Thomas the Apostle, 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 about it; he later confessed his faith ("My Lord and my God") on seeing the wounds of Jesus, left over from the crucifixion.

Thomas first speaks in the Gospel of John. In John 11:16, when Lazarus has recently died, and the apostles do not wish to go back to Judea, Thomas says: "Let us also go, that we may die with him”.

Thomas speaks again in John 14:5. There, Jesus had just explained that he was going away to prepare a heavenly home for his followers, and that one day they would join him there. Thomas reacted by saying, "Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?"

Thomas was sceptical at first when he heard that Jesus had risen from the dead and appeared to the other apostles, saying, "Except I shall see on his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." But when Jesus appeared later and invited Thomas to touch his wounds and behold him, Thomas showed his belief by saying, "My Lord and my God".

Saint Thomas is revered as the Apostle of India and according to traditional accounts of the Saint Thomas Christians of India, he landed in Muziris (Cranganore) on the Kerala coast in AD 52. He is believed, by the Saint Thomas Christian tradition, to have established seven churches (communities) in Kerala. These churches are at Kodungallur, Palayoor, Kottakkavu (Paravur), Kokkamangalam, Niranam, Nilackal (Chayal), Kollam, and Thiruvithamcode. Thomas baptized several families in Kerala, namely Pakalomattom, Sankarapuri, Kalli, Kaliyankal etc.

As we learn from the traditions, after establishing seven communities in Kerala, the apostle went over to the Coromandel Coast. The Rambanpattu which summarizes the traditions of Malabar (Kerala) regarding the mission of Thomas, narrates that before crossing over to the Coromandel Coast the Apostle had already strengthened the communities by ordaining bishops and priests for them. While he was in Mylapore some of the envious Brahmins killed the apostle in 72 AD with a lance and he was buried by his disciples in the church of Mylapore. 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.

The mission of Thomas in India is considered as an accepted fact and no more lengthy arguments are needed to prove it. An ocean of literature is already written about the Indian mission of Thomas and there is no dearth of writers and scholars who are experts on the subject. Instead of trying to prove the historicity of the mission of Thomas in India, what we need to do is to disprove the sceptics and convince them. Historicity of the mission is questioned not because it is not historically verifiable, but because it is unacceptable to the colonial minds.

Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Anatolius of Laodicea
2. Saint Bladus
3. Saint Guthagon
4. Saint Hyacinth of Caesarea
5. Saint Mark

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