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Thomas the ApostleFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Saint Thomas

"The Incredulity of St Thomas"byCaravaggio

Apostle

Born 1st century AD

Died c. 72 AD, nearChennai,India

Venerated in

Roman Catholic Church

Eastern Orthodox ChurchesAnglican CommunionLutheran Churchamong some Protestant Churches

Canonized Pre-Congregation

Feast

July 3(Roman Catholic Church)26 Pashons (Coptic Orthodox Church)Thomas Sunday (the 1st Sunday afterPascha),October 6, andJune 30Synaxis of the Apostles)(Eastern Orthodox Churches)

December 21(on local calendars and amongTraditional Roman Catholics)

Attributes

The Twin, placing his finger in the side ofChrist,spear(means ofmartyrdom), square (hisprofession, a builder)

Patronage Architects,India, and others, see [1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaggiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaggiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Apostleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Churcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglican_Communionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheran_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canonizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-congregationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar_of_saintshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashons_26_(Coptic_Orthodox_liturgics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Sundayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_30http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_30http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synaxishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Churcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionalist_Catholicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_symbologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spearhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spearhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpentry_squarehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patron_sainthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architectshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://www.catholic-forum.com/SAINTS/saintt07.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Caravaggio_-_The_Incredulity_of_Saint_Thomas.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaggiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaggiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaggiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Apostleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Churcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Churcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Churcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglican_Communionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglican_Communionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglican_Communionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheran_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheran_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheran_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canonizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-congregationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar_of_saintshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashons_26_(Coptic_Orthodox_liturgics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashons_26_(Coptic_Orthodox_liturgics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashons_26_(Coptic_Orthodox_liturgics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Sundayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Sundayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Sundayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_30http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_30http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_30http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synaxishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synaxishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synaxishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Churcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Churcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Churcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionalist_Catholicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionalist_Catholicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionalist_Catholicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_symbologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spearhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spearhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spearhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpentry_squarehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpentry_squarehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpentry_squarehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patron_sainthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architectshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architectshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architectshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://www.catholic-forum.com/SAINTS/saintt07.htmhttp://www.catholic-forum.com/SAINTS/saintt07.htmhttp://www.catholic-forum.com/SAINTS/saintt07.htm


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Christianity portal

Saint Thomas the Apostle, also called Doubting Thomas, orDidymus, was one of theTwelveApostles ofJesus. He is perhaps best known for disbelieving Jesus' Resurrection when first toldof it, then proclaiming "My Lord and my God" on seeing Jesus. He was perhaps the only Apostlewho went outside the Roman Empirefor preaching Holy Gospel and the one who spanned thelargest area, which includes Persia,India (present day Kerala), and China.

Contents[hide]

1 Thomas in the Gospel of John

2 Name and identity

2.1 Twin and its renditions

2.2 Other names

2.3 Veneration as a saint

3 Later history

3.1 Thomas and the Assumption of Mary

3.2 Thomas and Syria

4 Historical references to St. Thomas

5 Thomas and India

5.1 Visit to Gondophares

5.1.1 Return of the relics

5.1.2 Pope Leo XIII's Statement regarding Visit of St.Thomas to India

5.1.3 Pope Benedict XVI's Statement regarding Visit of St.Thomas to India

6 St. Thomas Christians

6.1 Eminent historian cautions India's Christians

6.2 Thomas other accounts

7 Writings Attributed to Thomas

8 See also

9 Notes

10 External links

[edit] Thomas in the Gospel of JohnThomas appears in a few passages in the Gospel of John. InJohn 11:16, when Lazarus has justdied, the disciples are resisting Jesus' decision to return to Judea, where the Jews had previouslytried to stone Jesus. Jesus is determined, and Thomas says bravely: "Let us also go, that we mightdie with him" (NIV).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Apostleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Apostleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Apostleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keralahttp://var/www/apps/scribd/scribd/tmp/scratch4/javascript:toggleToc()http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Johnhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=11:16&src=KJVhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=11:16&src=KJVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazarushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_International_Versionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Portal.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Apostleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Apostleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Apostleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Apostleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Apostleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Apostleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keralahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keralahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keralahttp://var/www/apps/scribd/scribd/tmp/scratch4/javascript:toggleToc()http://var/www/apps/scribd/scribd/tmp/scratch4/javascript:toggleToc()http://var/www/apps/scribd/scribd/tmp/scratch4/javascript:toggleToc()http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Johnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Johnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Johnhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=11:16&src=KJVhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=11:16&src=KJVhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=11:16&src=KJVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazarushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazarushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazarushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_International_Versionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_International_Versionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_International_Version


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He also speaks at The Last SupperinJohn 14:5. Jesus assures his disciples that they know wherehe is going, but Thomas protests that they don't know at all. Jesus replies to this and to Philip'srequests with a detailed exposition of his relationship to God the Father.

