Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle
The Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle is commemorated on December 21 by various Christian denominations, including Anglican, Episcopalian, Lutheran, and some Protestant groups. Historically, Roman Catholics also observed this feast on the same date until calendar reforms shifted their celebration to July 3, which is recognized as the day of the transfer of his relics. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, the feast is celebrated on October 6, or 13 days later in the Julian calendar. St. Thomas is famously known as "Doubting Thomas" due to his initial skepticism about Jesus' resurrection, as described in the Gospel of John. Following the resurrection events, he is believed to have traveled eastward to spread the message of Christianity, eventually reaching India, where he is honored as the founder of the Thomas Christians, particularly in Kerala. There, a significant Christian population identifies with his legacy. Though there is limited historical evidence of his life, tradition holds that he was martyred in Madras, and he is considered the patron saint of the East Indies and architects, often depicted with tools symbolizing his carpentry background. This feast highlights the enduring impact of St. Thomas in Christian history and culture.
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Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle
Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle
The Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle is celebrated on December 21 by Anglican, Episcopalian, Lutheran, and some other Protestant denominations. Until the reform of the Roman Catholic calendar went into effect, Roman Catholics also celebrated the feast on that date. More recently, however, they have venerated St. Thomas on July 3, reputedly the date of the transfer of his relics. Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate the feast on October 6, or 13 days later where the Julian calendar is used.
Thomas was one of the 12 apostles chosen by Jesus. He has been dubbed Doubting Thomas because of New Testament accounts of events that happened shortly after the resurrection of Christ. Mary Magdalene and the apostles Peter and John had discovered the empty tomb of Jesus in the early hours of the Sunday morning after Good Friday. On the evening of that first Easter, Peter and John had gathered with the other apostles in a closed room to discuss the puzzling events. Suddenly Jesus appeared in the room with them, showed them the wounds in his hands and side, and spoke with them. However, according to the report of the events given in the Gospel of John (20:24–25), “Thomas . . . was not with them, when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hands in his side, I will not believe.’”
Following the resurrection and the legendary events surrounding the ascension of Christ, all the apostles stayed and preached for a while in Jerusalem. After a time many of them left Jerusalem to preach to people of other nations, as Jesus had commanded them to do. According to tradition, Thomas traveled east, spreading the gospel to the regions between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf, eventually reaching India. To this day in southwest India, along the Malabar Coast, there are people who call themselves Thomas Christians or Christians of St. Thomas and claim Thomas as the founder of their church. Many of these people live in Kerala, the smallest state in India, where one-third of the population is Christian. Although there is little historical confirmation of the events of Thomas's life or death, it is thought that he was martyred in Madras, in southeast India.
Thomas is considered the patron saint of the East Indies. Because he may have been a house builder or carpenter before or even after his apostleship, he is often depicted holding a carpenter's rule and square and is also the patron saint of architects.