THE APPEARANCE OF CHRIST TO THOMAS

ight days after the first appearance of Jesus to the other disciples, the Apostles were again gathered in the house, behind closed doors. The risen Christ “came and stood among them” (Jn. 20:27). This time Thomas was with them. Jesus, without any delay turns to Thomas and addresses him: “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side, and do not be unbelieving but believing” The unbelieving disciple already sees Christ, but he is now asked to complete the test by touching Christ’s hands and side.

He does not, however, complete the test. With a giant step he moves from unbelieving to believing. Suddenly he is convinced that the One whom he sees, is the risen Lord, the very same Jesus whom he knew. Unhesitatingly, he responds with an astonishing confession of faith: “My Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:28).

This declaration of faith is unique. No other disciple in the Gospel used such an advanced creed for expressing his faith in Christ. Thomas’ confession of faith assigns to Jesus the attributes of Lord and God used in the Old Testament for the one and only God. The change is radical. Thomas, the skeptical, unbelieving and tough disciple, utters at the very end of the Gospel of John a superb declaration of faith: it is the ultimate statement about Christ.

Thomas’ statement is followed by a very important response from Jesus. Christ addresses him saying: Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and (yet) have believed (Jn. 20:29).”

The first part of the statement, taken as a recognition of a fact, speaks of believing in the risen Lord as a result of seeing him. The second part of Jesus’ statement is a beatitude which presents a different type of faith, namely a faith not depending on visual experiences: “Blessed are those who have not seen and (yet) have believed” Who are the recipients of such a blessing? Most certainly, they are the Christians living around the end of the first century AD for whom John the Evangelist writes his Gospel. The majority of these people were born years after the resurrection and the ascension of Christ, therefore they could not have seen him. They are proclaimed blessed because they have arrived at the state of believing in the risen Lord without the assistance or proof of immediate, direct and personal visual experience. We too, who believe in him, therefore, are blessed! (Adapted)

Service hours: Sundays and Feast days: Orthros at 9:30 am; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am.
Evening Services as Announced

Saints: Thomas the Apostle; Righteous John of Decopolis; Euthymios & Athanasia, New Martyrs of Aegina (+1526); Kosmas, Bishop of Chalcedon; John the New of Ioannina; Savvas the Commander; Euthymios, Enlightener of Finland; Basil Ratishvili of Georgia.

SECOND SUNDAY OF PASCHA - SUNDAY OF ST. THOMAS

Gospel Entrance and Other Hymn Changes
Following the Doxology: Leaders sing the Dismissal Hymn of St. Thomas in Greek “Esfragismenou tou mnematos”
1st Dismissal Hymn for Pascha
   Sung in Greek before the Entrance ("Christos Aneste…").
   Priest’s Entrance Hymn: In the congregations bless God, the Lord who springs out of Israel. Priest and People: Save us o Son of God who did rise from the dead, we sing to You, Alleluia.
   Sung in English after the Entrance – “Christ is Risen. . .”
Dismissal Hymn For St. Thomas
   (Read)While the tomb was sealed, / You, O Life, / did shine forth from the grave, / O Christ God; / and while the doors were shut, / You came to Your disciples, / O Resurrection of all, / renewing through them / an upright Spirit in us / according to Your great mercy.
Kontakion for Pascha
(Sung) by the Leaders in Greek (“Ei kai en tafo”
(Read) Even though You descended into the grave, / O immortal One, / You destroyed the power of Hades; / and You arose as victor, / O Christ our God, / saying to the myrrh-bearing women, / “Hail!” / and to Your Apostles granting peace; / You also grant resurrection to the fallen.

Return to page 26 for “Holy God” and for the Epistle and Gospel Readings

EPISTLE - Acts 5:12-20

n 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."

n 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.

In the place of “Truly it is proper. . .” (p. 54) the Leaders (Sing) “Se ten faeinen lampada”
   Translation: Mother of God, shining lamp, You are the most manifest glory, who are more exalted than all creation, we magnify you with hymns.
In the place of the Communion Hymn
   The Leaders will sing “Epainei Ierousalim”
   (Translation: Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God O Zion. Alleluia.)
In the Place of “We have seen the true light,” (Hymnal, 70),
    Sing “Christos Anesti, Christ is Risen.”

  FOR THE RECORD: April 11 - Easter Sunday, Attendance - 85; Holy Week - Total Attendance 278; Total Candles - $1,159; Total Offering - $844; Building Fund - $125. Thank you!
CHRISMATION: Today, Kostas Gymnaos will be received into the Orthodox Church through the Sacrament of Holy Chrismation. His Sponsor will be Achilles Thomas. We pray God’s blessings on our new Orthodox Christians, and to the Gymnaos and Thomas Families.
PROSFORON BAKERS: Betty Roussos 4/18 (Thomas Sunday); Venice Cosmadelis (Myrrh Bearers Sunday) 4/25; Emily Thomas 5/2 (Sunday of Paralytic); George and Maria Angeliades 5/9 (Samaritan Woman); Argyris Gymnaos (New Prosforon Baker!) 5/16 (Blind Man Sunday); Presbytera Emily 5/20 (Ascension Day); Fran Mather 5/23; Gloria Vardakis 5/29 (Saturday of Souls); Bette Ferriero 5/30 (Pentecost); Fran Triantafilon 6/6 (All Saints).
THANKS TO Bill and Ruby Hazivasilis who are donating the several tons of stone for the resurfacing of the driveway and the parking area. We are grateful!
   2004 PARISH DIRECTORY: The time is ending for advertisement solicitations. Please contact as many businesses as you can for an advertisement. Contact Helen Nicolelis for additional forms, or to return advertisement contracts: 684-1219.
    HOSPITALIZED: Oak Hill - Bessie Manolis; Bayonet Point - William Fondulas. Also, ill were Nikolai Kastelan and Kostas Hronis. We pray for a rapid recovery!
   HOLY WEEK THANKS: Easter Soup: Bill and Ruby Hazivasilis, assisted by Bill Urling, Bill Pasisis, Paul Cosmadelis, George Nikas. Easter Meal Foods: George & Dee Nikas, Argyris and Carol Gymnaos, Connie Mourgides, Venice Cosmadelis, Dora Halvatzes, Kathy Lemonedes, Presbytera Emily, Nancy Kastelan, Mike and Fran Triantafilon. Easter Baskets for the needy: Cathy Lemonedes, Harriet Pasisis, Venice Cosmadelis. Children’s Easter Baskets: Gloria Vardakis, Venice Cosmadelis, Harriet Pasisis. Setting Up & Clean-up Easter Night: Gloria Zahka, Harriet Pasisis, Gloria Vardakis, Nick & Nancy Kastelan, Betty and Eleni Roussos, Bette Ferriero, Spero Lemonedes, Steve Mourgides. Holy Monday Clean-up of Church: Bill Pasisis, Paul & Venice Cosmadelis, Harriet Pasisis, Bette Ferriero, Gloria Vardakis. Many thanks to all who contributed! (More next week!)
   GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Stewards are invited to a General Assembly on Sunday, May 2. A Luncheon will be served. The Agenda includes acceptance of local by-laws, the 2003 audit, and the future direction of our church. Don’t hear things second-hand! Come and participate.

CHRIST THE SAVIOR GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
P.O. BOX 5566
SPRING HILL, FL 34611
“A Pan-Orthodox Christian Community”