Thomas was born around 1st century AD in Galilee, Roman Empire. He's also known with the Greek name of Didymus, meaning "The Twin" (John 11:16), had an ardent love for Jesus Christ, and was willing to die for him.
When Lazarus had recently died due to illness and buried in Bethany, the apostles of Jesus do not wish to go back to Judea, where some Jews in Jerusalem had attempted to stone Jesus to death, because Bethany is close to Jerusalem, but Jesus continued going to Bethany. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Thomas enthusiastically exclaimed: 'Let us also go to die with him" (John 11:16).
During the Last Supper, after Jesus said that he was going to prepare a place for them in heaven, Thomas asked Jesus: "Master, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" And Jesus replied with the memorable words: "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:5-6).
After the resurrection of Jesus, he appeared to his apostles to prove that he had risen from the dead except Thomas, who disappeared for a week. Thomas did not believe the Apostles' report that Jesus had risen said: "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his right side, I will not believe, never." After Thomas doubted, Jesus appeared before him and said to him: "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my right side, and do not doubt, but believe." Thomas knelt before Jesus and replied: "My Lord and my God!" And Jesus said: "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have seen and have believed" (John 20:25-29).
According to tradition, Thomas traveled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, traveling as far as Tamilakam which are the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Tomas reached Muziris in 50 AD and baptized several people. According to Eusebius' record, Thomas and Bartholomew were assigned to Parthia and India. The (dating from the end of the 3rd century) states, "India and all countries condering it, even to the farthest seas... received the apostolic ordinances from Judas Thomas, who was a guide and ruler in the church which he built." Moreover, there is a wealth of confirmatory information in the Syriac writings, , and calendars of the Church of the East, not to mention the writings of the Fathers, the calendars, the sacramentaries, and the martyrologies of the Roman, Greek and Ethiopian churches.
Thomas preached the Gospel in India, until he was arrested by King Mazday for converting his wife to Christianity. Eventually, Thomas was led to the top of a hill and killed by a spear. According to tradition, he died as a martyr in July 3, 72 AD in Parangimalai, Chennai, Chola Empire.
Thomas was venerated in Assyrian Church of the East, Catholic Church, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion Church, and Lutheran Church. His feast day is on July 3. Saint Thomas is informally referred to as "Doubting Thomas" because he doubted Jesus' resurrection when first told.
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Book of Ancient Saints: Volume 1
Non-FictionSaints are people, who are accepted as being holy, religious, and virtuous. In Christianity, more than thousands of saints gave up their life for God or died for Jesus Christ. This volume are true-to-life stories of saints who were born between BC...
