucifixion.
Although known by many as "doubting," Thomas did not doubt the resurrection of Christ but rather that the Savior still had a human body that could be seen: "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe" (John 20:25).
After eight days, when the disciples were gathered and Thomas was among them, the Lord appeared and said to him, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." Then Thomas, touching and feeling the side of the life-giving body of Christ, confessed: "My Lord and my God!"
Among the apostles, Thomas was always the one who delayed. Absent at the first appearance of the Lord to the disciples and at the Dormition of the Mother of God, he was destined to delay to provide even more decisive proof of His resurrection.
Also by divine plan, Thomas was not present at the burial of the Mother of God. Coming three days later, he requested that the tomb be opened to kiss the hands of the Mother, but he found it empty, thus revealing that she had not suffered corruption.
Thus, Saint Thomas is considered the protector of those who delay, not out of convenience but by divine will.
Tradition says that Saint Thomas preached the Gospel of Christ in India, where he ended his martyrdom.
Syrian Christians in Malabar claim to be the descendants of Saint Apostle Thomas, martyred in Calamina (Mylapore), near Madras. In India, he founded churches, ordained priests and bishops, and converted two sisters, Tertiana and Migdonia, wives of great Indian princes.
Prince Smideu, husband of Tertiana, condemned him to death, and he was killed by the lance of five soldiers. His relics were brought to Edessa in the year 165.
The Church honors Saint Apostle Thomas on the first Sunday after Easter and on October 6th every year.