Andrea del Verrocchio's sculpture showing the incredulity of St. Thomas.

In Thomas' best known appearance in the New Testament, John 20:24-29, he doubts theresurrection of Jesus and demands to touchJesus' wounds before being convinced. Caravaggio'spainting, The Incredulity of Saint Thomas (illustration above), depicts this scene. This story isthe origin of the termDoubting Thomas. After seeing Jesus alive (the Bible never states whetherThomas actually touched Christ's wounds), Thomas professed his faith in Jesus, exclaiming "MyLord and my God!"; on this account he is also called Thomas the Believer.[1]

[edit] Name and identityThere is disagreement and uncertainty as to the identity of Saint Thomas. One recent theory ispresented in the bookThe Jesus Family Tomb. The authors, Simcha Jacoboviciand Pellegrino,identify him with two of those who were interred in the Talpiot Tomb, "Yehuda son of Yeshua."

[edit] Twin and its renditions

The GreekDidymus: in three of these passages (John 11:16; 20:24; and 21:2), Thomas is

more specifically identified as "Thomas, also called the Twin (Didymus)".

The Aramaic Tau'ma: the name "Thomas" itself comes from the Aramaic word for twin:

T'oma ). Thus the name conventionDidymus Thomas) thrice repeated in the Gospelof John is in fact a tautology that omits the Twin's actual name.

[edit] Other names

TheNag Hammadi "sayings" Gospel of Thomasbegins: "These are the secret sayings that theliving Jesus spoke and Didymos Judas Thomas recorded." Syrian tradition also states that theapostle's full name was Judas Thomas, or Jude Thomas. Some have seen in theActs of Thomas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Supperhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Supperhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=14:5&src=KJVhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=14:5&src=KJVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_del_Verrocchiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_del_Verrocchiohttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=20:24-29&src=KJVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_resurrection_of_Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_woundshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_woundshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaggiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaggiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doubting_Thomashttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jesus_Family_Tombhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jesus_Family_Tombhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simcha_Jacobovicihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simcha_Jacobovicihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talpiot_Tombhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=3http://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=11:16&src=KJVhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=20:24&src=KJVhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=21:2&src=KJVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramaichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tautology_(rhetoric)http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nag_Hammadi_libraryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Thomashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Thomashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acts_of_Thomashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christ_and_Saint_Thomas.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christ_and_Saint_Thomas.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Supperhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Supperhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Supperhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=14:5&src=KJVhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=14:5&src=KJVhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=14:5&src=KJVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_del_Verrocchiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_del_Verrocchiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_del_Verrocchiohttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=20:24-29&src=KJVhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=20:24-29&src=KJVhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=20:24-29&src=KJVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_resurrection_of_Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_resurrection_of_Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_resurrection_of_Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_woundshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_woundshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_woundshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaggiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaggiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaggiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doubting_Thomashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doubting_Thomashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doubting_Thomashttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jesus_Family_Tombhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jesus_Family_Tombhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jesus_Family_Tombhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simcha_Jacobovicihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simcha_Jacobovicihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simcha_Jacobovicihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talpiot_Tombhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talpiot_Tombhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talpiot_Tombhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=3http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=3http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=3http://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=11:16&src=KJVhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=11:16&src=KJVhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=11:16&src=KJVhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=20:24&src=KJVhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=20:24&src=KJVhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=20:24&src=KJVhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=21:2&src=KJVhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=21:2&src=KJVhttp://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20John&verse=21:2&src=KJVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramaichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramaichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramaichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tautology_(rhetoric)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tautology_(rhetoric)http://e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(written in east Syria in the early 3rd century, or perhaps as early as the first half of the 2ndcentury) an identification of Saint Thomas with the apostle Judas son of James, better known inEnglish as Jude. However, the first sentence of the Acts follows the Gospels and the Acts of theApostles in distinguishing the apostle Thomas and the apostle Judas son of James. Few textsidentify Thomas' other twin, though in the Book of Thomas the Contender, part of theNagHammadi library, it is said to be Jesus himself: "Now, since it has been said that you are my twinand true companion, examine yourself"[2]

St. Thomas depicted in stone, St. Thomas Roman Catholic Church, Hyde Park, Chicago.

