Saint Thomas, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, is often remembered for his initial doubt in the Resurrection of the Lord, which later became a powerful testimony of faith. Because of this, he is also called “Doubting Thomas,” though his doubt ultimately led to a profound confession of belief.
When the other disciples told him that Christ had risen, Thomas declared that he would not believe unless he saw and touched the wounds of the Lord. Eight days later, Jesus appeared to him and invited him to do exactly that. Overcome with faith, Thomas proclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”—one of the clearest confessions of Christ’s divinity in the Gospel.
After the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Saint Thomas traveled far to preach the Gospel. According to Holy Tradition, he went as far as India, where he converted many people to Christianity and established Christian communities.
Saint Thomas suffered martyrdom in India, where he was killed with a spear for preaching the Gospel of Christ.
His life shows that doubt can be transformed into strong and unwavering faith, and his confession remains a cornerstone of Christian belief.
Feast Days in the Orthodox Church:
- October 6 – Main feast day
- Sunday of Thomas (the first Sunday after Pascha/Easter), dedicated to his encounter with the risen Christ
