This is the first week
after Easter and it puts the end of the Easter holiday cycle. This week is
called Empty because of the restriction against doing any work whatsoever.
Church Holiday: This holiday is connected to the first appearance of
Christ among his students. When the rumour that Christ's body had disappeared
spread only apostle Tomas refused to believe. On the eighth day after the
resurrection Christ himself appeared to him and made him believe in the truth.
The phrase "unbelieving Tomas" has remained since then and the day is called
Tomas Sunday.
Tomas Sunday of the week - the
name day of Toma (the Bulgarian for Thomas).
The name “The Week of St. Thomas” derives from the name
of its Sunday, when, according to the Christian calendar, the risen Christ
appeared to his disciples. The Unbelieving Thomas “placed a finger” in Jesus’
wounds to make sure that Jesus had risen from the dead indeed.
Saint Thomas, called Didymus, one of
the twelve disciples is believed to be the twin brother of Matthew. He was
first called Jude - the son of James and grandson of Alpheus. Some texts have
stated that Thomas is the twin of James not Matthew, so little is truly known
about Thomas. Didymus in the Greek means twin. Thomas was given the nickname
“doubting Thomas” because he was continually looking at the worst in all
things. No matter what it was Thomas was able to find something wrong. After
the death of Lazarus Jesus said He was going to Bethany. Since Bethany was so
very close to Jerusalem it was thought that the religious leaders might find
Him and kill Him.
Thomas of course is most often
remembered for his doubting and for having been missing from the Upper Room the
time Jesus appeared to the disciples after the Resurrection. Thomas had
difficultly in believing that Jesus had actually risen from the dead. When the
others told Thomas about Jesus appearing to them, he expressed his
misbelieving.
Although Thomas was truly a doubter once he was given the fact and shown what
it was he asked about his loyalty and dedication was unsurpassed by any. Once
Thomas believed in something you could not persuade him differently. Thomas
felt they would all die by following Jesus to Bethany but he insisted they all
go to stand by the side of the one they loved and followed.
It is believed that Thomas preached in Persia,
Parthia and also in India. Thomas was the one that helped build a palace in
India and credited with the founding of Christianity in that country. Thomas is
believed to be buried at Edessa and to have been killed with a spear in the 4th
Century. The spear and a builder’s square are the symbols of Thomas.
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PEACE HAVENS of BULGARIA