[edit] Veneration as a saint

Thomas is revered as a saint in theRoman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Churches, andthe Oriental Orthodox Churches.

In the Roman Catholic Church, his actual feast day is December 21. It was moved in order to

accommodate the commemoration ofSt. Peter Canisius, who died on December 21. The RomanCatholic and Anglican calendars honour him on July 3, the day on which hisrelics are believedto have been translatedfrom Mylapore, a place along the coast of the Marina Beach, ChennaiinIndia to the city ofEdessa in Mesopotamia.

For theEastern Orthodox Churches, the Eastern Catholic Churchesand the Coptic OrthodoxChurch he is remembered each year on Saint Thomas Sunday, which falls on the Sunday afterEaster. In addition, the Eastern Orthodox andByzantine Catholic churches celebrate his feast dayon October 6 (for those churches which follow the traditional Julian Calendar, October 6currently falls on October 19 of the modern Gregorian Calendar). He is also commemorated incommon with all of the other apostles on June 30(July 13), in a feast called the Synaxis of theHoly Apostles. He is also associated with the "Arabian" (or "Arapet") Iconof the Theotokos

(Mother of God), which is commemorated on September 6(September 19).

[edit] Later historyJust as Saints Peterand Paul are said to have brought the fledgling Christianity toGreece andRome, Saint Markbrought it to Egypt,Saint John to Syria and Asia Minor, Thomas is often saidto have taken it eastwards as far as India. Saint Thomas is said to have been the first Catholicosof the East.He was a Martyr and was killed by group of sages in Chennai and the Place is calledSaint Thomas Mount.
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thodox_Churcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_Orthodox_Churcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter_Canisiushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter_Canisiushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter_Canisiushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translation_(relics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translation_(relics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translation_(relics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mylaporehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mylaporehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mylaporehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edessahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edessahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edessahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Churcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Churcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Churcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Catholic_Churcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Catholic_Churcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Catholic_Churcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Sundayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Sundayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Sundayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Catholichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Catholichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Catholichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_dayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_Calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_30http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_30http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_30http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synaxishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synaxishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synaxishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iconhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iconhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iconhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theotokoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theotokoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theotokoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_6http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=6http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=6http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_of_Tarsushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_of_Tarsushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_of_Tarsushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greecehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greecehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greecehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Markhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Markhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Markhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Apostlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Apostlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Apostlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia_Minorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia_Minorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia_Minorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholicos_of_the_Easthttp://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[edit] Thomas and the Assumption of Mary

St. Thomas receiving the Virgin Mary's girdle from heaven.Main article:Dormition of the Theotokos

According to The Passing of Mary, a text attributed to Joseph of Arimathaea, Thomas was theonly witness of the Assumption of Mary into heaven. The other apostles were miraculouslytransported to Jerusalem to witness her death. Thomas was left in India, but after her burial hewas transported to her tomb, where he witnessed her bodily assumption into heaven, from whichshe dropped hergirdle. In an inversion of the story of Thomas' doubts, the other apostles areskeptical of Thomas' story until they see the empty tomb and the girdle.[3] Thomas' receipt of thegirdle is commonly depicted in medieval and pre-Tridentine Renaissance art.

[edit] Thomas and Syria

"Judas, who is also called Thomas" (Eusebius,H.E. 13.12) has a role in the legend of king AbgarofEdessa(Urfa), for having sent Thaddaeusto preach in Edessa after the Ascension (Eusebius,Historia ecclesiae 1.13; III.1;Ephrem the Syrian also recounts this legend.) In the 4th centurythe martyrium erected over his burial place brought pilgrims to Edessa. In the 380s, Egeriadescribed her visit in a letter she sent to her community of nuns at home (Itineraria Egeriae):

"we arrived at Edessa in the Name of Christ our God, and, on our arrival, we straightwayrepaired to the church and memorial of saint Thomas. There, according to custom,prayers were made and the other things that were customary in the holy places were

done; we read also some things concerning saint Thomas himself. The church there isvery great, very beautiful and of new construction, well worthy to be the house of God,and as there was much that I desired to see, it was necessary for me to make a three days'stay there."

