Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2023-04-23
Bulletin Contents
Announcements
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Saints and Feasts

Organization Icon
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (919) 781-4548
  • Street Address:

  • 5000 Lead Mine Road

  • Raleigh, NC 27612

Contact Information

Proistamenos Fr. Paul N. Christy


[email protected] | 919-781-4548

Deacon Gavrilo Milkovich


[email protected] | 919-781-4548

Manager Parish Office

[email protected] | 919-781-4548

Services Schedule

Orthros/ Matins: Sunday: 8:30 a.m.


Liturgy: Sunday: 10:00 a.m. ;  Weekday: Please see online Church Calendar.


Vespers: See online Church Calendar.

 

Past Bulletins


Announcements

HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

RALEIGH, NC

SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 2023

Thomas Sunday

ORTHROS 8:30 a.m. – DIVINE LITURGY 10:00 a.m.

Broadcasting begins at 8:25 a.m.

 

 

Altar Boy Team on Duty: St Basil the Great

New members or visitors, please stop by the Welcome Table across from the candlestand.

Orthros and The Divine Liturgy are broadcast live online each week.

 

 

40-Day Blessing

This Sunday we welcome the parents, Ashley Germanakos and Dean Germanakos,

with their precious son Jack Germanakos, as Father Paul provides the 40-day blessing

to Jack and his mother, Ashley.

 

YAL Meeting this Sunday

We will host our next YAL meeting in the Library this Sunday at 12:00pm.

 

Adult Greek Dance Group Interest Meeting

We will be holding an interest meeting for an adult Greek dance group to perform at the Greek Festival and HDF, immediately following the YAL Meeting in the Library.  For more information, contact Kaeli McEnteer ([email protected]) or Kristina Hixson ([email protected]). We look forward to seeing you there!

 

Christians Caring for Creation Ministry

The website for the plant sale to benefit our church is now open:
You can order online at htgoc-ccc.square.site


Sunday, April 23 in the Multipurpose Room (12:15-1:00pm):

The Pharmacy from God, Herb Workshop, and the last day to order plants


Saturday, April 29 (10am-2pm)  Plant pickup

 

Ministry Leads Meeting- Sunday, April 30th at Noon

Attention all Ministry Leads:  you are invited to attend a Ministry Leads Meeting on Sunday, April 30th at 12:00pm in the Multipurpose room to discuss ways to help with recruitment/communication/participation within all Ministries.

Refreshments will be provided.

Any questions, please contact Frances Mathes at [email protected] or 919-656-2332.

 

American Red Cross Blood Drive -May 6

SAVE THE DATE:  Holy Trinity will be hosting a blood drive on Saturday, May 6th from 10:00am-2:30pm.  You can sign up to be a donor by visiting redcrossblood.org or by calling

1-800-RED-CROSS.  Use sponsor code HTGO.  For questions, assistance with sign up

or to volunteer, please contact Zoe Pusic at [email protected]

or 646-591-5132.  Thank you for helping us save lives!

 

Capital Campaign

If you are interested to learn more about the work that is being done to make our new Holy Trinity home a reality, please contact George Pappas or Manny Economedes.

In addition, here is a preview of the following activities are planned:

  • Sunday May 14 - Commitment Sunday – All parishioners are requested to return pledge cards or make online commitments
  • Sunday June 4 -  SPECIAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY - CAPITAL CAMPAIGN PROGRESS UPDATE

 

 

Habitat for Humanity Orthodox Build

Sat, May 20 at 8:15 AM - 3:30 PM

Lunch will be provided!

4419 Old Poole Road, Raleigh, NC

volunteers must register via http://vhub.at/faithbuilders

Registration for May 20th work day closes April 28th

Questions please contact [email protected]

 

Parish Directories

Our Parish Directories have finally arrived, and it is so nice to see so many beautiful faces!  They will be available for you to pick up during the week in the church office, Monday-Friday between 9am - 3pm. If you did not participate in the photo shoot or submit a photo, we did order extra directories.  If you are interested in purchasing, the cost is $10 each.

