Thomas was up to his vocation as disciples fishermen. The Gospel of John describes the dedication, which Thomas felt for Jesus: as of the return to Judea, where Jews had him stoned to Thomas joined him with the words to: "Let us go with him to work with him to die." ( 11, 5-16). Thomas, the Apostle lists of all four Gospels and the Acts mentioned, except for John but he is only in the list of disciples and disciples in the middle group, the Gospel of John - then three times with the nickname "Didymus," the Greek translation for the Hebrew-Aramaic name "Thomas" - takes it with seven nominations - including the report on the Lord's Supper (Gospel of John 14, 1-7) - a more important role. In Gospel of John 21, Thomas 2, even in second place in the list of the disciples after Peter mentioned.

Thomas became famous through his doubts about the resurrection of Jesus and his desire, and clear the resurrection to check only after Jesus called him, to touch his wounds, he believed the inconceivable and famous: "My Lord and my God!" Thus he recognized as first of the disciples the divine nature of Christ (Gospel of John 20, 24-29). Well just when people have doubts and legend piety him so close to Jesus approaching, that he even as his twin brother to be - Jesus in appearance and similar fate - so the first time in the Thomas-files from the beginning of the 3rd Century.

The Syrian Thomas files tell us that Christ appeared to Thomas and he called the messenger of the king Gundisar / Gundaphorus to India to follow the king as the best builder looking to get a Roman palace after construction to be built. Thomas was with Abban, the messengers, on the causes, at the wedding of a king's daughter to participate, a Hebrew music Antin repeated for Thomas a hymn in the native language, as the cup-bearer him ohrfeigte. Thomas predicted to occur Punishment: Lions ripped the cup-bearer at the fountain, a dog brought the hand of the messengers of faith beaten had converted the bride and groom and was blessed.

In Gundisar arrived, that Thomas drew a palace and received great treasures for the building, but they distributed during the absence of the king of the poor, preached and converted innumerable. Returned to the indignant king, Thomas threw in the prison, appeared in his recently deceased brother, said of him, Thomas voted for him in the Hereafter the most magnificent palace built, which is converted Gundisar and Thomas in remote areas of India could draw. Woman in an elegant rulers were converted by Thomas, King Misdai, however, had caught him put manifold torment and wanted him to sacrifice before the sun god force. Thomas said the devil hidden in the statue to the bronze work melted like wax, except to see what the high priest Thomas pierced with his sword, but the king had him buried honorably. 

  Grave of Thomas Mailapur - today the neighborhood Mayilapuram in Madras / Chennai in India with Persian Cross, 8 Century
According to other legends through Thomas more countries until it is in Madras - now Chennai in India - by hostile was pierced with lances. On John Chrysostom, the story go back to Thomas on his travels, the Holy Three Kings made baptized and had appointed bishops. The place of his martyrdom, many legends Kalamina - probably Mailapur, the current District Mayilapuram in Madras / Chennai.

Even middle of the 2nd Century, the Gnostics Heraclion expected Thomas to the Apostles, which suffered no martyrdom. After Origines Thomas worked as Glaubensbote in the Parthians in Mesopotamia, at the border, in Edessa - Sanl?urfa today in Turkey, is the veneration since the 4th Century. Ephraem the Syrian reported as the Thomas-Syrian document the missionary work in India and the repatriation of the bones by a merchant in a "treasure chest".

In Nag Hamadi in Egypt in 1945 under the sensational discoveries of many ancient manuscripts, including a complete copy of the Thomas Gospel discovered: a collection of stories without words Jesus or Passion story, possibly very early (around 70?) Emerged loud and foreword written by Thomas.

In Mailapur there is the "Great Thomas Mountain"; 1547 he was on a church in honor of Thomas erected. It keeps the Thomas cross from the 7th Century, whose inscription tells of his ordeal. 2004, the Vatican at the mountain Mailapur as India's first international pilgrimage recognized. The bulk of the relics of Thomas was allegedly on a 3rd July - so the feast - in the 3rd Edessa century - the current Sanl?urfa in Turkey - over why in India no bones, only to find that dust. Early on there were relics in Milan in the Basilica of the Apostles, the martyrology of Jerome describes it. 1218 relic arrived on the Greek island of Chios, 1258 from there to Ortona in the Abruzzi.

In the cathedral of Prato in Tuscany is one for this purpose-built chapel of the "Belt of Mary" showed that the Christ himself had his mother resolved the belt and it gives Thomas; centuries in the family kept him from Michele Prato dei Dagomari as participants in a crusade brought to Italy after being in Israel, a subsidiary of that family had married. 1365 was the belt in solemn procession into the cathedral brought to Prato.

Thomas' Memorial Day was also in the Catholic Church until 1969 at the 21st December, the date of the longest night of the year. The day was associated with many customs oracle which, especially in love and Ehefragen. In the night we feared demons, including in some places Thomas' misfortune making enemies, the "bloody Thomerl".