[edit] Historical references to St. ThomasMany early Christian writings, which belong to centuries immediately following the firstEcumenical Council of 325, exist about St.Thomas mission.[4]
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The Acts of Judas Thomas: 2nd/3rd century (c. 180-230) [5]Gist of the testimony: The

Apostles cast lots as to where they should go, and to Thomas, twin brother of Jesus, fellIndia. Thomas was taken to kingGondophares as an architect and carpenter by Habban.The journey toIndia is described in detail. After a long residence in the court heordained leaders for the Church, and left in a chariot for the kingdom of Mazdei. There,after performing many miracles, he dies a martyr.

[6]

Clement of Alexandria: 3rd century (d.c. 235); Church represented: Alexandrian/Greek

Biographical Note : Greek Theologian, b. Athens, 150. [4]Clement makes a passingreference to St. Thomas Apostolate in Parthia. This agrees with the testimony whichEusebius records aboutPantaenus visit to India.[4]

A 13th-century Armenian illumination, by Toros Roslin.

Doctrine of the Apostles: 3rd century; Church represented: Syrian [7] After the death of

the Apostles there were Guides and Rulers in the Churches..They again at their deathsalso committed and delivered to their disciples after them everything which they hadreceived from the Apostles;(also what) Judas Thomas (had written) from India.

India and all its own countries, and those bordering on it, even to the farther sea,received the Apostles hand of Priesthood from Judas Thomas, who was Guide and Rulerin the Church which he built and ministered there. In what follows the whole Persia ofthe Assyrians and Medes, and of the countries round about Babylon. even to theborders of the Indians and even to the country of Gog and Magog are said to havereceived the Apostles Hand of Priesthood from Aggaeus the disciple of Addaeus [8]

Origen Century : 3rd century (185-254?), quoted in Eusebius; Church represented:

Alexandrian/ Greek Biographical. Christian Philosopher, b-Egypt,Origen taught withgreat acclaim in Alexandria and then in Caesarea. [9] He is the first known writer to recordthe casting of lots by the Apostles. Origenoriginal work has been lost; but his statementabout Parthia falling to Thomas has been preserved by Eusebius. Origen, in the thirdchapter of his Commentary on Genesis, says that, according to tradition, Thomassallotted field of labour was Parthia.[10]

Eusebius of Caesarea: 4th century (died 340); Church Represented: Alexandrian/Greek

Biographical [11] Quoting Origen, Eusebius says: When the holy Apostles and disciples
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of our Saviour were scattered over all the world, Thomas, so the tradition has it, obtainedas his portion Parthia. [12]

Ephrem: 4th century; Church Represented: Syrian Biographical [13] Many devotional

hymns composed by St. Ephraem, bear witness to the Edessan Churchs strong convictionconcerning St. Thomass Indian Apostolate. There the devil speaks of St. Thomas as the

Apostle I slew in India. Also The merchant brought the bones to Edessa.In another hymn apostrophising St. Thomas we read of The bones the merchant hathbrought. In his several journeyings to India, And thence on his return, All riches, whichthere he found, Dirt in his eyes he did repute when to thy sacred bones compared. In yetanother hymn Ephrem speaks of the mission of Thomas The earth darkened withsacrifices fumes to illuminate. A land of people dark fell to thy lot, a tainted landThomas has purified; Indias dark night was flooded with light by Thomas.[14]

Gregory of Nazianzus: 4th century(died 389); Church Represented: Alexandrian.

Biographical Note: Gregory of Nazianzus was born A.D. 330, consecrated abishop by hisfriend St. Basilin 372 his father, the Bishop of Nazianzus induced him to share hischarge. In 379 the people ofConstantinople called him to be their bishop. By the

Orthodox Church he is emphatically called the Theologian.[15]What? were not theApostles strangers amidst the many nations and countries over which they spreadthemselves?Peter indeed may have belonged to Judea; but what had Paul in commonwith the gentiles, Luke with Achaia, Andrew with Epirus, John with Ephesus, Thomaswith India, Mark with Italy? [16]

Ambrose of Milan: 4th century (died 397); Church Represented: Western. Biographical

Note: St. Ambrose was thoroughly acquainted with the Greek and Latin Classics, and hada good deal of information on India and Indians. He speaks of the Gymnosophists ofIndia, the Indian Ocean, the river Ganges etc., a number of times. [17] This admitted ofthe Apostles being sent without delay according to the saying of our Lord Jesus Eventhose Kingdoms which were shut out by rugged mountains became accessible to them, as

India to Thomas, Persia to Mathew.. [18]

St. Jerome (342- 420).St. Jerome's testimony : He (Christ) dwelt in all places: with

Thomas in India, Peter at Rome, with Paul in Illyricum.[4]

