As we bask in the jubilance of our Lord’s Resurrection, the Orthodox Church resounds with songs of celebration. Yet, even amid this radiance, the Church acknowledges a profound truth: alongside our joy, questions and uncertainties can persist. In her pastoral wisdom, the Church does not dismiss these realities. Instead, she devotes the Sunday after Pascha to the Apostle Thomas—a figure whose honest doubt is not only recognized, but embraced. For Orthodox Christians, this story is a powerful affirmation that faith and honest questioning can coexist within the heart of the believer.
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The pathway to encounter
Modern society tends to regard doubt as a weakness or a failure of faith. A good Christian should not – cannot – doubt, people might say. Yet the Gospel reading for Thomas Sunday (John 20:19–31) offers a different perspective. When Thomas hears the astonishing news of Christ’s Resurrection, he responds not with immediate belief but with a candid request: “Unless I see… I will not believe.” Christ does not rebuke Thomas. Instead, the risen Lord comes to meet him, offering precisely what Thomas needs for his faith to take root.
The Church does not obscure this moment, but highlights it. This encounter between Christ and Thomas is not a license for endless skepticism. Rather, it is a validation of the sincere heart that seeks truth. For the Orthodox Christian, seasons of questioning or struggle are not signs of spiritual defeat. Instead, they are opportunities for deeper encounter—moments when Christ draws near to us, even if we do not recognize Him at first.
The lived reality of honest doubt
Honest doubt is not a rejection of faith, but an invitation to engage more deeply. It prompts us to wrestle with the mysteries of God and to seek understanding through prayer, study, and dialogue. For many believers, this may involve searching the Scriptures for clarity. It might also involve bringing difficult questions to confession or seeking guidance from spiritual mentors. Ultimately, it means entrusting our uncertainties to God, confident that He welcomes our questions rather than turning us away.
The hymns of Thomas Sunday even praise his doubt as “good,” for it leads to the most profound confession in the Gospels: “My Lord and my God!”
Often, it is the very act of questioning—carried out with humility and hope—that opens the way to a deeper, more authentic faith.
Why the Sunday after Pascha?
It is no coincidence that the Church places the Gospel of Thomas immediately after the feast of Pascha. The Resurrection of Christ proclaims victory over death and the dawn of new life. But the path to full-hearted belief is not always instantaneous. The Church, recognizing the reality of human experience, invites us to see Thomas’s journey from doubt to faith as our own. Doubt is not a detour; it is an integral part of the spiritual journey for many.
Even the Saints have doubted!
The Orthodox tradition is replete with saints who faced periods of doubt or spiritual struggle. These experiences were not hidden away, but brought into the light through prayer, repentance, and the support of the Christian community. The Church is not a gathering of the already-perfect, but a spiritual hospital, where all are invited to bring their wounds—intellectual, emotional, or spiritual—to Christ for healing.
For contemporary believers, this means that faith is not the absence of doubt, but a dynamic relationship with the living God. We are called to bring our questions into the context of worship and community, trusting that Christ meets us in our seeking.
Practical implications of St. Thomas Sunday
The Sunday of Thomas is more than a lesson from the past; it is a living invitation. Faithful Orthodox Christians should:
- Be honest in prayer, expressing both faith and uncertainty before God
- Study the lives of saints who struggled and ultimately found hope
- Seek out conversations with clergy or trusted mentors when grappling with doubt
- Remain engaged in the liturgical and sacramental life, even when faith feels challenging
Conclusion: The courage to voice our doubts
Thomas Sunday stands as the Church’s annual reminder that honest doubt is not the enemy of faith, but can be its companion and catalyst. In a world that often prizes certainty, the Orthodox Church offers a space for those who are still seeking. Like Thomas, we are invited to bring our doubts and hopes to the risen Christ, discovering—perhaps unexpectedly—that He is already reaching out to us.
May this Paschal season inspire us, in our own journey, to echo Thomas’s words with sincerity and hope: “My Lord and my God!”
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2 Responses
can I pray to the saints not only asking them to pray for me but like about my day and my problems and stuff and like can i ask them to intervene themselves instead of simply praying for me
Jack,
Thank you for your thoughtful question. In the Orthodox tradition, we most often ask the saints to intercede for us, meaning we ask them to pray to God on our behalf. This is because the saints, though glorified and close to God, are not themselves the source of grace or power. Only God is. The saints are our friends, companions, and helpers in Christ; they love us and continually pray for us before the throne of God.
That being said, Orthodox prayers to the saints are very personal. It is normal and good to speak to the saints about your day, your struggles, your joys, and your problems. Just as you would confide in a trusted friend or spiritual elder, you can confide in the saints. The Church’s prayers often include phrases like, “Holy [Saint’s name], be with me,” “help me,” “protect me,” and “guide me” – not because the saints act apart from God, but because their help is always united to God’s will and grace.
When we say “help me” or “intervene,” what we’re really asking is for the saint to take up our cause with loving concern. Sometimes this help is experienced as comfort, guidance, or even miraculous intervention. But it is always God who acts, often through the prayers and love of His saints.
So, yes: you can speak to the saints about anything that is on your heart. You can ask for their prayers, their presence, and even their help in practical matters, always trusting that their care for you is an extension of God’s love. The saints are alive in Christ, attentive to our needs, and eager to support us as we walk the path of faith.
May their prayers be a source of peace and encouragement for you, and may you always feel surrounded by their love and friendship in Christ!