In the New Test, we hear of Thomas only twice again — once on the Sea of (ialilee with the seven disci- ples, where he is rai.ked next after Peter (.John xxi, 2), and again in the assemblage of the apostles after the Ascension (Acts i, 13).
3. Traditions. — Thomas is said to have been born at Antioch, and (as aljove stated) to have had a twin-sis- ter named Lysia (Patrcs A post. ed. Coteler. ]i. 272, 512). The earlier traditions, as believed in the -1th century (Origen.ap. Euseb. //«»•/. /.'crffs.i, 13; iii, 1 ; Socrates, //w.7. Ecdes. i, 19), represent him as preaching in I'arthia (Clement. Rccoi/n. ix, 29) or Persia (according to Je- rome; see also liufinus. Hist. Ecdes. ii, 4), and as finally buried at Edessa (Socrates, Hi^t. Ecdes. iv, 1 8). Chrysos- tom mentions his grave at Edessa as being one of the four genuine tondis of apostles, the other three being Peter, Paul, and John (/Jam. in Ilch. 2()). With his burial at l-^dessa agrees the story of his sending Thad- dasus to Ahgarus with our Lord's letter (Euseb. ///*■/. Ecdes. i, 13). According to a later tradition, Thomas went to India and suffered martyrdom tliere (Gregor. Naz. Orat. xtv ad A rian. p. 438. ed. Par. ; Ambrose, in Psa.xir, 10; Jerome, Ep. 148 [59J ad MarcelL; Xice))h. IJist. Ecdes. ii, 40 ; A eta Thomii;. ch. i stp ; Abdire Hist. Apost. ch. ix ; Paidin. a S. Bartholoma'o, India Orient. Christiana [Horn. 1794]). This tradition has been at- tacked by Von Hohlen {Indien, i, 375 sq.). The an- cient congregations of Christians in India who belong to the Syrian Church are called Tliomas-Christians, and consider the apostle Thomas to be their founder (Fabri- cius, Lii.r Evaiif/ilii. p. (;2(j sq.; Assemani, Hitiiioth. Oi-ient. Ill, ii.435s(i.: Wutir, Erdhinde,X,\.i\Ol stj.X Against this tradition Thilo wrote iii his edition of the Acta
' Thomce, p. 107 sq. (comp. Aiigusti, Denhiriirdie/heiten, iii, 219 sq.). This later tradition is now usually regarded as arising from a confusiim with a later Thomas, a mis- sionary frotii the Nestorians. His martyrdom (wheth- er in Persia or India) is said to have been occasioned by a lance, and is commemorated by the Latin (Church on Dec. 21, by the Greek Churcli on Oct. 0, and by the Indians on July I. (For these traditions and their au- thorities, see P.utlcr. Ijres of the Saints. Dec. 21.)
4. The fathers frequently quote an Eraiit/eiium secun- dum Thomam and Acta Thomce, the fragments of the former of which have been edited by Thilo, in his Co- dex Apoa'yphus Novi Testamenti, i, 275; and by Tisch- endorf, in his Evangeliu Apocrjjpha (Lips. 1843) ; and the Acta Thonur se])arately by Tliilo (ibid. 1823); and by Tischendorf, in his Acta Ajiocri/plia (ibid. 1851). See Ai'OCiiViMiA ; Thomas, Whitin(;is ok.
TIltniAS (.S^), CiiHisTiANS OF, a body of Syrian Christians dwelling in the interior of Malabar and Trav- ancore, in the soutli-westem part of Hindustan. When the Portuguese landed in India in the 16th century, they discovered what they supposed to be a Nestorian Cluu-ch there, the members of which called themselves Christians of St. Thomas. They retained the Syrian language, held the validity of only two sacraments, and were governed by bishops under a metropolitan. They rejected the authority of Peter, and did not enforce sacerdotal celibacy. Thc^v neither invoked saints nor worshipped images. These churches w^ere soon sub- jected to severe |iersccution, and many were forced into Romanism. The iiupiisition, also, was estalJished at (ioa. Dr. Claiulius Buchanan foinid, however, a rem- nant of them, in 1807, near Travancove. The}' still re- tain some ecclesiastical independence. According to a statement of some authority, the St. Thomas Christians number 70,000 individuals, and the Syro-Koman Cath- olics 90,000, that is, the jiarty who have sidmiitted to the papal jurisdiction. But the Church service in Syriac is not understood by the ]ieople, who are ignorant and prejudiced. That their creed is not directly Nestorian may be seen from the declaration of the metropolitan of Malabar made in 1806: "'We believe in tlie Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three persons in one God, neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance; One in Three, and Three in One: the Father generator, the Son generated, and the Holy Ghost proceeding. None is before or alter the other; in majesty, honor, inight, and power coeipial ; Unity in Trinity, and Trin- ity in Unity.' The metroimlitan disclaims the heresies of Arius, Sabellius, Macedonius. JManes. iManianus, Juli- anus, Nestorius, and the Chalcedonians, adding 'that in the appointed time, through the disjiosition of the Father and the Holy (ihosf. the Son ajipeared on earth for the salvation of mankind; that he was born of the Virgin Mary through the means of the Holy Ghost, and was incarnate (iod and man.'" They believe that the souls of departed men do not see Gotl till the judgment- day ; they allow three sacraments — baptism, orders, and the eucharist; and they abhor auricidar confession. In the consecration of the eucharist they use small cakes made with oil and salt : instead of wine is water in which raisins have been steeped; they observe no age for or- ders, but admit priests at seven, eighteen, twenty, etc., who may marry as often as their wives die. Their cliildren, unless in cases of sickness, are not baptized till the fiftieth day. At the death of any friend the re- lations keep an eight days' fast in memory of the de- ceased. They observe the times of Advent and Lent, and many other feasts and festivals, but especially those which relate to Thomas — the Pominica in (dhis, or Sun- day after Easter, in nienion,' of the notable confession of Thomas; one on June 1, which is also celebrated by Moors and Pagans. The Church of England Mission- ary Society has established among these people an ex- tensive mission, occupying two or three stations; and a college has been cstablisiied at Kottayiim for the in- struction of candidates for the ministrv, which has beea