St. Gaudentius (Bishop of Brescia, before 427). St. Gaudentius' testimony: John at

Sebastena, Thomas among the Indians, Andrew and Luke at the city of Patras are foundto have closed their careers. [4]

St. Paulinus of Nola (died 431). St. Paulinus' testimony :Parthia receives Mathew,India

Thomas, Libya Thaddeus, and Phrygia Philip.[4]

St. Gregory of Tours (died 594) St. Gregory's testimony: Thomas the Apostle,

according to the narrative of his martyrdom is stated to have suffered in India. His holyremains (corpus), after a long interval of time, were removed to the city of Edessa inSyria and there interred. In that part of India where they first rested, stand a monasteryand a church of striking dimensions, elaborately adorned and designed. This Theodore,who had been to the place, narrated to us.[4]

St. Isidore of Seville in Spain (d. c. 630).St. Isidore's testimony: This Thomas

preached the Gospel of Christ to the Parthians, the Medes, the Persians, the Hyrcaniansand the Bactrians, and to the Indians of the Oriental region and penetrating the innermost
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regions and sealing his preaching by his passion he died transfixed with a lance atCalamina,a city ofIndia, and there was buried with honour. [4]

St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673-735).St. Bede'stestimony : Peter receives Rome,

Andrew Achaia; James Spain; Thomas India; John Asia" [4]

[edit] Thomas and IndiaPart of a series on

Christianityin India

Background

ChristianityMalankara Church

Syrian Malabar NasraniSaint Thomas Christians

Holy Apostolic Throne of St. ThomasMalankara Metropolitans

Knanaya

Events

Synod of DiamperCoonan Cross Oath

Goa Inquisition

People

St ThomasJordan Catalani

St Francis XavierSt.Gregorios of Parumala

St.Dionysius of MalankaraSaint Gonsalo Garcia

St. AlphonsammaMother Teresa

Reginald HeberBlessed Kuriakose Chavara

Henry MartynBishop CottonWilliam Carey

Anthony Norris GrovesHugh Findlay

Charles Freer Andrews

Churches

Andhra Evangelical Lutheran ChurchChaldean Syrian ChurchChurch of North IndiaChurch of South India

Indian BrethrenIndian Pentecostal Church

Jacobite Syrian ChurchMalabar Independent Church

Mar Thoma ChurchOrthodox Syrian ChurchRoman Catholic Church

St. Thomas Evangelical Church
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ushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Xavierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Xavierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Xavierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parumala_Thirumenihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parumala_Thirumenihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parumala_Thirumenihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geevarghese_Mar_Dionysius_of_Vattasserilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geevarghese_Mar_Dionysius_of_Vattasserilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geevarghese_Mar_Dionysius_of_Vattasserilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonsalo_Garciahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonsalo_Garciahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonsalo_Garciahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Alphonsahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Alphonsahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Alphonsahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Teresahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Teresahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Teresahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Heberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Heberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Heberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuriakose_Elias_Chavarahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuriakose_Elias_Chavarahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuriakose_Elias_Chavarahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Martynhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Martynhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Martynhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Edward_Lynch_Cottonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Edward_Lynch_Cottonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Edward_Lynch_Cottonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Carey_(missionary)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Carey_(missionary)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Carey_(missionary)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Norris_Groveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Norris_Groveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Norris_Groveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Findlayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Findlayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Findlayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Freer_Andrewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Freer_Andrewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Freer_Andrewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations_in_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andhra_Evangelical_Lutheran_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andhra_Evangelical_Lutheran_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andhra_Evangelical_Lutheran_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaldean_Syrian_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaldean_Syrian_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaldean_Syrian_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_North_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_North_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_North_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_South_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_South_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_South_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Brethrenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Brethrenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Brethrenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_Pentecostal_Church_of_Godhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_Pentecostal_Church_of_Godhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_Pentecostal_Church_of_Godhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacobite_Syrian_Christian_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacobite_Syrian_Christian_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacobite_Syrian_Christian_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malabar_Independent_Syrian_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malabar_Independent_Syrian_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malabar_Independent_Syrian_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar_Thoma_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar_Thoma_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar_Thoma_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malankara_Orthodox_Syrian_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malankara_Orthodox_Syrian_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malankara_Orthodox_Syrian_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholicism_in_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholicism_in_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholicism_in_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Thomas_Evangelical_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Thomas_Evangelical_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Thomas_Evangelical_Church


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Syro-Malankara Catholic ChurchSyro-Malabar Catholic Church

I

This box: viewtalkedit

Main article: Christianity in India

"It was to a land of dark people he was sent, to clothe them by Baptism in white robes. Hisgrateful dawn dispelled India's painful darkness. It was his mission to espouse India to theOne-Begotten. The merchant is blessed for having so great a treasure. Edessa thus became theblessed city by possessing the greatest pearl India could yield. Thomas works miracles inIndia, and at Edessa Thomas is destined to baptize peoples perverse and steeped in darkness,and that in the land of India." - Hymns of St. Ephraem, edited by Lamy (Ephr. Hymni etSermones, IV).

