06 ЖОВТНЯ / OCT 06

The Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas was born in the Galilean city of Pansada and worked as a fisherman. When he heard the good news of Jesus Christ, he left everything and followed the Lord. He became one of the Twelve Apostles chosen by Christ.

Saint Thomas is especially remembered for what happened after the Resurrection. When the other Apostles told him that they had seen the risen Lord, Thomas could not yet believe their words. He said, “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 after the Resurrection, Jesus appeared again to the Apostles, and Thomas was with them. The Lord invited him to see and touch His wounds. When Thomas encountered the risen Christ, his doubt disappeared, and he cried out: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

These words are one of the clearest confessions of faith in the Gospel. Thomas did not simply recognize that Jesus was alive. He recognized Him as his Lord and his God.

For this reason, some traditional icons are more accurately described not as “The Doubting Thomas,” but as “The Touching of Thomas” or “The Belief of Thomas.” The moment of Thomas touching the life-giving side of Christ was not the end of his faith, but the moment when his faith became a bold confession.

Saint John Chrysostom points out that although Thomas was at first weaker in faith than the other Apostles, by the grace of God he later became exceptionally courageous and tireless in preaching the Gospel. Thomas did not remain in doubt. His encounter with the risen Christ transformed him into a fearless missionary.

According to Church Tradition, Saint Thomas traveled far beyond the lands where Jesus and the other Apostles had preached. He founded Christian communities in Palestine, Mesopotamia, Parthia, Ethiopia, and India.

His missionary journey eventually brought him to India. There he preached Christ and brought many people to faith. According to tradition, among those converted were members of the family of the local ruler.

Because of his preaching, Saint Thomas was arrested and imprisoned. He endured torture but remained faithful to Christ. Finally, he was pierced with five spears and gave his life to the Lord as a martyr.

The Apostle Thomas teaches us something very important about faith. His story reminds us that having questions does not have to mean turning away from God. Thomas brought his doubts honestly before Christ, and Christ met him there.

But Thomas did not remain in doubt. When he encountered the risen Lord, he responded with faith: “My Lord and my God!”

Faith is not simply the absence of questions. It is the decision to seek Christ and to remain open to His truth. Thomas shows us that an honest search can lead to a deeper and stronger faith.

His life also reminds us that the faith we receive is meant to be shared. Thomas moved from the small community of the Apostles to distant lands, carrying the Gospel to people who had never heard it.

The Apostle who once struggled to believe became one of the great missionaries of the early Church. The one who asked to see became the one who proclaimed what he had encountered.

Part of the relics of the Holy Apostle Thomas are venerated in India, Hungary, and on Mount Athos.

May the Holy Apostle Thomas pray for us, that when we have questions or struggles in our faith, we may bring them honestly to Christ. May his example lead us from uncertainty to trust, from fear to courage, and from faith received to faith lived and shared with others.

And may we always be able to make our own the words of the Apostle: “My Lord and my God!”