Saint Thomas, also called Judas Thomas, Doubting Thomas, or Didymus, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is perhaps best known for disbelieving Jesus' Resurrection when first told of it, But Thomas, one of the twelve John 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

John 20:25 the other disciples therefore said to him, we have seen the LORD. However, he said to them, except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. John 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shutting, and he stood in the middle, and said, Peace be unto you. John 20:27 then saithe he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, behold my hands; reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.

Again, Thomas appears in passage in the Gospel of John. John 11:16, when Lazarus has just died, the disciples are resisting Jesus' decision to return to Judea, where the Jews had previously tried to stone Jesus. Jesus is determined, and Thomas says bravely "Let us also go, that we might die with him". He also speaks at The Last Supper in John 14:5. When Jesus try to assure his disciples that they know where he is going, but Thomas protests that they do not know at all. Jesus replies to this and to Philip's requests with a detailed exposition of his relationship to God the Father.

In addition, Saint Thomas' best-known appearance in the New Testament, he doubts the resurrection of Jesus and demands to touch Jesus' wounds before being convinced. Caravaggio's painting depicts this scene. This story is the origin of the term Doubting Thomas , after seeing Jesus alive. Thomas professed his faith in Jesus, exclaiming "My Lord and my God" on this account, he also called Thomas the Believer

According to the passing of Mary, a text attributed to Joseph of arimathaea, Thomas was the only witness of the assumption of Mary into heaven. The other apostles where miraculously transported to Jerusalem to witness the holly Mother Marys Death. Saint Thomas where leavened in India, but after her burial, he transported to her to tomb, where he witnessed her bodily assumption into heaven, from which she dropped her girdle. In an inversion of the story of Thomas’ doubts, the other apostles are sceptical of Thomas’ story until they saw the empty tomb and the girdle commonly depicted in medieval and pre-Tridentate renaissance.

A Hymn was written by Mar Ephraim better known as a doctor & a great teacher of the church about the Apostle St. Thomas when he was preaching the gospel in India.

"It was to a land of dark people he was sent, to clothe them by Baptism and in white robes. His grateful dawn dispelled India's painful darkness. It was his mission to espouse India to the One-Begotten. The merchant blessed for having so great a treasure. Edessa thus became the blessed city by possessing the greatest pearl India could yield. Thomas works miracles in India, and at Edessa Thomas is destined to baptize peoples perverse and steeped in darkness, and that in the land of India...”