You can pay by cash or check only.

 

 

Piano Ministry

Do you have an interest in learning music? A fascination with its masterful composers like Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart? Then you may enjoy the Piano Ministry, here at our own church! Open to all children from ages 5-13, this is a great introduction to piano playing, music theory, and the history of classical music. It will take place from 12pm to 12:45pm on Sundays (location and start date details to follow).  With Lillian Jaho and Katerina Nikolas, students will have the opportunity for a short 1 to 1 lesson along with group activity. Students will dive into the foundations of piano playing, such as music reading and listening skills, along with a medley of fun activities to gain knowledge of how this music was inspired, who composed it, and what makes it so beautiful.

If you are interested, please reach out to Lillian ([email protected]) or Katerina ([email protected]) for more information.

 

Preschool Summer Camps

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Preschool will be having 4 weeklong camps over the summer. All camps will feature a specific theme and will have arts & crafts, math, music, movement, and literacy.

 

June 12th-16th Ocean

June 19th-23rd Dinosaur

August 7th-11th Nutrition

August 14th-18th Bugs

 

Class Hours :     9:00am - 1:00pm daily

Cost Per Camp: $125.00 per child

Forms can be found on the candle stand, if you have questions please reach out to Shae Noffsinger at [email protected]

 

 

Philoptochos News

Christos Anesti!

Dear Philoptochos sisters and supporters,

 

What a beautiful Lenten journey we have traveled, with beautiful, moving services that were thought provoking regarding our own lives.

We are blessed to have traveled this journey together and share our spiritual growth and share our gifts the Lord has given us.
The love of our faith shines through as we do for those in need.

Thank you, Diane, Estelle, Elham, Stephanie and everyone else involved in making our Communion Breakfast and palm making such a fun event. The breakfast was delicious, the fellowship was delightful and we had a church hall filled with children and adults.

As we prepare to attend our last two General meetings before summer(April 23 and May 21) much remains for us to accomplish and our work continues.

We will meet on Sunday April 23

General meeting @12 noon in the church

Please join and participate in our decision making.

We have action items that will require your vote. Also, our current Board term is ending, therefore, our Election committee will present names of those running for the new term and ask for any nominations from the floor.

Please mark your calendars for our Sunday May 21 General meeting. This will be our last meeting until August. During this meeting we will elect our new Board. The fruits of our labor from our Bake Sale allow us to award grants to local non-profits that align with our mission statement. Our St Nicholas Grant committee will present their recommendations regarding prospective grant recipients and ask for a vote.

We will also have our end of year party in the afternoon at 4pm. Location to be announced in advance. Please come celebrate together!

Thank you for your continued love and dedication.

Your light drives away the darkness for those in need.

Agape,

Lekita

 

St Anthony’s Group

May
•       1st – Monday: Cook-out at one of the nearby State Parks.  More information forthcoming.
•       6th – Saturday: Field trip to Durham’s Greek Festival; Leave the church by 10:30am.
•       20th - Saturday: Chair exercises at 1:30 in Parish Hall.
June
•       4th – Sunday: Annual group planning at 12pm in the library.
•       6th - Tuesday: Monthly spaghetti luncheon at 12:30pm in Parish Hall. Casey Baldwin will be available to discuss individual medication lists.
•       8th – Thursday: Herb tour by Maria Hristova-Kamierski
•       17th – Saturday: Chair exercises at 1:30 in Parish Hall.

 

Save the Date!  Orthodox Parenting Retreat

with Dr. Philip Mamalakis on June 2-3

We're thrilled to announce that Dr. Philip Mamalakis, author of

Parenting toward the Kingdom: Orthodox Christian Principles of Child-Rearing,

will be visiting us for a parenting retreat Friday, June 2, and Saturday, June 3.

Friday evening, Dr. Mamalakis will provide a seminar to both moms and dads. Childcare will be provided. Saturday, mothers will gather after the Saturday of Souls service for lunch and an afternoon focused on our unique role.