Eusebius of Caesarea[19] quotesOrigen (died mid-3rd century) as having stated that Thomas was

the apostle to the Parthians, but Thomas is better known as the missionary to India through theActs of Thomas, written ca 200. In Edessa, where his remains were venerated, the poet Ephremthe Syrian (died 373) wrote a hymn in which the Devil cries,

...Into what land shall I fly from the just?I stirred up Death the Apostles to slay, that by their death I might escape their blows.But harder still am I now stricken: the Apostle I slew in India has overtaken me inEdessa; here and there he is all himself.There went I, and there was he: here and there to my grief I find him. quoted inMedlycott 1905, ch. ii.

St. Ephraem, the great doctor of the Syrian Church, writes in the forty-second of his "CarminaNisibina" that the Apostle was put to death inIndia, and that his remains were subsequently

buried in Edessa, brought there by a merchant.[20]

A Syrian ecclesiastical calendar of an early date confirms the above. The entry reads: "3 July, St.Thomas who was pierced with a lance in India. His body is at Urhai [the ancient name of Edessa]having been brought there by the merchant Khabin. A great festival." It is only natural to expectthat we should receive from Edessa first-hand evidence of the removal of the relics to that city;and we are not disappointed, for St. Ephraem, the great doctor of the Syrian Church, has left usample details in his writings. [21]

In the forty-second of his "Carmina Nisibina" he tells us the Apostle was put to death in India,and that his remains were subsequently buried in Edessa, brought there by a merchant. But hisname is never given; at that date the name had dropped out of popular memory. [22]

A long public tradition in the church at Edessa honoring Thomas as the Apostle of India resultedin several surviving hymns that are attributed to Ephrem, copied in codices of the 8th and 9thcenturies. References in the hymns preserve the tradition that Thomas' bones were brought fromIndia to Edessa by a merchant, and that the relics worked miracles both in India and at Edessa. Apontiff assigned his feast day and a king and a queen erected his shrine. The Thomas traditionsbecame embodied in Syriac liturgy, thus they were universally credited by the Christiancommunity there. There is also a legend that Thomas had met theBiblical Magi on his way toIndia.
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St. Gregory of Tours , before 590, reports that Theodore, a pilgrim who had gone to Gaul, toldhim that in that part of India where the corpus (bones) ofThomas the Apostle had first rested,there stood a monastery and a church of striking dimensions and elaboratedly adorned, adding:"After a long interval of time these remains had been removed thence to the city ofEdessa." [23]

The indigenous church ofKerala, India has a tradition that St. Thomas sailed there to spread the

Christian faith. He is said to have landed at a small village, at that time a port, namedPalayoor,nearGuruvayoor, which was a priestly community at that time. He left Palayoor in AD 52 forsouthern Kerala State, where he established theEzharappallikal, or "Seven and Half Churches".These churches are atKodungallur,Kollam,Niranam,Nilackal (Chayal), Kokkamangalam,Kottakkayal (Paravoor), Palayoor(Chattukulangara) and ThiruvithamcodeArappally(Travancore) - the half church. (See also Saint Thomas of Mylapur).[citation needed]

[edit] Visit to Gondophares

TheActs of Thomas describes in chapter 17 Thomas' visit to king Gondophares in northern India;chapters 2 and 3 depict him as embarking on a sea voyage to India, thus connecting Thomas tothe west coast of India. Though theActs are usually considered to be moral entertainments of alegendary nature, the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea is a surviving roughly contemporary guide

to the routes commonly being used for navigating theArabian Sea. At the times theActs werebeing composed, and until the discovery of his coins in the region of Kabul and the Punjab[citationneeded], there was no reason to suppose that a king named "Gondophares" had ever reallyexisted.[citation needed] The reign of Gondophares, established by a votive inscription of his 26thregnal year that was unknown until 1872, commenced in AD 21, so he was in fact reigning aslate as AD 47. "It is impossible to resist the conclusion that the writer of theActs must have hadinformation based on contemporary history. For at no later date could a forger or legendarywriter have known the name." (Medlycott 1905).

