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As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
First century–c. 72 A.D.
Patron Saint of architects, builders, engineers, those who doubt, India
St. Thomas the Apostle is remembered as a man of both skepticism and conviction, whose journey to faith continues to resonate with believers today. As one of the Twelve chosen by Christ, Thomas shared in Jesus’ ministry, teachings, and miracles. Yet he is most famously known for his initial doubt following the Resurrection.
When Jesus first appeared to the Apostles after rising from the dead, Thomas was not present. When told about the encounter, Thomas responded that he would not believe unless he could see and touch Christ’s wounds for himself, giving him the moniker “Doubting Thomas.” But it also reveals his earnest desire for truth and certainty.
Eight days later, Jesus appeared again and invited Thomas to touch His wounds. Confronted with the Risen Lord, Thomas responded with one of the clearest declarations of faith in the Gospels: “My Lord and my God!” With these words, he surrendered all his affections to God alone.
After Pentecost, Thomas carried the Gospel beyond familiar lands. Ancient tradition holds that he traveled to India, where he preached, converted many, and established Christian communities that endure to this day. These communities, often called “St. Thomas Christians,” trace their origins to his missionary work.
St. Thomas eventually suffered martyrdom, traditionally believed to have occurred in India around 72 A.D. Reportedly, he was pierced by a spear while he was praying. Known as the “Apostle of India,” he is highly venerated there.
While St. Thomas, like most missionaries, built churches with his own hands in the Christian communities he established, his patronage of architects and builders is more likely associated with a well-known story. According to the story, the Indian King Gondophares commissioned St. Thomas to build a royal palace, providing him with the funds to do so. Instead of building the palace, St. Thomas distributed the money to the poor. When the king threatened punishment for what he thought was theft, St. Thomas explained that he had built a much more durable, eternal palace for the king in Heaven through his charity. This story underscores the Apostle’s mission of charity and his teachings on spiritual riches, while also linking him symbolically to the construction of both physical and spiritual structures.
The tradition of St. Thomas’s mission in India is ancient and deeply rooted. Early Christian writings, such as the Acts of Thomas, describe his journey east. Additionally, longstanding Christian communities in India, particularly along the Malabar Coast, trace their origins to his preaching and the evangelistic activity of the Apostle Thomas, who they believe arrived in India in 52 A.D. and established churches along the Malabar Coast. Today, they are divided into several denominations, including the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. These communities have preserved liturgical traditions and customs that reflect very early forms of Christianity, providing historical support for the belief that the Apostle evangelized the region.
Most of Thomas’s relics are enshrined in the Basilica of San Tommaso Apostolo in Ortona, Italy, where they have rested since 1258. Smaller portions of his remains are located in Rome and India. St. Thomas is traditionally believed to have been martyred near Mylapore, in present-day Chennai, India, where a shrine marks the site of his death. Some of his relics were later transferred to Edessa (in modern-day Turkey), an important center of early Christianity. According to records, the relics housed in Italy today were brought there from the Greek island of Chios by a navigator named Leone Acciaiuoli in the 13th century. St. Thomas is honored for his widespread missionary work and his zeal in carrying the Gospel to distant lands.
Thomas was a faithful follower of Jesus, an Apostle, and one of His closest friends, yet after Christ’s Resurrection, he had difficulty believing.
This eBook examines five pieces of evidence to support faith in Christ’s Resurrection as a historical event. May this resource help deepen your understanding of God and better defend the faith.
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