More details to follow in the coming weeks. We hope to see you there!

 

Crocheting  for a Cause

This new ministry provides baby blankets, caps, stuffed animals, burial gowns, etc. to our local hospitals’ pre-natal and natal units.  We meet every other Friday from 10 to 12pm in the church’s library to crochet or knit these baby items. 
Crocheting/Knitting dates (2023 dates posted on church's bulletin board and church's e-calendar):
        Friday, April 21st from 10-12pm
        Friday, May 5th from 10-12pm
        Friday, May 19th from 10-12pm

 

UPCOMING SERVICES

 

SUNDAY, APRIL 23

THOMAS SUNDAY

Orthros - 8:30am

Divine Liturgy - 10:00am

 

SUNDAY, APRIL 30

SUNDAY OF THE MYRR-BEARING WOMEN

Orthros - 8:30am

Divine Liturgy - 10:00am

 

SUNDAY, MAY 7

SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC

Orthros - 8:30am

Divine Liturgy - 10:00am

 

SUNDAY, MAY 14

SUNDAY OF THE SAMARTIAN WOMAN

Orthros - 8:30am

Divine Liturgy - 10:00am

 

SUNDAY, MAY 21

SUNDAY OF THE BLIND MAN

Orthros - 8:30am

Divine Liturgy - 10:00am

 

THURSDAY, MAY 25

HOLY ASCENSION

Orthros - 8:30am

Divine Liturgy - 10:00am

 

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Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal First Mode

Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.
Χριστός ἀνέστη ἐκ νεκρῶν, θανάτῳ θάνατον πατήσας, καί τοῖς ἐν τοῖς μνήμασι ζωήν χαρισάμενος.

Apolytikion for Thomas Sun. in the Grave Mode

Whilst the tomb was sealed, Thou, O Life, didst shine forth from the grave, O Christ God; and whilst the doors were shut, Thou didst come unto Thy disciples, O Resurrection of all, renewing through them an upright Spirit in us according to Thy great mercy.
Ἐσφραγισμένου τοῦ μνήματος ἡ ζωὴ ἐκ τάφου ἀνέτειλας Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων, τοῖς Μαθηταῖς ἐπέστης ἡ πάντων ἀνάστασις, πνεῦμα εὐθὲς δι' αὐτῶν ἐγκαινίζων ἡμῖν, κατὰ τὸ μέγα σου ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for Great Martyr George in the Fourth Mode

Liberator of captives, defender of the poor, physician of the sick, and champion of kings, O trophy-bearer, Great Martyr George, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.
Ως τών αιχμαλώτων ελευθερωτής, καί τών πτωχών υπερασπιστής, ασθενούντων ιατρός, βασιλέων υπέρμαχος, τροπαιοφόρε μεγαλομάρτυς Γεώργιε, πρέσβευε Χριστώ τώ Θεώ, σωθήναι τάς ψυχάς ημών.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the fallen.
Εἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες ἀθάνατε, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ᾍδου καθεῖλες τὴν δύναμιν, καὶ ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξὶ Μυροφόροις φθεγξάμενος. Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην δωρούμενος ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων ἀνάστασιν.

The translations of hymns are under copyright and used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder:

  • Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal of the First Tone © Greek Standard Text
  • Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal of the First Tone © Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
  • Apolytikion for Thomas Sun. in the Grave Tone © Greek Standard Text
  • Apolytikion for Thomas Sun. in the Grave Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery
  • Apolytikion for Great Martyr George in the Fourth Tone © Greek Standard Text
  • Apolytikion for Great Martyr George in the Fourth Tone © Holy Transfiguration Monastery
  • Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone © Greek Standard Text
  • Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone © Narthex Press
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    Gospel and Epistle Readings

    Matins Gospel Reading

    First Orthros Gospel
    Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 28:16-20

    Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, οἱ ἕνδεκα μαθηταὶ ἐπορεύθησαν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, εἰς τὸ Ὄρος, οὗ ἐτάξατο αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς. Καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτόν, προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ· οἱ δὲ ἐδίστασαν. Καὶ προσελθὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς, λέγων· Ἐδόθη μοι πᾶσα ἐξουσία ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Πορευθέντες οὖν, μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρός, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος· διδάσκοντες αὐτοὺς τηρεῖν πάντα ὅσα ἐνετειλάμην ὑμῖν. Καὶ ἰδού, ἐγὼ μεθ' ὑμῶν εἰμι πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας, ἕως τῆς συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος. Ἀμήν.

