St. Stephen Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2026-04-19
Bulletin Contents
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Hymns of the Day
Wisdom of the Fathers
Announcements
Support St. Stephen's

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St. Stephen Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (707)235-0316
  • Street Address:

  • 11055 Hirschfeld Way

  • Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

Contact Information

Priest Very Rev. Fr. Romanos Khoury


[email protected] | 707-235-0316

Services Schedule

 

Saturday

Vespers: 5:00 pm

Sunday

Matins: 8:15 am

Liturgy: 9:30 am

Past Bulletins


Saints and Feasts

April 19

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 19

Eutychios, Patriarch of Constantinople

Born in Theia Kome of Phrygia, Eutychius was the son of illustrious parents, from whom he received a pious upbringing. He studied in Constantinople, and became a monk in a certain monastery of Amasia. In 552 he was chosen Patriarch of New Rome, but was exiled in 565 as a result of the machinations of the Origenists. In 577 he was restored to his throne and reposed on April 6, 582.

April 19

120 Martyrs of Persia

April 19

Gregory of Sinai

April 19

Platonis the Nun of Nisibis



Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

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."

First Orthros Gospel
متى 28: 16-20

16في ذلك الزمان انْطَلَقُ الأَحَدَ عَشَرَ تِلْمِيذاً إِلَى الْجَلِيلِ إِلَى الْجَبَلِ ،حَيْثُ أَمَرَهُمْ يَسُوعُ. 17وَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ سَجَدُوا لَهُ ،وَلَكِنَّ بَعْضَهُمْ شَكُّوا. 18فَتَقَدَّمَ يَسُوعُ وَكَلَّمَهُمْ قَائِلاً: ((دُفِعَ إِلَيَّ كُلُّ سُلْطَانٍ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَعَلَى الأَرْضِ، 19فَاذْهَبُوا وَتَلْمِذُوا جَمِيعَ الأُمَمِ وَعَمِّدُوهُمْ بِاسْمِ الآبِ وَالاِبْنِ وَالرُّوحِ الْقُدُسِ.

20وَعَلِّمُوهُمْ أَنْ يَحْفَظُوا جَمِيعَ مَا أَوْصَيْتُكُمْ بِهِ. وَهَا أَنَا مَعَكُمْ كُلَّ الأَيَّامِ إِلَى انْقِضَاءِ الدَّهْرِ)). آمِينَ. 

 

 

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 4th Tone. Psalm 146.5;134.3.
Great is our Lord, and great is his power.
Verse: Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 5:12-20.

In those days, many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."

البروكيمنون. 4th Tone. مزمور 146: 5، 134: 3.
عظيم هو ربنا وعظيمة هي أفعاله
Verse: سبحوا الرب لأن الرب صالح

فصل من أعمال الرسل 5: 12-20.

12 في تلك الأيام جَرَتْ عَلَى أَيْدِي الرُّسُلِ آيَاتٌ وَعَجَائِبُ كَثِيرَةٌ فِي الشَّعْبِ. وَكَانَ الْجَمِيعُ بِنَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ فِي رِوَاقِ سُلَيْمَانَ. 13وَأَمَّا الآخَرُونَ فَلَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ يَجْسُرُ أَنْ يَلْتَصِقَ بِهِمْ لَكِنْ كَانَ الشَّعْبُ يُعَظِّمُهُمْ. 14وَكَانَ مُؤْمِنُونَ يَنْضَمُّونَ لِلرَّبِّ أَكْثَرَ جَمَاهِيرُ مِنْ رِجَالٍ وَنِسَاءٍ 15حَتَّى إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يَحْمِلُونَ الْمَرْضَى خَارِجاً فِي الشَّوَارِعِ وَيَضَعُونَهُمْ عَلَى فُرُشٍ وَأَسِرَّةٍ حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءَ بُطْرُسُ يُخَيِّمُ وَلَوْ ظِلُّهُ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ. 16وَاجْتَمَعَ جُمْهُورُ الْمُدُنِ الْمُحِيطَةِ إِلَى أُورُشَلِيمَ حَامِلِينَ مَرْضَى وَمُعَذَّبِينَ مِنْ أَرْوَاحٍ نَجِسَةٍ وَكَانُوا يُبْرَأُونَ جَمِيعُهُمْ. 17فَقَامَ رَئِيسُ الْكَهَنَةِ وَجَمِيعُ الَّذِينَ مَعَهُ الَّذِينَ هُمْ شِيعَةُ الصَّدُّوقِيِّينَ وَامْتَلأُوا غَيْرَةً 18فَأَلْقَوْا أَيْدِيَهُمْ عَلَى الرُّسُلِ وَوَضَعُوهُمْ فِي حَبْسِ الْعَامَّةِ. 19وَلَكِنَّ مَلاَكَ الرَّبِّ فِي اللَّيْلِ فَتَحَ أَبْوَابَ السِّجْنِ وَأَخْرَجَهُمْ وَقَالَ: 20((اذْهَبُوا قِفُوا وَكَلِّمُوا الشَّعْبَ فِي الْهَيْكَلِ بِجَمِيعِ كَلاَمِ هَذِهِ الْحَيَاةِ)).