[edit] Return of the relics

In 232 the relics of the Apostle Thomas are said to have been returned by an Indian king andbrought back from India to the city ofEdessa, Mesopotamia, on which occasion his SyriacActswere written. The Indian king is named as "Mazdai" in Syriac sources, "Misdeos" and "Misdeus"in Greek and Latin sources respectively, which has been connected to the "Bazdeo" on theKushan coinage ofVasudeva I, the transition between "M" and "B" being a current one inClassical sources for Indian names.[24]The martyrologist Rabban Sliba dedicated a special day toboth the Indian king, his family, and St Thomas:

"Coronatio Thomae apostoli et Misdeus rex Indiae, Johannes eus filius huisque materTertia"("Coronation of Thomas the Apostole, and Misdeus king of India, together withhis son Johannes (thought to be a latinization ofVizan) and his mother Tertia") RabbanSliba[24]

After a short stay in the Greek island ofChios, on September 6, 1258, the relics were transported

to the West, and now rest in Ortona, Italy.
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aint_Thomas_of_Mylapurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=11http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=11http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acts_of_Thomashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acts_of_Thomashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acts_of_Thomashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondophareshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondophareshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondophareshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periplus_of_the_Erythraean_Seahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periplus_of_the_Erythraean_Seahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periplus_of_the_Erythraean_Seahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_Seahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_Seahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_Seahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab_(India)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab_(India)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab_(India)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=12http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=12http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_the_Apostle&action=edit&section=12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edessa,_Mesopotamiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edessa,_Mesopotamiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edessa,_Mesopotamiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasudeva_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasudeva_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasudeva_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rabban_Sliba&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rabban_Sliba&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rabban_Sliba&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chioshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chioshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chioshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ortonahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ortonahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ortona


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According to tradition, the Indo-Parthianking Gondophares was proselitized by St Thomas, whocontinued on to southern India.

Southern India had maritime trade with the West since ancient times. Egyptian trade with IndiaandRoman trade with India flourished in the first century AD. In AD 47, the Hippalus wind was

discovered and this led to direct voyage from Aden to the South Western coast in 40 days.Muziris (Kodungallur) and Nelcyndis or Nelkanda (near Kollam) in South India, are mentionedas flourishing ports, in the writings ofPliny (23-79 AD). Pliny has given an accurate descriptionof the route to India, the country of Cerebothra (the Cheras). Pliny has referred to the flourishingtrade in spices, pearls, diamonds and silk between Rome and Southern India in the earlycenturies of the Christian era. Though the Cheras controlled Kodungallur port, Southern Indiabelonged to the Pandyan Kingdom, that had sent embassies to the court of Augustus Caesar.

According to Indian Christian tradition, St. Thomas landed in Kodungallurin AD 52, in thecompany of a Jewish merchant Abbanes (Hebban). There were Jewish colonies in Kodungallursince ancient times and Jews continue to reside in Kerala till today, tracing their ancient history.

In 522 AD, Cosmas Indicopleustes (called the Alexandrian) visited the Malabar Coast. He is the

first traveller who mentions Syrian Christians in Malabar, in his bookChristian Topography. Hementions that in the town of "Kalliana" (Quilon or Kollam), there is a bishop consecrated inPersia. Metropolitan Mar Aprem writes, "Most church historians, who doubt the tradition of thedoubting Thomas in India, will admit there was a church in India in the middle of the sixthcentury when Cosmas Indicopleustes visited India."[25]

There is a copper plate grant given to Iravi Korttan, a Christian of Kodungallur (Cranganore), byKing Vira Raghava. The date is estimated to be around 744 AD. In 822 AD two NestorianPersian Bishops Mar Sapor and Mar Peroz came to Malabar, to occupy their seats in Kollam andKodungallur, to look after the local Syrian Christians (also known as St. Thomas Christians).
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Shrine of Saint Thomas in Meliapore, 18th century print.

Marco Polo, the Venetian traveller and author ofDescription of the World, popularly known asIlMilione, is reputed to have visited South India in 1288 and 1292. The first date has been rejectedas he was in China at the time, but the second date is accepted by many historians. He is believedto have stopped in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Quilon (Kollam) on the western Malabar coast ofIndia, where he met Syrian Christians and recorded their legends of St. Thomas and hismiraculous tomb on the eastern Coromandel coast of the country.Il Milione, the book he dictatedon his return to Europe, was on its publication condemned as a collection of impious andimprobable traveller's tales but it became very popular reading in medieval Europe and inspiredSpanish and Portuguese sailors to seek out the fabulous, and possibly Christian, India describedin it.