    First Orthros Gospel
    The Reading is from Matthew 28:16-20

    At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw Him they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Amen."

    Epistle Reading

    Προκείμενον. Grave Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 63.11,1.
    Εὐφρανθήσεται δίκαιος ἐν Κυρίῳ.
    Στίχ. Εἰσάκουσον, ὁ Θεός, τῆς φωνῆς μου.

    τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 12:1-11.

    Κατ᾿ ἐκεῖνον τὸν καιρὸν ἐπέβαλεν ῾Ηρῴδης ὁ βασιλεὺς τὰς χεῖρας κακῶσαί τινας τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας. Ἀνεῖλε δὲ ᾿Ιάκωβον τὸν ἀδελφὸν ᾿Ιωάννου μαχαίρᾳ. Καὶ ἰδὼν ὅτι ἀρεστόν ἐστι τοῖς ᾿Ιουδαίοις, προσέθετο συλλαβεῖν καὶ Πέτρον· ἦσαν δὲ αἱ ἡμέραι τῶν ἀζύμων· ὃν καὶ πιάσας ἔθετο εἰς φυλακήν, παραδοὺς τέσσαρσι τετραδίοις στρατιωτῶν φυλάσσειν αὐτόν, βουλόμενος μετὰ τὸ Πάσχα ἀναγαγεῖν αὐτὸν τῷ λαῷ. Ὁ μὲν οὖν Πέτρος ἐτηρεῖτο ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ· προσευχὴ δὲ ἦν ἐκτενὴς γινομένη ὑπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ. ῞Οτε δὲ ἔμελλεν αὐτὸν προάγειν ὁ ῾Ηρῴδης, τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ ἦν ὁ Πέτρος κοιμώμενος μεταξὺ δύο στρατιωτῶν δεδεμένος ἁλύσεσι δυσί, φύλακές τε πρὸ τῆς θύρας ἐτήρουν τὴν φυλακήν. Καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐπέστη καὶ φῶς ἔλαμψεν ἐν τῷ οἰκήματι· πατάξας δὲ τὴν πλευρὰν τοῦ Πέτρου ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν λέγων· ἀνάστα ἐν τάχει. καὶ ἐξέπεσον αὐτοῦ αἱ ἁλύσεις ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν εἶπέ τε ὁ Ἄγγελος πρὸς αὐτόν· περίζωσαι καὶ ὑπόδησαι τὰ σανδάλιά σου. Ἐποίησε δὲ οὕτω· καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· περιβαλοῦ τὸ ἱμάτιόν σου καὶ ἀκολούθει μοι. Καὶ ἐξελθὼν ἠκολούθει αὐτῷ, καὶ οὐκ ᾔδει ὅτι ἀληθές ἐστι τὸ γινόμενον διὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου, ἐδόκει δὲ ὅραμα βλέπειν. Διελθόντες δὲ πρώτην φυλακὴν καὶ δευτέραν ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὴν πύλην τὴν σιδηρᾶν τὴν φέρουσαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν, ἥτις αὐτομάτη ἠνοίχθη αὐτοῖς· καὶ ἐξελθόντες προῆλθον ῥύμην μίαν· καὶ εὐθέως ἀπέστη ὁ Ἄγγελος ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ. Καὶ ὁ Πέτρος γενόμενος ἐν ἑαυτῷ εἶπε· νῦν οἶδα ἀληθῶς ὅτι ἐξαπέστειλε Κύριος τὸν Ἄγγελον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξείλετό με ἐκ χειρὸς ῾Ηρῴδου καὶ πάσης τῆς προσδοκίας τοῦ λαοῦ τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων. 

    Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 63.11,1.
    The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.
    Verse: Oh God, hear my cry.

    The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 12:1-11.

    About that time, Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword; and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the Church.

    The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison; and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, "Wrap your mantle around you and follow me." And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel left him. And Peter came to himself, and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."

    Gospel Reading

    Thomas Sunday
    Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 20:19-31

    Οὔσης ὀψίας τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τῇ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων ὅπου ἦσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ συνηγμένοι διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ· ἐχάρησαν οὖν οἱ μαθηταὶ ἰδόντες τὸν Κύριον. Εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν, καθὼς ἀπέσταλκέ με ὁ πατήρ, κᾀγὼ πέμπω ὑμᾶς. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησε καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Λάβετε Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον. Ἄν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ἁμαρτίας, ἀφιένται αὐτοῖς, ἄν τινων κρατῆτε, κεκράτηνται. Θωμᾶς δέ, εἷς ἐκ τῶν δώδεκα, ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος, οὐκ ἦν μετʼ αὐτῶν ὅτε ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς· ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄλλοι μαθηταί· Ἑωράκαμεν τὸν Κύριον. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἐὰν μὴ ἴδω ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὸν δάκτυλόν μου εἰς τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὴν χεῖρά μου εἰς τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ, οὐ μὴ πιστεύσω. Καὶ μεθʼ ἡμέρας ὀκτὼ πάλιν ἦσαν ἔσω οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ Θωμᾶς μετʼ αὐτῶν. Ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων, καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον καὶ εἶπεν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Εἶτα λέγει τῷ Θωμᾶ· φέρε τὸν δάκτυλόν σου ᾧδε, καὶ ἴδε τὰς χεῖράς μου. καὶ φέρε τὴν χεῖρά σου καὶ βάλε εἰς τὴν πλευράν μου, καὶ μὴ γίνου ἄπιστος ἀλλὰ πιστός. Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ Θωμᾶς, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὁ Κύριός μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ὅτι ἑώρακάς με πεπίστευκας, μακάριοι οἱ μὴ ἰδόντες, καὶ πιστεύσαντες. Πολλὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλα σημεῖα ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐνώπιον τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, ἃ οὐκ ἔστιν γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ· ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύσητε ὅτι ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες, ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.

    Thomas Sunday
    The Reading is from John 20:19-31

    On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe." Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and My God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His name.

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    Wisdom of the Fathers

    The Lord stoops to the level even of our feeble understanding. He works a miracle of His invisible power in order to satisfy the doubts of unbelieving minds.
    St. Hilary of Poitiers
    On the Trinity, 1.20. Taken from: Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol: John. Intervarsity Press, 2007, p. 369.

    For great is the dignity of the priests. ... And hold them very exceedingly in honor; for you indeed care about your own affairs, and if you order them well, you give no account for others; ...
    St. John Chrysostom
    Homily 86, 4th Century

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    Saints and Feasts

    April 23

    Thomas Sunday

    Though the doors were shut at the dwelling where the disciples were gathered for fear of the Jews on the evening of the Sunday after the Passover, our Saviour wondrously entered and stood in their midst, and greeted them with His customary words, "Peace be unto you." Then He showed unto them His hands and feet and side; furthermore, in their presence, He took some fish and a honeycomb and ate before them, and thus assured them of His bodily Resurrection. But Thomas, who was not then present with the others, did not believe their testimony concerning Christ's Resurrection, but said in a decisive manner, "Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe." Wherefore after eight days, that is, on this day, when the disciples were again gathered together and Thomas was with them, the Lord Jesus came while the doors were shut, as He did formerly. Standing in their midst, He said, "Peace be unto you"; then He said to Thomas, "Bring hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not unbelieving, but believing."

