Saint Thomas the Apostle

Saint Thomas the Apostle, also called Didymus (meaning "twin"), was one of the Twelve Apostles chosen by our Lord Jesus Christ. Though little is known of his life before meeting Christ, Sacred Scripture and Holy Tradition paint a vivid portrait of a man who progressed from doubt to unshakeable faith, becoming one of Christianity's greatest missionaries.

In the Gospel of John, we see Thomas's earnest devotion and willingness to die with Christ. When Jesus proposed returning to Judea where the Jews had recently tried to stone Him, Thomas said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him" (John 11:16). This reveals a soul ready for martyrdom, willing to follow Christ regardless of the cost.

At the Last Supper, when Christ spoke of going to prepare a place for His disciples, Thomas asked the question that was on everyone's heart: "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" (John 14:5). This honest inquiry led to one of Christ's most profound self-revelations: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

But Thomas is best known for what happened after the Resurrection. When the other disciples told him they had seen the risen Lord, Thomas, not having been present, declared: "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).

Eight days later, Christ appeared again, and this time Thomas was present. The Lord, knowing Thomas's doubts, invited 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" (John 20:27).

At this moment, Thomas made the greatest confession of faith in all the Gospels, proclaiming: "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). He recognized not only the humanity of the risen Christ but His divinity—the first disciple to explicitly call Jesus "God." Christ responded with a blessing that extends to all who believe without seeing: "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29).

After Pentecost, according to ancient tradition preserved in the Acts of Thomas and confirmed by Church Fathers like Saint Ephrem the Syrian and Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, Thomas received the lot to preach the Gospel in Parthia, Persia, and India. Tradition holds that his journey to India was providentially arranged.

Thomas preached the Gospel throughout India with great power, establishing numerous Christian communities. He baptized kings and commoners, performed miracles, and ordained bishops and presbyters. The ancient Christian communities of India—the Saint Thomas Christians or Nasrani Christians—trace their origin directly to the Apostle Thomas. Historical evidence attests to early Christian presence in India from the first centuries.

The Apostle met his martyrdom near Madras (now Chennai) around 72 AD, according to tradition. While he was praying before a cross in a cave on the "Big Hill" (now St. Thomas Mount), he was pierced with spears by those who opposed his preaching. His final words were a prayer for his persecutors, following the example of his Lord.

According to tradition, his relics were first enshrined in India, then translated to Edessa (now Urfa, Turkey) in the 4th century. In 1258, they were transferred to Ortona, Italy, where they remain to this day, though some relics are preserved in India and at the Saint Thomas Church in Mosul, Iraq.