E06924: Aldhelm, in his poem On the Altars of the Twelve Apostles, records the dedication of an altar to *Thomas (the Apostle, S00199), presumably in Britain. Written in Latin in southern Britain, c. 670/710.

Aldhelm, Carmina Ecclesiastica, 4.6

VI. IN SANCTI THOMAE APOSTOLI
Hic Thomas, Didymus nomen sortitus Achivum,
Servat sacratum sarta testudine templum,
Vulnera qui tangens crudeli cuspide gesta
Credidit extemplo salvantem saecla monarchum,
Quamvis ante foret sociis incredulus almis
Atque fidem dubio gestaret corde sinistram,
Dum chaos inferni surgens de morte vedemptor
Linqueret abstrusum vasta comitante caterva;
Sed mox ambiguum convertit rubra cicatrix
Discipulo palpante trucis vulnuscula ferri,
Dum foribus clausis , trepidans qua turba latebat,
Pacifer intraret Christus salvator in aulam.

Hunc igitur soboles misit veneranda Tonantis
Eoas gentes almis convertere biblis
Plurima magnificis patrantem signa triumphis.
India tum sacris coluit simulacra nefandis
Doctrinis veterum stolidis instructa parentum,
Sed confessa fidem Thoma lucrante salutem
Credidit in Christum, caeli qui sceptra gubernat.

Denique transacto praesentis tempore vitae
Protinus aethereum Thomas lustravit Olimpum
Quem fani flamen veteris cultorque sacelli
Sanguine rorantem rigido transverberat ense
Praemia sumpturum, cum tellus sponte dehiscet
Omnia de priscis et surgent corpora tumbis.


'vi. On St Thomas
Here St Thomas, who was given the Greek name Didymus, protects the holy church with its repaired roof. Thomas, when he touched the wounds made by the cruel spear [John 20:24-5], believed at once in (the resurrection of) the King Who redeems the world - even though he had previously been distrustful of his kindly colleagues and had nourished an improper belief in his doubtful heart as the Redeemer, arising from death, left the murky chaos of hell accompanied by a vast multitude. But the red scar immediately resolved the doubt when the disciple touched the wounds left by the savage blade, as Christ the peace-bringing Saviour entered the room where the fearful crowd (of disciples) was hiding behind closed doors [John 20:26].

Christ, therefore, the holy offspring of God, sent this man, who was performing many miracles with magnificent success, to convert the peoples of the orient with holy books. India at that time worshipped icons with unspeakable rites, having been indoctrinated by the stupid teaching of its forefathers; but it confessed the true faith when Thomas won its salvation and (henceforth) believed in Christ, Who controls the sceptres of heaven.

Accordingly, when his time in this present life had been spent, Thomas straightaway sought the ethereal heaven. A temple-priest, the officiant of an ancient shrine, transfixed (Thomas) with a hard blade so that he was dripping with blood (but) he is to receive his rewards when the earth of its own accord shall gape open and all corpses rise from their ancient tombs.'


Text: Ehwald 1919, 24-5. Translation: Lapidge and Rosier 1985, 53-4.