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 The Opening of the Holy Door in St Peter's: Jesus & Thomas (Left Panel) Scott 1134 (1999) July 3 marks the Feast of Saint Thomas, one of the Twelve Apostles. Thomas, sometimes referred to as Didymus (The Twin) is believed to have died on 3 July, 72 AD, when he was martyred at Mylapore, near Madras, India. Other locations are also held as the place of his death. His feast day in the Greek calendar is on 21 December as well as in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. St. Thomas is cited in three passages from the Gospel of John. First, in John 11, Christ plans his return to Judea following the death of Lazarus. The return to Judea was risky, and Thomas appears to understand the risks, and encourages the Disciples to go to Judea with Jesus: “(Jesus said) Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (John 11: 11-16)Later, in John 14, Jesus describes the “way to the father”, and answers Thomas’s question: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14: 1-6)  "The Incredulity of Saint Thomas", by Caravaggio From Wikimedia Commons, in the Public Domain And, in John 20, one finds the famous encounter with the risen Lord, where the “doubting Thomas” needs to be convinced of the Resurrection: ”So the other disciples told (Thomas), “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20: 25-29)Thomas is claimed as a missionary by the Syrian Christians of Malabar (southwestern coast of India) which is also the location of his death. Other claims include Thomas as a missionary to the Parthians. Portuguese merchants arrived in India in 1522 and found St. Thomas tomb at Mylapore, now a part of Chennai, India. His relics have said to be in various locations from Edessa to Madras. REFERENCES: |
