Saint Thomas the Apostle: Patron Saint of the Chaldean Patriarchate

"My Lord and my God"

Faith, Renewal, and Life

Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

His faith is a continuous passage to the Resurrection, life, and renewal. He is the fisherman known as the Twin from Galilee. He answered the Lord's call without hesitation, bearing witness to Him and His miracles. He is Saint Thomas the Apostle, who cried out with great confidence, "My Lord and my God."

Saint Thomas the Apostle is one of the Twelve Apostles of the Lord Jesus, celebrated by all Church Families in their Liturgies and calendars. He is also the Patron Saint of the Chaldean Patriarchate, from whom the firm faith in Jesus Christ is derived and whose Feast Day is celebrated annually on July 3.

This Faith was emphasized by His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq and the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in one of his letters, when he said:

"The profound faith of Thomas, when he joined the Church in the Upper Room on the eighth day, is a great strength that sows hope in our hearts despite our fatigue, strengthens our confidence, and helps us overcome the difficulties and challenges initiated by the attempts of the 'forces of evil.'"

A Firm Trust in the Lord Jesus

According to Church sources, Saint Thomas the Apostle appears in the Gospel of John in several situations that document his deep trust in the Lord Jesus.

Hence, we notice Thomas's determination to follow Christ, no matter the risk, and his eagerness to witness God's work. We see this when he informed Jesus that Lazarus was sick.

In this situation, Jesus wanted to go to Lazarus in Judea, but Thomas objected, saying, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?" (John 11:8). The Lord replied, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.". Without hesitation, Thomas said to the other Disciples, "Let's go so that we, too, can die with Jesus."

In the same context, Church sources indicate that the Apostle Thomas was a straightforward and realistic person, always seeking inquiry and clarification in order to understand all the information and data presented to him.

We can observe this part of Thomas's character in the Fourteenth Chapter of the Gospel of John, when the Lord Jesus said to his Disciples, "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14: 2)... "You know where I am going, and you know the way" (John 14: 4).

Then, Thomas answered, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way? ". Jesus replied, "I am the way and the truth and the life."

The Evangelism of Saint Thomas the Apostle

The Apostle Thomas truly walked the path of the Lord, preaching and evangelizing in the name of Jesus Christ in various regions, converting many people to faith in Christ.

According to sources, Thomas preached in Judea, like the other Apostles. Afterward, according to the Fathers, he traveled to the East, where he met the Magi who worshipped the child Jesus in Bethlehem. The Apostle Thomas also went to Ethiopia, where he baptized many people, as Saint John Chrysostom said. Furthermore, Saint Thomas the Apostle continued his preaching in Edessa, Syria, Persia, and Iraq, and was the first to preach in India.

One day, while the Apostle Thomas was praying, he was attacked by pagan priests who stoned him and stabbed him in the neck with a spear. Thus, he won the crown of martyrdom in the year 75 of Christ. Hence, Indian Christians have come to hold him in great respect and consider him the Patron Saint of their country, especially Indians who follow the Syriac Church and who call themselves Saint Thomas Christians, believing that their Churches were founded by the Apostle Thomas.

Our Prayers today are with Thomas the Apostle. May his faith inspire us, and together we recite the hymn "O Saint Thomas, Our Patron Saint," written by His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako:

"O Saint Thomas, our Patron Saint, we are always proud of you. We rightly implore you... O Apostle and Martyr. In calamities and hardships... be a refuge and consolation. Guide us always to the Lord... with your example and Prayers. Protect our country and the Church... and ask the Lord for us... peace and security."