St. Thomas was a Jew, called to be one of the twelve Apostles.
He was a dedicated but impetuous follower of Christ.When Jesus said He was returing to Judea to visit His sick friend Lazarus, Thomas immediately exhorted the othe Apostles to accompany
Him on the trip which involved certain danger and possible death because of the mounting hostility of the authorities. At the Last Supper, when Christ told His Apostles that He was going to prepare a place
Going to prepare aplace for them to which they also might come because they knew both the place and the way, Thomas pleaded that they did not understand and received the beautiful assurance that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the life.
But St. Thomas is best known for his role in verifying the Resurrection of his Master. Thomas’ unwillingness to believe that the other Apostles had seen their risen Lord on the Easter Sunday merited for him the title of “doubting Thomas.”Eight days later , on Christ’s second apparition, Thomas was gently rebuked for his skepticism and furnished with the evidence he had demanded-seeing in Christ’s hands the point of the nails and putting his fingers in the place of the nails and his hand into His side. At this, St. Thomas became convinced of the truth of the Resurrection and exclaimed:”My Lord and MY God,” thus making a public
Profession of Faith in the Divinity of Jesus. St Thomas is also mentioned as being present at another Resurrection appearance of Jesus-at Lake Tiberias when a miraculous catch of fish occurred. This is all that we know about St.thomas from the New Testament.
Tradition says that at the dispersal of the Apostles after Pentecost this saint was sent to evangelize the Parthians, Medes, and Persians;he ultimately reached India, carrying the Faith to the Malabar coast, which still boasts a large native population calling themselves “Christians of St.thomas.”He capped his left by shedding his blood for his Master, spread to death at a place called Calamine. His feast day is July 3rd and he is the patron of architects.
Indian Traditions
Malabar Tradition According to this tradition St.Thomas came by sea, landed at Kodungallooor (Crangannore or muziris) in Kerala, established sever churches(or group of christians) at Palayoor, Kodungallor Niranam, Nilakkal, kottakkavu, Kokkamangalam and Kollam before his death in 72 A.D. and burial at Mylapore, Chennai.
Ramban Pattu, Veradiyan Paattu, Margam Kali Pattu etc.. give credence to this tradition.Certain archeoliogicaal findings also point to this direction. Malayattoor is a famous pilgrims centre among the Malabar Christians because of the tradition that Blessed Virgin mary appeared to the saint on the summit of this mount. Tomb of St. Thomas at Mylapore, Chennai is regarded and the most important pilgrim centre of St. Thomas Christians throught the world. Early Christians used to make a pilgrimage to Mylapore at least once in their life. The earth taken from the tomb is considered to have miraculous healing powers. Marco Polo, a Venetian traveler visited the tomb in thirteenth century and written about the traditional belief of the local people about the miraculous healing powers of the sans taken from the tomb.
