Thomas the Apostle

Holy Apostle Thomas.

March 21

St. Thomas, called the Twin, was one of the Twelve Apostles of the Lord. It was he who said he would not believe unless he touched the wounds of the risen Christ, and who, beholding the Lord eight days after Pascha, made the great confession, my Lord and my God. His honest doubt became for all generations a confirmation of the Resurrection.

According to ancient tradition he carried the Gospel to the East, preaching as far as India, where he completed his apostolic labors as a martyr. He is commemorated on March 21.

October 6

St. Thomas, called the Twin, was one of the Twelve Apostles. Absent when the risen Christ first appeared to the disciples, he said he would not believe unless he touched the wounds of the Lord; eight days later Christ invited him to do so, and Thomas confessed Him as Lord and God — the clearest confession of the divinity of Christ in the Gospels.

According to tradition Thomas carried the Gospel east as far as India, where ancient Christian communities trace their origin to his preaching, and where he died a martyr. He is commemorated on October 6 and on the first Sunday after Pascha.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Thomas the Apostle is commemorated on March 21. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on April 3 of the civil calendar.

On the New Calendar, Thomas the Apostle is commemorated on October 6. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on October 19 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Thomas, Tomas, Thoma, Tommy, Tom

Also commemorated on March 21

• James of Catania

  Hierarch, Ιάκωβος ο Ομολογητής

  Saint James the Confessor, Bishop of Catania.

• Thomas of Constantinople

  Hierarch, Θωμάς Πατριάρχης

  Saint Thomas, Patriarch of Constantinople.

• Serapion of Sidon

  Hierarch, Σεραπίων

  Saint Serapion of Sidon, Bishop of Thmuis in Egypt.

• Philemon and Domninos

  Martyr, Φιλήμων και Δομνίνος

  Holy Martyrs Philemon and Domninos of Rome.

• Seraphim of Vyritsa

  Venerable, Σεραφείμ της Βίριτσα

  Venerable Seraphim of Vyritsa, elder and wonderworker of Russia.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.