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Just as the Lenten Triodion is the book of the extended season of preparation for Pascha, the Pentecostarion, called by some the Festal Triodion, is the book of the extended season of thanksgiving after Pascha, and of our preparation for Holy Pentecost.
During this time between Pascha and Pentecost, the Church offers us each week a different theme which deepens our focus and understanding.
This week, the focus is on the Apostle Thomas.
“Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.” He was the only Disciple absent; on his return he heard what had happened but refused to believe it. The Lord came a second time; He offered His side for the disbelieving Disciple to touch, held out His hands, and showing the scars of His wounds, healed the wound of his disbelief.
Dearly beloved, what do you see in these events? Do you really believe that it was by chance that this chosen Disciple was absent, then came and heard, heard and doubted, doubted and touched, touched and believed? It was not by chance but in God’s providence. In a marvelous way God’s mercy arranged that the disbelieving Disciple, in touching the wounds of his Master’s body, should heal our wounds of disbelief. The disbelief of Thomas has done more for our faith than the faith of the other Disciples. As he touches Christ and is won over to belief, every doubt is cast aside and our faith is strengthened. So the Disciple who doubted, then felt Christ’s wounds, becomes a witness to the reality of the Resurrection.
From a homily of St. Gregory the Dialogist.
The doors being shut and the Disciples assembled,
Thou didst appear to them as almighty, O Jesus our God.
Thou didst stand in their midst, giving them peace,
and didst grant the Holy Spirit to them,
commanding them to wait in Jerusalem
until they should be clothed with the power from on high.
Therefore we cry to Thee:
O our Illumination and Resurrection and Peace, glory to Thee!
Thomas, called the Twin, was not with the Disciples, O Christ,
when Thou camest to them through closed doors.
Therefore he doubted their word.
Thou didst not reject him for his faithlessness.
When he saw Thy side and the wounds in Thy hands and feet,
his faith was made certain.
Having touched and seen,
he confessed Thee to be truly God, not only man,
crying: “My Lord and my God, glory to Thee!”
When the doors were shut, Jesus came to His Disciples.
The Apostle Thomas, by divine dispensation, was not with them,
for he spoke these words:
“ Unless I see the Master myself,
unless I see His side flowing with baptismal blood and water,
unless I see those wounds, which have healed all mankind,
unless I see not a spirit, but flesh and bones, I will not believe.”
Glory to Thee, O Lord,
for Thou didst confirm Thomas in faith,
and hast trampled death by death!
O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory?
Christ is risen and you are overthrown!
Christ is risen and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen and life reigns!
Christ is risen and not one dead remains in the grave!
For Christ, having risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.
From: The Catechetical Sermon of St. John Chrysostom
We offer some mediations and reflections on Holy Pascha.
Some important highlights from our latest guidance from our Archbishop:
More information is available on this page: Information on the COVID-19 Coronavirus for the Faithful.
Before all other deeds, remember about this great deed: that your children, innocent and pure children, take into their pure hearts the Law of God, the commandments of Christ, at least from the small amount of instruction that they can receive from you.
You have not yet forgotten the Law of God, so teach, teach your children, and then your family will become your house church. And the light of Christ from this house church will spread invisibly for you beyond the boundaries of your family.
The Light of Christ, His Divine Truth, will invisibly flow into the hearts and minds of all those who have dealings with you. It could be that the influence of your house church will go beyond its boundaries.
Then the eternal blessing of our Lord and God Jesus Christ, His Beginningless Father, and the All-Holy Spirit will be upon you. Article
The more we forgive, the more courage we gather within our heart which in turn makes it easier to forgive the next time, and the time after that, and seventy-times seven that follow. When we begin living according to a life in Christ, our world changes, we perceive those around us differently. We begin to see them as Christ sees them. Most importantly, we recognize the grace of Christ operative in our lives. We can then echo the words of Saint Paul, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phillippians 4:13) and that includes forgiving everyone, even those who have wronged us greviously. Article
We celebrated Holy Pascha in our new home!
