Saint Thomas the Apostle, one of the twelve disciples of Christ, was from a family of fishermen. After Christ’s Resurrection, when He first appeared to the other disciples, Thomas doubted their account. Later, when the Lord appeared again in the upper room, Thomas was present. Jesus invited him to touch the wounds from the nails of the crucifixion, encouraging him not to be faithless but to believe. Overcome, Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord and my God." Jesus responded, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed," offering a lesson for all who doubt the truth of the Gospel.
According to tradition, after receiving the Holy Spirit, Thomas was sent to preach the Gospel to the Persians, Medes, and Indians. In India, he was arrested by King Misdaeus after he catechized and baptized the king's son, Juzanes, his wife Tertia, and their daughters Mygdonia and Narka. Thomas was imprisoned and then handed over to five soldiers who took him to a mountain and killed him by spearing. In this way, God honored Thomas not only with the mission of preaching the Gospel but also with the gift of martyrdom, giving his life for the faith he proclaimed.