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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6 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!
is there any authentic way that I must pray to the saints, because they do not have all knowledge like God??? when I don’t have any privacy, I pray at home by typing on my school chromebook. when I do have privacy, I verbally pray, moving my mouth and using words. when I’m in the middle of something and feel the need to pray, I do small talk using my thoughts. what should I do????
Jack,
You are absolutely right that only God is all-knowing (omniscient). The saints are glorified in Christ and, by the Holy Spirit, can hear our prayers and intercede for us, but they do not possess God’s limitless knowledge. When we pray to the saints, we’re not expecting them to know everything automatically; we speak to them as beloved elders and friends in the faith, asking for their prayers and help.
As for the “right” way to pray, the Orthodox Church gives us beautiful prayers and hymns to the saints, but there is no single required method. What matters most is the sincerity and humility of your heart. Typing prayers or praying silently in your heart is absolutely fine! God and the saints hear the prayers of your heart, whether spoken, whispered, thought, or typed. The saints are not limited by time and space, and God certainly isn’t. Praying during daily life or with “small talk” in your thoughts is also a real and authentic form of prayer (what the Church calls “prayer of the heart”). Many Orthodox Christians say brief prayers throughout the day, sometimes as simple as “Lord, have mercy!” or quietly calling on a saint for help or guidance in the moment.
There is no need to worry about having the perfect words or method. The most authentic prayer is the one you offer with honesty and faith, in whatever circumstances you find yourself. If you want, you can use the Church’s prayers to the saints (like the Troparia or Kontakia), but it is also good and normal to speak to them in your own words. May the saints continue to pray for you and guide you closer to Christ, wherever and however you pray!
that’s cool! but… I’m worried that the saints might not get what I’m trying to talk about. most of the things I talk about are kind of non sensical and a bit silly, I can only imagine how God feels when I pray to him about these things… and I want to talk about everything, including my interests and all that, and well, every part of my day, perhaps, the game I played, the music I listen to, the TV show I just watched, etcetera. But at the same time I want to address them formally rather than a friend down the street or like I’m on call with a person I met from school. what do you have to say about this???
please I have been dying to find the answer to this question please respond
Jack,
Christ is Risen! We apologize for the delay – there are times when we cannot address comments in as swift a manner as we’d like. Thank you for your patience.
First, please know that both God and the saints welcome you exactly as you are. God knows your heart, your thoughts, your joys, and your struggles, even the “nonsensical” or “silly” parts of your life. The saints, too, were real people who lived through all sorts of ordinary (and sometimes very strange!) experiences. They are not distant or uninterested; they care for you with the love of Christ and want to hear from you, whatever is on your heart.
Many people feel a tension between wanting to speak freely and wanting to address the saints with reverence and formality. In Orthodox tradition, both have a place! The formal prayers of the Church teach us how to speak with respect and humility, and they help us enter the “language of heaven.” But God also delights in the prayers that come straight from our hearts, no matter how simple, awkward, or even silly they might seem to us.
You can absolutely talk to God and the saints about every part of your day—your interests, hobbies, joys, and struggles. There is nothing “too small” or “too strange” for God, who loves you entirely. If you want to approach the saints with formal language, that’s a beautiful way to honor them. But if you find yourself speaking more casually, that’s also genuine and good. The most important thing is sincerity.
The saints are not confused or annoyed by our small talk. They rejoice that you want to share your life with them! And God, as the loving Father, delights in every honest word you offer, whether it’s a formal prayer or a quick thought in the middle of your day.
So, don’t worry about finding the “perfect” way to speak. Pray as you can, not as you can’t. Bring your whole self to God and the saints. That is the beginning of a real, loving relationship. May God and His saints bless you and draw you closer in every part of your life!