St Thomas

The disciple Thomas is called 'Didymus the Twin' in the New Testament, but throughout the Christian world he is known as 'Doubting Thomas'. He searched for the truth but found it hard to accept or understand.

In St John's Gospel, when Jesus says: "I go to prepare a place for you. And I will come again and I will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way where I am going," Thomas says: "Lord we don't know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Then Jesus replied: "I am the way, the truth and the light."

St Thomas was not with the other apostles when Jesus appeared to them after his death, and refused to believe that he was alive unless he could see the marks of the nails. Eight days later he saw Jesus for himself, touched the wounds and said: "My Lord and my God."

It is believed that St Thomas went to India as a missionary. A Sixth century inscription at a church in Myapore, in Madras is dedicated to him and he is said to be buried there.