I St Nikolajs prolog står idag att läsa en hymn om aposteln Thomas – då det idag är hans åminnelsedag. Jag antar att hymnen är vackrare i sitt serbiska original, men den engelska texten är ok.
The Apostle Thomas, by his unbelief,
Strengthened his faith: the Lord appeared to him.
Thomas witnessed Him and rejoiced,
And joyfully glorified Christ.
India became Thomas’s vineyard,
And he cultivated that land with the Cross:
Preaching Christ to the mighty and the lowly,
Preaching His wisdom and His works.
O wise sons of India,
Your wisdom is but a snake in the grass.
Lo, true Wisdom has descended from heaven for you-
The Wisdom of God has appeared in the flesh!
Thomas spoke and worked miracles,
And a multitude of people followed him,
In hearing his wisdom, and beholding the wonders
That Thomas worked in the name of the Lord.
Thomas endured great torments,
But shattered the gates of the darkness of idolatry,
And suffered, like Christ, five cruel wounds,
Which he received in his body for the sake of the truth.
Five bitter wounds, for the number of the senses-
Which is a lesson in mystical wisdom:
He who subdues not all his senses
Will taste of no spiritual sweetnes