He was perhaps the only Apostle who went outside the Roman Empire for preaching

The Holy Gospel and the one who spanned the largest area, which includes

Middle East, India and China The founder of the church of the east

The Ancient Church of the East TABLE OR TREE OF LIFE

OF APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION OF THE CATHOLICOS

PATRIARCHS OF THE CHURCH OF THE EAST,

NAMELY, THOSE WHO SERVED ON THE SEE

OF THE CHURCH IN SELEUCIA-CTESIPHON

1	Mar Tooma Shlikha (St. Thomas the Apostle ), who after establishing Church in Mesopotamia, Persia and their environment, he went to India	33 -77
2	Mar Bar Tulmay ( St. Bartholomew)	33 -
3	Mar Addai (or Taddai) Shlikha	33 – 45
4	Mar Agai, disciple of Addai	45 – 81
5	Mar Mari, disciple of Addai	48 – 81
6	Mar Abris, relative of the virgin Mary	90 -107
7	Mar Oraham I, of Kashkar	130 – 152
8	Mar Yacob 1, relative of Yosip the Carpenter	172 – 190
9	Mar Ebid M’shikha	191 – 203
10	Mar Akhu d’Awu	205 – 220
11	Mar Shakhlupa of Kashkar	224 – 244
12	Mar Papa Bar Gaggai	247 – 326
13	Mar Shimun Bar Sabbai	328 – 341
14	Mar Shahdost	345 – 347
15	Mar Bar Bashmin	350 – 358
16	Mar Tumarsa	383 – 393
17	Mar Qaiyuma	393 – 399
18	Mar Eskhaq	399 – 411
19	Mar Akhkhi	411 – 415
20	Mar Yoalaha I	415 – 420
21	Mar Maana	420 -
22	Mar Qarabukht	421 -
23	Mar Dadishu	421 – 456
24	Mar Bawai or Babu	457 – 484
25	Mar Aqaq	484 – 496
26	Mar Bawai	496 – 502
27	Mar Sheela	505 – 523
28	Mar Narsai	524 – 535
29	Mar Elisha	524 – 538
30	Mar Polos	539 – 540
31	Mar Yosip	552 – 567
32	Mar Khazqiyil	570 – 581
33	Mar Eshuyow I, Arzunaya	581 – 595
34	Mar Sorishu I Garmaqaya	596 – 604
35	Mar Greghor, Partaya	605 – 608
36	Mar Eshuyow II (Gdalaya or Arab)	628 – 644
37	Mar Immeh	647 – 650
38	Mar Eshuyow III, Kdayawaya	650 – 660
39	Mar Gewargis I	681 – 684
40	Mar Yokhannan I, Bar Marta	684 – 692
41	Mar Khnaishu I	686 – 693
42	Mar Yokhannan II, Garba	693 – 694
43	Mar Sliwazkha	714 – 728
44	Mar Pethyon	731 – 740
45	Mar Awa	741 – 751
46	Mar Surin	752 – 754
47	Mar Yacob II	754 – 773
48	Mar Khnanishu	774 – 778
49	Mar Timotheus I	780 – 820
50	Mar Eshu-barnon	820 – 824
51	Mar Gewargis II	825 – 832
52	Mar Soreshu II	832 – 836
53	Mar Oraham II, Margaya	837 – 850
54	Mar Teadasis (or Theodoros)	850 – 852
55	Mar Sargis, Suwaya	860 – 872
56	Mar Annush d’beth Garmay	873 – 884
57	Mar Yokhannan III, Bar Narsay	884 – 892
58	Mar Yokhannan IV, (nephew of Theodoros)	892 – 898
59	Mar Yokhannan V, Bar Ogare	900 – 905
60	Mar Oraham III, Abraza	906 – 937
61	Mar Ammanoel I	937 – 949
62	Mar Esrail Karkhaya	961 – 962
63	Mar Odishu Garmaqaya	963 – 986
64	Mar Mari Aturaya	967 – 1000
65	Mar Yokhannan VI (Yoannis)	1001 – 1012
66	Mar Yokhannan VII (Bar Nazuk)	1013 – 1022
67	Mar Eshuyow IV	1023 – 1027
68	Mar Elia I (Terhan)	1028 – 1049
69	Mar Yokhannan VIII (Bar Tragala)	1049 – 1057
70	Mar Soreshu III (Bar Zanbur)	1057 – 1072
71	Mar Odishu II (Bar Ars) Aturaya	1072 – 1090
72	Mar Makkikha I (Bar Shlemon)	1092 – 1109
73	Mar Elia II (Bar Maqli)	1111 – 1132
74	Mar Bar Soma (Of Suwa)	1133 – 1135
75	Mar Bar Gabbara	1135 – 1136
76	Mar Odishu III (Nephew of Elia II)	1138 – 1147
77	Mar Eshuyow V (from Beth Zodai, Baladaya)	1148 – 1175
78	Mar Elia III (Abukhalim)	1176 – 1190
79	Mar Yoalaha II (Bar Qaiyuma)	1191 – 1222
80	Mar Sorishu IV	1222 – 1226
81	Mar Sorishu V (from Baghdad)	1226 – 1256
82	Mar Makkikha II	1257 – 1265
83	Mar Dinkha I (Arbilaya, i.e., from Arbil)	1265 – 1281
84	Mar Yoalaha III (Bar Turkaye -Turkish by race)	1281 – 1318
85	Mar Timotheus II (Arbilaya, I. e. from Arbil)	1318 – 1328
86	Mar Dinkha II	1329 – 1359
87	Mar Dinkha III	1359 – 1368
88	Mar Shimun III	1369 – 1392
89	Mar Shimun IV	1403 – 1407
90	Mar Elia III	1407 – 1420
91	Mar Shimun V	1420 – 1447
92	Mar Shimun VI	1448 – 1490
93	Mar Elia V	1491 – 1504
94	Mar Shimun VII	1505 – 1538
95	Mar Eshuyow Shimun VIII	1538 – 1551
96	Mar Dinkha Shimun IX (Bar Mama)	1552 – 1558
97	Mar Yoalaha Shimun X	1558 – 1580
98	Mar Dinkha Shimun XI	1580 – 1600
99	Mar Elia Shimun XII	1600 – 1653
100	Mar Eshuyow Shimun XIII	1653 – 1690
101	Mar Yoalaha Shimun XIV	1690 – 1692
102	Mar Dinkha Shimun XV	1692 – 1700
103	Mar Shlemon (Sulaiman) Shimun XVI	1700 – 1740
104	Mar Mikhail Shimun XVII	1740 – 1741
105	Mar Yonan Shimun XVIII	1740 – 1820
106	Mar Oraharn Shimun XIX	1820 – 1860
107	Mar Ruwil Shimun XX	1860 – 1903
108	Mar Binyamin Shimun XXI	1903 – 1918
109	Mar Polos Shimun XXII	1918 – 1920
110	Mar Eshai Shimun XXIII	1920 – 1964
111	Mar Tooma Darmo	1968 – 1968
112	Mar Addai II	Recently

Please note: The TABLE OR TREE OF LIFE OF APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION of CATHOLICOS was translated by H.H. the late Mar Eshai Shimun XXIII in 1964 from the Book of Marganitha (The Pearl) On the Truth of Christianity written by Mar Odisho, Metropolitan of NISSIBIN and Armenia, A.D. 1298

Österns Gamla Kyrka