Apostle
Glorious Apostle Thomas
Holy, Glorious Apostle Thomas
New Calendar October 6 Old Calendar October 19
Why they are a saint
One of the Twelve Apostles, he was a Galilean by birth. His name means “twin.” The twentieth chapter of St John’s Gospel describes how, when he doubted the appearance of the Risen Lord, Christ appeared to him again, saying “Reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing,” at which Thomas cried out “My Lord and my God!” Through this one event the Holy Scriptures attest that Christ is risen bodily, not merely as a spirit, as some heresies claim; and that He is in fact God.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Orthodox Christians usually take Glorious Apostle Thomas as a patron when they bear the name Holy at baptism, or were born or baptized near the feast on October 6. As an apostle, he is also asked to pray for missionaries and those who spread the Gospel.
Prayer
O holy Glorious Apostle 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.