Thomas Sunday at the Church of the Resurrection
On Sunday, 10th/23rd April 2017, the event of the Lord’s touching by Thomas the Apostle was observed by the Patriarchate according to the Typikon of the Church order and the rules of worship, at the Most Holy Church of the Resurrection. On this feast the Church commemorates that on the eighth day after the Resurrection “when the doors were closed” the Lord came “while all the disciples were assembled within” and “Thomas was with them” and he saw the Lord and the signs of the nails in His hands and His pierced side and was convinced and said “My Lord and my God” (John 20:24-29).
This event was celebrated as “Parresia” by the Patriarchate, with the Great Vespers in the evening including the entrance and worshiping of the Holy Deposition and the Holy Sepulchre, and a Great Entrance and the Blessing of Bread at the Catholicon, while in the morning there was the Divine Liturgy at the Holy and Life-giving Sepulchre, led by the Patriarchal Commissioner Most Reverend Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, with concelelbrants the Most Reverend Archbishop Methodios of Tabor, the Most Reverend Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda, Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, first among whom the Master of Ceremonies Archimandrite Bartholomew, and the Hierodeacons Demetrios and Agapios. Singing were the Choir Leader of the Most Holy Church of the Resurrection Archimandrite Aristovoulos and the left singer Mr. George Alvanos, with the participation of the members of the Greek Community in Jerusalem, and the pilgrims from Greece, Cyprus Russia and Romania who were still here since Easter.
The Divine Liturgy was followed by the return to the Patriarchate where the Metropolitan wished to all the solid faith of Thomas and offered Easter blessings to all.
Source: jp-newsgate.net