Palm Sunday was a glorious celebration!
We have some photos from the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross!
Prayers at the Property have continued throughout the pandemic. Sergey took photographs on a lovely Spring day!
St. Nicholas visited Holy Cross!
We have photos of Anthony and Nikolai's Baptisms!
We have photos of Leo's Baptism!
We have photos of John's Chrismation!
We have photos of Elijah's baptism!
Despite the "Stay at Home" order, the Joy of Pascha was shared by the Faithful through a streaming service of the Paschal Hours and the Divine Liturgy of Pascha!
The Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday was streamed to the Faithful.
The service in which the crucified Body of Christ is carried to the Tomb was streamed to the Faithful.
The Bridegroom Matins of Holy Wednesday was streamed to the faithful on the Evening of Holy Tuesday. The video is available.
The Divine Liturgy of Palm Sunday was streamed to the faithful.
A video now is available of Father's Homily on the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos.
A video now is available of Father's Homily on the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross.
We are streaming services live for the faithful at home, and for all the world. We have a few screen captures from the Divine Liturgy on the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross.
We have some some photos fof the procession on the Sunday of Orthodoxy.
We have some some photos from the Sunday of Forgiveness.
We have some some photos of Jonah's baptism.
We have some video and photos from the Outdoor Blessing of the Waters on the Sunday after Theophany.
We have a few photos from the Great Blessing of the Waters on Theophany
We had many baptisms before and on the Eve of Nativity!
St. Nicholas came to Holy Cross!
Deacon George and Matushka Elizabeth Hattle Say Farewell.
Tyler and Holly and their children became catechumens!
We have some photos from our annual Parish Picnic!
We have some photos from our parish feast, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross!
We have some video and photos from Pascha!
We have some photographs from Holy Saturday!
We have some photographs from Holy Friday!
We have photos from the celebrations of Palm Sunday!
We have photos from the Sunday of Orthodoxy.
We have photos from the Sunday of Forgiveness.
We have photos from Nikolai's baptism!
We celebrated Holy Theophany, and after, the Outdoor Blessing of the Waters.
Children and adults sang Christmas carols just before Christmas.
St. Nicholas came to visit Holy Cross!
We have photos from Pentecost, and the chrismations on Pentecost!
We have some photos from the services on Holy Friday!
We have some photos from the services of Pascha!
Palm Sunday was a festive celebration, with our yearly photograph of parish children after the procession.
On Soul Saturday, Father Christopher celebrated a teaching liturgy, teaching during the Proskomedia and the Divine Liturgy.
On the Sunday of Orthodoxy, we had a procession with icons, and took a photo of the children.
In the first week of Lent, parishioners gathered to pray the penitential Canon of St. Andrew.
We began Lent with the Rite of Forgiveness.
Thanks to Whitney for photos from the Outdoor Blessing of the Waters on the Sunday following Theophany.
Thanks to Sergey for photos from the John Luke's Baptism on the Sunday after Nativity!
Thanks to Sergey for many more photos from the baptisms and chrismations just before Nativity!
We have photos from the children's Nativity Play!
Our celebration of the Nativity of Christ began with a beautiful and joyous Vigil service.
We celebrated 5 baptisms and 11 chrismations on the Sunday before Nativity!
The first of 2017's Nativity Prefeast services began the final stage of prayerful preparation for Holy Nativity.
St. Nicholas visited Holy Cross this year again, and later, many parishioners and their children sang Christmas carols at Adams Farm Living and Rehabilitation, where our brother George of blessed memory used to live.
Father Christopher gathered together the parish children who are approaching the appropriate age and offered them some teaching about confession.
After so many years of hoping, researching, planning, preparing and praying, at last we had our first meeting with the builders, initiating the actual path toward building our new church!
For more, please see our Parish News, Photos and Videos page.