 

 

Gospel Reading

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.

Thomas Sunday
يوحنا 20: 19-31

19 لَمَّا كَانَتْ عَشِيَّةُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَهُوَ أَوَّلُ الأُسْبُوعِ وَكَانَتِ الأَبْوَابُ مُغَلَّقَةً حَيْثُ كَانَ التّلاَمِيذُ مُجْتَمِعِينَ لِسَبَبِ الْخَوْفِ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ جَاءَ يَسُوعُ وَوَقَفَ فِي الْوَسَطِ 20 وَقَالَ لَهُمْ: «سلاَمٌ لَكُمْ». 21 وَلَمَّا قَالَ هَذَا أَرَاهُمْ يَدَيْهِ وَجَنْبَهُ فَفَرِحَ التّلاَمِيذُ إِذْ رَأَوُا الرَّبَّ. 22 فَقَالَ لَهُمْ يَسُوعُ أَيْضاً: «سلاَمٌ لَكُمْ. كَمَا أَرْسَلَنِي الآبُ أُرْسِلُكُمْ أَنَا».23 وَلَمَّا قَالَ هَذَا نَفَخَ وَقَالَ لَهُمُ: «ﭐقْبَلُوا الرُّوحَ الْقُدُسَ.24 مَنْ غَفَرْتُمْ خَطَايَاهُ تُغْفَرُ لَهُ وَمَنْ أَمْسَكْتُمْ خَطَايَاهُ أُمْسِكَتْ». 25 أَمَّا تُومَا أَحَدُ الاِثْنَيْ عَشَرَ الَّذِي يُقَالُ لَهُ التَّوْأَمُ فَلَمْ يَكُنْ مَعَهُمْ حِينَ جَاءَ يَسُوعُ.26 فَقَالَ لَهُ التّلاَمِيذُ الآخَرُونَ: «قَدْ رَأَيْنَا الرَّبَّ». فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: «إِنْ لَمْ أُبْصِرْ فِي يَدَيْهِ أَثَرَ الْمَسَامِيرِ وَأَضَعْ إِصْبِعِي فِي أَثَرِ الْمَسَامِيرِ وَأَضَعْ يَدِي فِي جَنْبِهِ لاَ أُومِنْ». 27 وَبَعْدَ ثَمَانِيَةِ أَيَّامٍ كَانَ تلاَمِيذُهُ أَيْضاً دَاخِلاً وَتُومَا مَعَهُمْ. فَجَاءَ يَسُوعُ وَالأَبْوَابُ مُغَلَّقَةٌ وَوَقَفَ فِي الْوَسَطِ وَقَالَ: «سلاَمٌ لَكُمْ»28 ثُمَّ قَالَ لِتُومَا: «هَاتِ إِصْبِعَكَ إِلَى هُنَا وَأَبْصِرْ يَدَيَّ وَهَاتِ يَدَكَ وَضَعْهَا فِي جَنْبِي وَلاَ تَكُنْ غَيْرَ مُؤْمِنٍ بَلْ مُؤْمِناً». أَجَابَ تُومَا: «رَبِّي وَإِلَهِي».29 قَالَ لَهُ يَسُوعُ: «لأَنَّكَ رَأَيْتَنِي يَا تُومَا آمَنْتَ! طُوبَى لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَمْ يَرَوْا». 30 وَآيَاتٍ أُخَرَ كَثِيرَةً صَنَعَ يَسُوعُ قُدَّامَ تلاَمِيذِهِ لَمْ تُكْتَبْ فِي هَذَا الْكِتَابِ.31 وَأَمَّا هَذِهِ فَقَدْ كُتِبَتْ لِتُؤْمِنُوا أَنَّ يَسُوعَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ اللَّهِ وَلِكَيْ تَكُونَ لَكُمْ إِذَا آمَنْتُمْ حَيَاةٌ بِاسْمِهِ.

 

 

 



Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the 5th Tone

Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.

المسيح قام من بين الأموات ووطئ الموت بالموت ووهب الحياة للذين في القبور.

Apolytikion for Thomas Sun. in the 7th Tone

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.

إذ كان القبر مختوماً أشرقت منه أيها الحياة ولما كانت الأبواب مغلقة وافيت التلاميذ أيها المسيح الإله قيامة الكل وجددت لنا بهم روحاً مستقيماً بحسب عظيم رحمتك

Apolytikion of Eutychius, Pat. Of Constantinople in the Fourth Tone

A model of faith and the image of gentleness, the example of your life has shown you forth to your sheep-fold to be a master of temperance. You obtained thus through being lowly, gifts from on high, and riches through poverty. Eutychios, our father and priest of priests, intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 8th Tone

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.

Kontakion of Eutychius, Pat. Of Constantinople in the Fourth Tone

O divine Eutychius, to all that praise thee, thou dost give abundant gifts of holy joy and grace divine from that which God hath bestowed on thee, O rightful namesake of blessed prosperity.


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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