Today we celebrate the greatest Disciple.
St. Thomas. 𐡀𐡌𐡅𐡕𐡌
תוֹמָאס הקדוש
The only disciple who really understood that Jesus is God. The Creator of the Universe.
After the crucifixion Thomas travelled to Kerala India and taught his Gospel.
That Jesus is God.
Thomas the Apostle (Aramaic: 𐡀𐡌𐡅𐡕𐡌, Biblical Hebrew: תוֹמָאס הקדוש, Classical Syriac: ܬܐܘܡܐ, Tʾōmā, meaning "twin"; Koinē Greek: Θωμᾶς),also known as Didymus ("twin"), was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament.
Thomas is commonly known as "Doubting Thomas" because he initially doubted the resurrection of Jesus Christ when he was told of it ; he later confessed his faith ("My Lord and my God") on seeing the wounds left over from the crucifixion.
“My Lord and my God”
According to traditional accounts of the Saint Thomas Christians of modern-day Kerala in India, Thomas travelled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, travelling as far as the Tamilakam which is in South India,and reached Muziris of Tamilakam (modern-day North Paravur and Kodungalloor in Kerala State, India) in AD 52.[
In 1258, some of the relics were brought to Ortona, in Abruzzo, Italy, where they have been held in the Church of Saint Thomas the Apostle. He is regarded as the patron saint of India among its Christian adherents, and the Feast of Saint Thomas on July 3 is celebrated as Indian Christians' Day.
The name Thomas remains quite popular among the Saint Thomas Christians of the Indian subcontinent.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle
So today and every day let us celebrate the teaching of St Thomas.
Jesus says:
(1) “I am the Light that is over ALL. I am the ALL. The ALL came forth out of me. And to me the All has come.”
(2) “Split a piece of wood — I am there.
(3) Lift the stone, and you will find me there.”
Gospel of Thomas - 77
(1) His disciples said to him: “The kingdom — on what day will it come?”
(2) “It will not come by watching (and waiting for) it.
(3) They will not say: ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’
(4) Rather, the kingdom of the Father is spread out upon the earth, and people do not see it.”
Gospel of Thomas - 113
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Gospel of Thomas: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/bible-versions-and-translations/the-gospel-of-thomas-114-sayings-of-jesus/
The Feast of St Thomas, celebrated on July 3, is observed across the world. The day celebrates St Thomas’s life and deeds. In the 1st Century A.D, he traveled to India where he preached Christianity. The occasion has become an opportunity for people to commit to preserving faith and culture. While Christians observe it to pay homage to one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ, Hindus remember him for saving their ancient country from a terrible famine. He was said to have lived in India as a missionary among the Jewish, where he spread Christianity to make the religion popular among service-oriented sections of society.
Source: https://nationaltoday.com/st-thomas-history/
This is St Thomas by Sonny Rollins
