Sunday 16 April 2034

Antipascha: 2nd Sunday of Pascha

No Fast Tone 1

Paschaltide, day 8 · 7 days since Pascha

St Thomas Sunday

Saints commemorated

  • Virgin Martyrs Agape, Irene and Chionia

    Agape, Chionia and Irene were three Christian sisters of Thessalonica martyred in the persecution of Diocletian in 304. Refusing to eat food offered to idols, and found to possess the forbidden Christian Scriptures, they were condemned by the governor Dulcitius: Agape and Chionia were burned alive, and Irene, after being exposed to shame and standing firm, was put to death — by fire, or, in the fuller account, by an arrow. Their authentic Acts survive and are among the most reliable of the early martyr-records; the three are linked in tradition with St Anastasia the Deliverer-from-Bonds, who strengthened and buried them.

    Read their life →

  • Leonidas of Corinth and Companions

    Leonidas and a company of Christian women with him — Chariessa, Nike, Galina, Kallis, Nunechia, Basilissa and Theodora — were martyred at Corinth in the mid-third century (under Decius, or, by another account, in the early fourth under the tetrarchy). After torture they were bound and cast into the sea, and received together the crown of martyrdom. They are honoured among the martyrs of Greece on April 16.

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  • Thomas the Apostle

    Thomas the Apostle, called Didymus, "the Twin," is the apostle of the great doubt and the greater confession: absent when the risen Lord first appeared to the Twelve, he refused to believe without touching the wounds, and eight days later, invited to do so, uttered the highest confession of Christ in all the Gospels — "My Lord and my God." The tradition of the Church sends him east after Pentecost, to Parthia and India, where he preached, founded churches, and was slain with spears at Mylapore about the year 72; the Christians of the Malabar coast bear his name — "St Thomas Christians" — to this day. His chief feast is October 6, he is commemorated with his brethren on June 30, and the whole Church relives his doubt and confession each year on Thomas Sunday, the first Sunday after Pascha.

    Read their life →

British Isles and Ireland

  • St. Padarn, Missionary and Wonderworker, founder of Llanbadarn Fawr (550)
  • St. Elias of Cologne (1042)

Readings

1st Matins Gospel

Matthew 28.16-20

16Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Epistle

Acts 5.12-20

12And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. 13And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. 14And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 15Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. 17Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 18And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

Gospel

John 20.19-31

19Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. 24But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, 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. 26And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 30And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Troparia & kontakia

Apolytikion — Tone 3 (Greek use)

O holy Apostle Thomas, intercede with the merciful God, that He grant unto our souls the forgiveness of offences.

Kontakion — Tone 4

Filled full of divine grace, the Apostle of Christ and His true servant cried out in repentance: Thou art my God and Lord.

Magnification

We magnify thee, O Thomas, Apostle of Christ, and we honour the pains and labours whereby thou didst labour in the good tidings of Christ.

Stichera

By thy faithful unbelief thou didst confirm the faithful, beginning to speak as God of Him who is God and Lord of all creation, who for our sake on earth put on flesh, and endured the Cross and death, and the piercing of the nails, and the opening of His side by the lance, whence we draw life. Thomas the wonderful opened the fountain of doctrines to the godly minded, O Master; for feeling Thy side he was fittingly initiated into the twofold energy of the two natures, and cried: Thou art my God and Master, Thou the Lord of glory, who for my sake becamest flesh.

Troparion — Tone 4 (common of virgin-martyrs)

Thy lambs Agape, Chionia and Irene cry out with a loud voice, O Jesus: We love Thee, O our Bridegroom, and in seeking Thee we endure suffering; crucified with Thee and buried in Thy baptism, we suffer for Thy sake that we may reign with Thee; accept us who sacrifice ourselves in love for Thee, and by their prayers, O merciful One, save our souls.

Troparion — Tone 4 (common of several martyrs)

Thy martyrs Leonidas and those with him, O Lord, in their contest received incorruptible crowns from Thee, our God; for possessing Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and shattered the feeble insolence of the demons. By their intercessions save our souls.

Troparion — Tone 2

Thou wast a disciple of Christ and a member of the divine apostolic company; having through thine unbelief given proof of Christ's Resurrection, and verified His most pure Passion by thy touch, O all-praised Thomas, entreat now also for us peace and great mercy.