Apostle · 1st century
Thomas
Holy, Glorious Apostle Thomas
New Calendar October 6 Old Calendar October 19
Why they are a saint
Thomas was one of the Twelve; confessed the risen Christ ('My Lord and my God'). Tradition holds he preached in India and was martyred there. The years given for this life are 1st century. The Church commemorates him with the apostolic company that first carried the Gospel.
Life
Saint Thomas was born in the Galilean city of Pansada and was a fisherman. Hearing the good tidings of Jesus Christ, he left everything to follow Him and was numbered among the Twelve Apostles.
He did not believe the other disciples' report of the Resurrection, saying, 'Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails... I will not believe.' On the eighth day the Lord appeared and showed him His wounds, and Thomas cried out, 'My Lord and my God!' In Greek the icon of this event is called 'The Touching of Thomas.'
According to Church Tradition he founded churches in Palestine, Mesopotamia, Parthia, Ethiopia and India. For converting the wife and son of the prefect of the Indian city of Meliapur, he was imprisoned, tortured, and finally pierced with five spears. Parts of his relics are in India, in Hungary and on Mount Athos.
Sources: OCA Lives of the Saints. Retold in our own words.
Traditional patronage
The cited source names no specific patronage.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Traditionally asked to pray for india (traditional enlightener), architects. The reason for this custom is not recorded here.
Prayer
O holy Thomas, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.