NearChennai(formerly Madras) in India stands a small hillock calledSt. Thomas Mount, wherethe Apostle is said to have been killed in 72 AD (exact year not established). Also to be found in

Chennai is the Dioceses of Saint Thomas of Mylapore to which his mortal remains weresupposedly transferred.

[edit] Pope Leo XIII's Statement regarding Visit of St.Thomas to India

Earlier, in 1729 the Bishop of Madras-Mylapore doubted whether the tomb in San ThomeCathedral was that of St. Thomas and wrote to the Sacred Congregation of Rites in Rome forclarification. Rome's reply was not published.[26] Again, in 1871 the Roman Catholic authoritiesat Madras were "strong in disparagement of the special sanctity of the localities [viz. San Thome,Little Mount, and Big Mount identified by the Portuguese after 1517] and the whole storyconnecting St. Thomas with Mailapur."[27]However, in 1886 Pope Leo XIII stated in an apostolic

letter that St. Thomas "travelled to Ethiopia, Persia, Hyrcania and finally to the Peninsula beyondthe Indus",[28] and in 1923 Pope Pius XI quoted Pope Leo's letter and identified St. Thomas with"India". These papal statements also reflect the geography of theActs of Thomas, as does PopeBenedict's statement, and make no reference to South India.

[edit] Pope Benedict XVI's Statement regarding Visit of St.Thomas to India
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On September 27th 2006, Pope Benedict XVIgave out a speech in the Vaticanin which herecalled an ancient tradition claiming that Thomas first evangelised Syria and Persia, then wenton to Western India, from where Christianity also reached Southern India.[29].[30] Syrian Christiansderive status within the caste system from the tradition that they are converted Namboodiris, whowere allegedly evangelized by St. Thomas after he allegedly landed in Kerala in AD 52. Butdiscrepency exists in this theory as Namboothiris started settling in Kerala only from 6th centuryonwards.Since Pope Benedict XVI's statement was perceived to be a direct violation of theirreligious beliefs, many Saint Thomas Christians in India condemned this statement.[31]Later,based on the evidences given by Christians from Kerala, theVatican amended the published textof the same speech with minor modifications.[30]

The Pope's original statement given out at St. Peter's, before it was amended on the Vaticanwebsite, reflected the geography of theActs of Thomas, i.e. Syria, Parthia (Persia/Iran) andGandhara (Western India/Pakistan).

[edit] St. Thomas ChristiansMain articles: Saint Thomas Christians andMalankara Church

Thomasine Christianity is found in the southern Indian state of Kerala. These churches ofMalabar trace their roots back to St. Thomas the Apostle who according to local tradition arrivedalong the Malabar Coast in the year A.D. 52. In the Syriac tradition, St. Thomas is referred to asMar Thoma Sleeha which translate roughly as Lord/Saint Thomas the Apostle.

St Thomas Christians had a unique identity till the arrival of Portuguese in India, who convertedSt. Thomas Christians to the Catholic Church. As a result of this foreign intervention into theculture there are several present day St. Thomas churches, primarily in the Catholic and OrientalOrthodox Traditions.

The largest church in terms of membership is the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, a majorarchepiscopal church in communion with the Bishop of Rome with a membership approachingfour million adherents. The second largest is the Indian Orthodox church which have 3.5 million

followers. The Oriental Orthodox church with its rich history is trampled under continuedlitigation between two parties owing their allegiance to separate primates. The MalankaraOrthodox Syrian Church (also known as the Indian Orthodox Church) views itself as anautocephlous Orthodox Church with the Catholicos of the Eastas their head while, theMalankara Syriac Orthodox Churchhas a local head in the person of the Catholicos of India.

A related, although minor, church in Malankara is the Mar Thoma Church. The church claimsmembership of 900,000.

Prior to the advent of Roman Catholic Christianity in India in the 16th century, Syrian andPersian Christians in Malabar were called Nazaranis or Nazarenes. The first name indicated theChristian doctrine they followed after the church founded by Thomas of Cana in Malabar waslinked to the Nestorian Church of Seleucia in 450 AD,[32]and the second name linked them backto the first Jewish Nazarene Christians who fled to Edessa, Syria, prior to the fa

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