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.
Epistle Reading for the Day
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."
Gospel Reading for the Day
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.
Απόστολος της Ημέρας
Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 5:12-20
Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, διὰ δὲ τῶν χειρῶν τῶν ἀποστόλων ἐγίνετοB σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα ἐν τῷ λαῷ πολλά· καὶ ἦσαν ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἅπαντες ἐν τῇ στοᾷ Σολομῶντος. Τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν οὐδεὶς ἐτόλμα κολλᾶσθαι αὐτοῖς, ἀλλʼ ἐμεγάλυνεν αὐτοὺς ὁ λαός· μᾶλλον δὲ προσετίθεντο πιστεύοντες τῷ κυρίῳ, πλήθη ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ γυναικῶν· ὥστε κατὰ τὰς πλατείας ἐκφέρειν τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς, καὶ τιθέναι ἐπὶ κλινῶν καὶ κραββάτων, ἵνα ἐρχομένου Πέτρου κἂν ἡ σκιὰ ἐπισκιάσῃ τινὶ αὐτῶν. Συνήρχετο δὲ καὶ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν πέριξ πόλεων εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, φέροντες ἀσθενεῖς καὶ ὀχλουμένους ὑπὸ πνευμάτων ἀκαθάρτων, οἵτινες ἐθεραπεύοντο ἅπαντες. Ἀναστὰς δὲ ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς καὶ πάντες οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ - ἡ οὖσα αἵρεσις τῶν Σαδδουκαίων - ἐπλήσθησαν ζήλου, καὶ ἐπέβαλον τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀποστόλους, καὶ ἔθεντο αὐτοὺς ἐν τηρήσει δημοσίᾳ. Ἄγγελος δὲ κυρίου διὰ τῆς νυκτὸς ἤνοιξεν τὰς θύρας τῆς φυλακῆς, ἐξαγαγών τε αὐτοὺς εἶπεν, Πορεύεσθε, καὶ σταθέντες λαλεῖτε ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ τῷ λαῷ πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τῆς ζωῆς ταύτης.
Ευαγγέλιον της Ήμέρας
Ἐκ τοῦ 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, κἀγὼ πέμπω ὑμᾶς. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησε καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Λάβετε Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον· ἄν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ἁμαρτίας, ἀφίενται αὐτοῖς, ἄν τινων κρατῆτε, κεκράτηνται.
Θωμᾶς δὲ εἷς ἐκ τῶν δώδεκα, ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος, οὐκ ἦν μετ᾽ αὐτῶν ὅτε ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς. Ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄλλοι μαθηταί· Ἐωράκαμεν 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 μεθ᾽ ἡμέρας ὀκτὼ πάλιν ἦσαν ἔσω οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ Θωμᾶς μετ᾽ αὐτῶν. Ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων, καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον καὶ εἶπεν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Εἶτα λέγει τῷ Θωμᾷ· Φέρε τὸν δάκτυλόν σου ὧδε καὶ ἴδε τὰς χεῖράς μου, καὶ φέρε τὴν χεῖρά σου καὶ βάλε εἰς τὴν πλευράν μου, καὶ μὴ γίνου ἄπιστος, ἀλλὰ πιστός. Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη 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 ἔστι γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ· ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύσητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.
Μικρός Συναξαριστής
ΜΕΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΑΝΑΣΤΑΣΗ Η ΑΜΦΙΣΒΗΤΗΣΗ - Η ψηλάφησις του Θωμά!
Η Εκκλησία δεν φοβάται την αμφισβήτηση. Δεν αντιπαρέρχεται το πρόβλημα, που για πολλούς είναι φλέγον και επίμονο. Αναγνωρίζει ότι πολλοί χριστιανοί ταλαιπωρούνται από τους λογισμούς της απιστίας και συχνά βυθίζονται στο πέλαγος των αμφιβολιών. Αντιμετωπίζει την κατάσταση με ρεαλισμό, αναζητεί τα αίτια της πνευματικής συγχύσεως και υποδεικνύει το δρόμο που οδηγεί στην αληθινή γνώση και πίστη.
ΑΓΙΑ ΕΙΡΗΝΗ η Μεγαλομάρτυς - (5 Μαϊου)
Γεννήθηκε στη πόλη Μαγεδών της Περσίας και το πρώτο της όνομα ήταν Πηνελόπη.
