HOLY DAYS - 3 JULY - ST THOMAS

According to several early writers, the Apostle Thomas travelled to India. Many Christians in the majority Christian state of Kerala believe their ancestors were baptised by Thomas in AD 52. Hundreds of Kerala churches are dedicated to St Thomas and Thomas is a hugely popular boy’s name.

Indian Christianity was so well established by AD 325 that the First Council of Nicaea had at least one delegate from the Indian Church. “John the Persian, Bishop of all Persia and great India” is recorded as having been present at the First Council of Nicea.

Our cover picture is a painting by René Magritte. An open door stands in a dimly lit, greyish foreground. The space around the door feels flat and colourless and subdued. But through the doorway, a different world is revealed: a glowing, golden light pours in from beyond, illuminating the threshold with warmth and life.

From shadow to light, from dullness to brilliance, the image beautifully mirrors the invitation of the Gospel: “Knock, and the door will be opened to you.” The painting suggests that while the world we inhabit may at times feel heavy or uninspired, just beyond the threshold lies something radiant, something better.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the ecumenical, global prayer movement for evangelisation, Thy Kingdom Come.Initiated by the then Archbishops of Canterbury and York in 2016, what started off as a call to prayer for evangelisation for the Church of England, has since united tens of millions of Christians, across 85 different denominations and traditions, in many nations across the world, to pray in the days between Ascension and Pentecost.

pollybrown@mottramparish.org.uk

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