St Thomas apostle ben to india before Vasco da gama?

Answer 1

In NT times, Judea was a major transshipment point for goods shipping from the far East to the Med. Commerce between India and the Red Sea region is as old as sailing ships. In India today, you can find populations of Jews who claim to be descended from these ancient merchants, as well as Christians who claim to be descended from original followers of St Thomas.

Answer 2

Vasco Di Gama is not know as discoverer of India. He is know as the discoverer of 'sea route from Europe to India'. St. Thomas travelled to India on land.

Gather your facts before you could challenge something.

All the best...

:-)

Answer 3

That is what's claimed by the folks in Channai (Madas) who feel guilty to this day.

(he got killed )

Answer 4

THOMAS the Apostle
[painting of Saint Thomas]

Also known as
Didymus; the Twin; Apostle of India; Doubting Thomas
Memorial
3 July; celebration of the transference of his body to Edessa in Mesopotamia
Profile
Apostle. He was ready to die with Jesus when Christ went to Jerusalem, but is best remembered for doubting the Resurrection until allowed to touch Christ's wounds. Preached in Parthia, Persia and India, though he was so reluctant to start the mission that he had to be taken into slavery by a merchant headed that way. He eventually gave in to God's will, was freed, and planted the new Church over a wide area. He formed many parishes and built many churches along the way. His symbol is the builder's square, from an ancient story that built a palace for King Guduphara in India.
Born
unknown
Died
stabbed with a spear c.72 in India
Patronage
against doubt; architects; blind people; builders; construction workers; Ceylon; East Indies; geometricians; India; masons; Pakistan; people in doubt; Sri Lanka; stone masons; stonecutters; surveyors; theologians
Prayers
Prayer I to...
Prayer II to...
Representation
spear; t-square; builder's rule
Storefront
Commercial Links related to Saint Thomas
Images
Gallery of images of Saint Thomas
Additional Information
Golden Legend, by Jacobus de Voragine
Google Directory
Vikipedio esperanto
Catholic Online
Acts of the Holy Apostle Thomas aprochryphal
Gospel of Thomas aprochryphal
Catholic Encyclopedia, by Herbert Thurston
For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein
Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Society
Ecole Glossary, by Karen Rae Keck
Goffine's Devout Instructions
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Readings
"Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came." He was the only disciple absent; on his return he heard what had happened but refused to believe it. The Lord came a seconde time; he offered his side for the disbelieving disciple to touch, held out his hands, and showing the scars of his wounds, healded the wound of disbelief.

Dearly beloved, what do you see in these events? Do you really believe that it was by chance that this chosen disciple was absent, then came and heard, heard and doubted, doubted and touched, touched and believed? It was not by chance but in God's providence. In a marvelous way God's mercy arranged that the disbelieving disciple, in touching the wounds of his master's body, should heal our wounds of disbelief. The disbelief of Thomas has done more for our faith than the faith of the other disciples. As he touches Christ and is won over to belief, every doubt is cast aisde and our faith is strengthened. So the disciple who doubted, then felt Christ's wounds, becomes a witness to the reality of the resurrection.

Touching Christ, he cried out: "'My Lord and my God.' Jesus said to him: 'Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have believed.'" Paul said: "Faith is the guarantee of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen." It is clear, then, that faith is the proof of what cannot be seen. What is seen gives knowledge, not faith. When Thomas saw and touched, why was he told: "You have blieved because you have seen me?" Because what he saw and what he believed were different things. God cannot be seen by mortal man. Thomas saw a human being, whom he acknowledged to be God, and said: "My Lord and my God." Seeing, he believed ; looking at one who was true man, he cried out that this was God, the God he could not see.

What follows is reason for great joy: "Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." There is here a particular reference to ourselves. We are included in these words, but only if we follow up our faith with good works. The true believer practices what he believes. But of those who pay only lip service to faith, Paul has this to say: "They profess to know God, but they deny him in their works." Therefore James says: "Faith without works is dead."

- from a homily by Pope Saint Gregory the Great

Answer 5

offcource yes.