He is one of the twelve disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and is called the Twin. He is known in the Gospel of John, in particular, from three situations: the first is after a messenger came and told the Lord that Lazarus was sick, Jesus wanted to go to him but his disciples objected and said: “Teacher, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you and you are going there again.” Jesus said to them: “Our friend Lazarus… is dead,… let us go to him.” Then Thomas said: “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” This situation indicates the zeal of the messenger in following Jesus and witnessing the work of God, and that he is a man of heart who does not see things with the eye of a rigid mind but sees them with tenderness.
The second situation is in chapter 41 where the Lord said to his disciples: “In my Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you… and where I go you know, and you know the way.” Here also Thomas jumped in to say simply: “Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” We understand that Thomas is a realistic, sensual man who seeks understanding and does not want the Lord’s words to pass unnoticed. Therefore, he asks and seeks clarification.
The third position is represented by the apostle’s insistence on placing his hand in the side of the Lord. In chapter 20, Thomas was absent when the risen Jesus came to where the disciples were gathered. When Thomas came, he objected and said, “Unless I see in His hand 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.” Eight days later Jesus came again and took Thomas’ hand and placed it in His side, over the print of the nails, and said to him, “… do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God.” Thomas, who had shown stubbornness, was crushed to the limit of brokenness. He saw Jesus in flesh and bone and was certain that He was not a ghost. The fathers say about Thomas that he insisted on seeing the Lord out of longing for Him, and that there was no doubt or lack of faith in that.
Church tradition says that he was the first to preach to India. The details of his preaching are not fixed. All we know is that he guided many to the divine light. He is also mentioned in a special way among the Abyssinians and it is said that he preached to the Persians and reached China.
Here we cite a story that has been passed down through the generations about the Apostle Thomas - this story does not necessarily have any historical accuracy - because of its spiritual meanings.
It is said that an Indian king named Gundafor decided to build himself a great palace that was unparalleled on earth. He sent one of his assistants to look for skilled workers who could do it. By divine providence, the king’s messenger came to Thomas, who told him that he was willing to build the king such a palace on condition that he let him do as he wished. The two agreed, and Thomas traveled to the land of the Nahd. There, Thomas received a large amount of gold from the king to begin building the palace. As soon as Thomas left the royal palace, he distributed all the gold he had to the poor of India, and began preaching the Gospel. Two years passed, and the king sent his servants to Thomas to ask him whether he had finished building the palace or not, because the palace was far from the capital. Thomas answered, “Everything is ready except the roof.” He asked for more money, and the king gave him what he wanted. Thomas again gave all he had to the poor and continued his travels preaching the Gospel. Somehow, the news reached the king that Thomas had not yet begun building the palace, so he arrested him and threw him in prison. That night the king's brother died and the king was very sad about him. An angel carried the soul of the dead man to paradise and showed him a wonderful palace that no human mind could imagine. When the king's brother wanted to enter this palace, the angel prevented him, saying: "This palace belongs to your brother the king, and it is the palace that the apostle Thomas built for him with the good deeds that he gave him." Then the angel of the Lord returned the man's soul to his body. When the king's brother came to his senses, he quickly went to his brother and said to him: "Swear to me that you will give me whatever I ask of you." The king swore to that, and said to him: "Give me the palace that you have in heaven, which Thomas built for you." He explained to him everything that had happened. Then the king sent and released Thomas from prison and brought him to him and heard from him the words of salvation and eternal life. Then he was baptized and gave him more money to expand the palace that he had built for him in heaven. Thus the works of mercy increased, thanksgiving to God increased, and the scope of the good news of the word of life expanded.
The church celebrates his feast on October 6.
Troparion of the feast of Saint
O holy Apostle Thomas, intercede with the merciful God, that He may grant forgiveness of our sins to our souls.
Qandaq with the fourth tune
The apostle of Christ, full of divine grace, and the true servant, cried out in repentance, saying, You are my Lord and my God.