Ο πατέρας της ήταν έπαρχος και από 6 ετών άρχισε την γραμματικής της μόρφωση από ένα από τους πιο σοφούς δασκάλους της εποχής της. Της έμαθε πολλά ο σοφός δάσκαλός. Ενα όμως δεν της έμαθε για το Χριστό, και αυτό το κατόρθωσε μια απλή χριστιανή υπηρέτρια του πατέρα της, που με τη θεία χάρη κατέκτησε την καρδιά της αρχοντοκόρης. Η Πηνελόπη ένοιωσε μεγάλη χαρά που έμαθε την πραγματική αλήθεια της ζωής και επεδίωξε αμέσως να βαπτιστεί χριστιανή, πήρε το όνομα Ειρήνη και συγχρόνως το σταυρό της χριστιανικής ζωής. Η Ειρήνη άρχισε μια πνευματική πορεία δια μέσου πυρός και σιδήρου. Ο ίδιος ο πατέρας της την έβαλε στα πόδια άγριου αλόγου, να την σκοτώσει με κλωτσιές. Αλλά το άλογο στράφηκε εναντίον του και σκότωσε αυτόν. Επικράτησε μεγάλη σύγχυση μεταξύ των εκεί ευρισκομένων ανθρώπων. Αλλά η Ειρήνη τους καθησύχασε με τα λόγια του Χριστού «Πάντα δυνατά τω πιστεύοντι» (Όλα είναι δυνατά σ’ Εκείνον που πιστεύει) και πράγματι προσευχήθηκε με θαυμαστή πίστη και ο πατέρας της σηκώθηκε ζωντανός. Τότε οικογενειακώς, όλοι βσπτί- σθηκαν χριστιανοί. Της Ειρήνης οι δοκιμασίες και τα μαρτύρια ήταν πολλά, αλλά πάντα έβγαινε ζωντανή μέσα από αυτά διότι είχε μεγάλη πίστη και δίδασκε το λόγο του Θεού.
Η Ανάσταση του Ιησού Χριστού είναι νίκη κατά του ΄Αδη
Στα σκοτεινά βασίλειά του έδωσε τη μάχη με το θάνατο ο Κύριος και νίκησε. Μόνο ο Ιησούς αν και κατέβηκε στον Άδη σαν νεκρός, δε νεκρώθηκε, δε νικήθηκε, δεν καταβροχθίστηκε από το λαίμαργο ΄Αδη, αλλά με το θάνατό Του νέκρωσε, δέσμευσε και νίκησε κατά κράτος το θάνατο. Ελπίδα και Ανάσταση. Από τη ζώσα πίστη μας στο Θεό προέρχεται η ελπίδα. Για τους ανθρώπους του κόσμου που δεν έχουν πίστη, η ελπίδα σβήνει, ενώ για μας τους Ορθοδόξους Χριστιανούς αναγεννάται υπό το φώς της Αναστάσεως του Κυρίου και μας δίνει τη βάσει να πιστεύουμε με απόλυτη βεβαιότητα και στη δική μας ανάσταση!
Η ΑΞΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΕΗΜΟΣΥΝΗΣ
«’Οποιος ελεεί τον πτωχό, δανείζει τον Θεό»
Άς δανείσουμε τον Θεό μέσω της ελεημοσύνης, ώστε να λάβουμε απ΄ Αυτόν ανταπόδοση
της φιλανθρωπείας μας. ..... (‘Αγιος Ιωάννης Χρυσόστομος)
Meditation:
Parents must use discernment to help their children draw near to Christ from their early years, and from their childhood to live the joy on high—spiritual joy. When they start school they should learn, little by little, to read spiritual books to help themselves live spiritually. In this way they will become little angels, and their prayers will have greater boldness before God. Such children are spiritual heads of the home. The lives of saints especially help small children in their spiritual lives. As a small boy I found a little book of the lives of saints which they had back in those days. I went out into the forest to read and pray. I was flying with joy. From the age of ten to sixteen, when the Greek-Italian war began, I lived the spiritual life without restraint. Childhood joys are pure; they leave an imprint on a person that greatly affects him when he grows up. If children live spiritually, they will live joyfully in this life, and in the next they will rejoice eternally with Christ.
+Saint Paisios the Athonite
“Neither do walls or rich furniture make a home. Millionaires in magnificent mansions may never know a home. But where there are good relationships, where love binds the family together and to God, there happiness is always to be found. For good relationships are heaven anywhere.” +St. Seraphim of Sarov
Sunday of Thomas Meditation
Christ is Risen! O the marvel! The forbearance! The immeasurable meekness! The Untouched is felt; the Master is held by a servant, And He reveals His wounds to one of His inner circle. Seeing these wounds, the whole Creation was shaken at the time. Thomas, when he was considered worthy of such gifts, Lifted up a prayer to the One Who deemed him worthy, Saying, “Bear my rashness with patience, Have pity on my unworthiness and lighten the burden Of my lack of faith, so that I may sing and cry, `Thou art our Lord and God’’ +Orthodox Fathers
Almsgiving above all else requires money, but even this shines with a brighter luster when the alms are given from our poverty. The widow who paid in the two mites was poorer than any human, but she outdid them all. - St. John Chrysostomos
COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST - Prayers for: Tom, William, Anastasios, Polyxeni, Julia, Helen, Peter, Sophia
O Lord our God, Who by word alone did heal all diseases, Who cured the mother in law of Peter, You Who chastise with pity and heal according to Your goodness; grant aid to these Your servants (Names) and heal them of every sickness of which they are grieved; lift them up from their pain, and send down upon them Your great mercy. For to you we send up Glory: to Father, and to Son, and to Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayers for the living will be retained on the list for 40 days. Contact Church Office to add names at office@assumptionchicago.org or call Panagia office at 773.626.3114