    And Thomas, beholding and examining carefully the hands and side of the Master, cried out with faith, "My Lord and my God." Thus he clearly proclaimed the two natures - human and divine - of the God-man (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-29).

    This day is called Antipascha (meaning "in the stead of Pascha," not "in opposition to Pascha") because with this day, the first Sunday after Pascha, the Church consecrates every Sunday of the year to the commemoration of Pascha, that is, the Resurrection.

    April 23

    George the Great Martyr and Triumphant

    George, this truly great and glorious Martyr of Christ, was born of a father from Cappadocia and a mother from Palestine. Being a military tribune, or chiliarch (that is, a commander of a thousand troops), he was illustrious in battle and highly honoured for his courage. When he learned that the Emperor Diocletian was preparing a persecution of the Christians, Saint George presented himself publicly before the Emperor and denounced him. When threats and promises could not move him from his steadfast confession, he was put to unheard-of tortures, which he endured with great bravery, overcoming them by his faith and love towards Christ. By the wondrous signs that took place in his contest, he guided many to the knowledge of the truth, including Queen Alexandra, wife of Diocletian, and was finally beheaded in 296 in Nicomedia.

    His sacred remains were taken by his servant from Nicomedia to Palestine, to a town called Lydda, the homeland of his mother, and then were finally transferred to the church which was raised up in his name. (The translation of the Saint's holy relics to the church in Lydda is commemorated on November 3; Saint Alexandra the Queen, on April 21.)

    If April 23 falls on or before Great and Holy Pascha, the Feast of St. George is translated to Bright Monday.

    April 24

    2nd Monday after Pascha

    April 24

    Elizabeth the Wonderworker

    Saint Elizabeth was born in Heraclea of Thrace. She lived in virginity and exhausted herself with ascetical labours and every kind of hardship from the time of her youth, and was deemed worthy of the grace of wonderworking from God; she reposed in peace in Constantinople in the middle of the fifth century.

    April 24

    Savvas the General of Rome

    April 24

    Nicholas the New-Martyr of Magnesia

    April 24

    Mellitus, Archbishop of Canterbury

    April 25

    Mark the Apostle and Evangelist

    Mark was an idolater from Cyrene of Pentapolis, which is near Libya. Having come to the Faith of Christ through the Apostle Peter, he followed him to Rome. While there, at the prompting of Peter himself and at the request of the Christians living there, he wrote his Gospel in Greek, and it is second in order after Matthew's. Afterwards, travelling to Egypt, he preached the Gospel there and was the first to establish the Church in Alexandria. The idolaters, unable to bear his preaching, seized him, bound him with ropes, and dragged him through the streets until he, cut to pieces on rocks, gave up his soul. It is said that he completed his life in martyrdom about the year 68. He is depicted in holy icons with a lion next to him, one of the living creatures mentioned by Ezekiel (1:10), and a symbol of Christ's royal office, as Saint Irenaeus of Lyons writes.

    If April 25 falls on or before Great and Holy Pascha, the Feast of St. Mark is translated to Bright Tuesday.

    April 26

    Basil the Holy Martyr Bishop of Amasea

    This Saint was Bishop of Amasia in Pontus, in the days of Licinius (reigned 308-324), fellow Emperor and brother-in-law of Saint Constantine the Great. Licinius' wife Constantia, sister of Saint Constantine, had as handmaid a virgin named Glaphyra. When it became known that Licinius had conceived a sinful desire for her. Constantia secretly sent Glaphyra away to the East. Coming to Amasia, she took refuge with Saint Basileus. When Licinius learned of this, he furiously commanded that both be brought before him. When the soldiers came for them, however, Saint Glaphyra had already departed to the Lord; she is also commemorated this day. Saint Basileus was taken alone to Nicomedia, where he was beheaded. His body was cast into the sea, but through divine revelation was found again and brought back to Amasia.

    April 26

    2nd Wednesday after Pascha

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