2nd Sunday of Pascha, Anti-Pascha, Thomas Sunday

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Beloved Clergy and Parishioners in the Lord, Grace and Peace be with you.
 
THE SUNDAY OF THE ANTIPASCHA
(THE SECOND SUNDAY OF PASCHA) or
THE SUNDAY OF THE HOLY APOSTLE THOMAS
The Reading is from the Acts of the Apostles [§ 14]. In those days:
     5  12Through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were being wrought among the people. And they were all with one accord in the porch of Solomon. 13And of the rest not even one was daring to be joined to them, but the people were magnifying them. 14And more believers were being added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and of women, 15insomuch that they carried out the sick into the streets and laid them upon beds and pallets, in order that at least the shadow of Peter as he came might overshadow some of them. 16And also the multitude kept on coming together out of the cities round about to Jerusalem, bearing sick people and those who were troubled by unclean spirits-all of whom were being healed.
     17Then the high priest rose up and all those with him (the sect which is of the Sadducees), and were full of jealousy, 18and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in state custody. 19But an angel of the Lord during the night opened the doors of the prison and led them out, and said, 20"Go and take a stand in the temple, and be speaking to the people all the words of this life."
 
The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John [§ 65].
     20  19When it was evening on that day, the first of the week-and the doors were closed where the disciples were gathered together for fear of the Jews-Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith to them, "Peace be to you." 20And after He said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad, after they saw the Lord. 21Then Jesus said to them again, "Peace be to you; even as the Father hath sent Me forth, I also send you." 22And after He said this, He breathed on them, and saith to them, "Receive ye the Holy Spirit: 23"if ye forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven to them; if ye retain the sins of any, they are retained." 24But Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymos, was not with them when Jesus came. 25The other disciples therefore were saying to him, "We have se! en the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I should see in His hands the mark of the nails, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into His side, in no wise will I believe." 26And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Then cometh Jesus, the doors having been shut, and He stood in the midst, and said, "Peace be to you." 27Then He saith to Thomas, "Bring thy finger here, and behold My hands; and bring thy hand, and put it into My side. And cease being unbelieving, but believing." 28And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God." 29Jesus said to him, "Because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed; blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."
     30Then indeed Jesus also did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these things have been written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye may have life in His name.
 
     Beloved of Christ, the faithful of our holy Church!
 
     Christ is Risen!
 
     As is known already to most of us, our dearly beloved Metropolitan Valentine is on the verge of receiving a serious heart surgery. Vladyka Gregory felt it prudent to include the two posts we have made to the ROAC list so that everyone is up to date, rather than his normal weekly sermon.
 
Monday, April 19, 2004 3:38 PM
 
Dear Faithful,
 
Christ is Risen!
 
Vladyka Metropolitan Valentine came to the United States on his way to Switzerland for medical treatment. He could not receive, however, a visa to go to Switzerland. This would made it necessary for him to travel all the way back to Russia, and then obtain a visa from Russia to go to Switzerland. This was an unfortunate situation that happened.
 
After he served Liturgy on Sunday with Vladyka Gregory, he was feeling chest-pain, which subsided. He told Vladyka Gregory that he also had these chest pains in New York. Vladyka Metropolitan, however, wanted to have a conference with all the clergy that night, which lasted a few hours, and then he retired around 11:00 pm. He was feeling well at that time, and, an hour later, he started having chest-pain. He told us that this was typical for him, but all the clergy who had assembled decided not to take any chances and we called emergency medical help. Around 1:00 am, the ambulance came, and Vladyka Metropolitan was immediately transported to the emergency room of the Salida Hospital. Vladyka Gregory and Fr. Andrei accompanied him. He was given the necessary treatment and had a peaceful night without pain. After a preliminary examination by the doctor on call, it was suggested that on the following day, Vladyka be transported to the major cardiac center in Colorado Sprin! gs. The following morning, Vladyka was taken by ambulance to Colorado Springs. Vladyka Gregory, Fr. George, Fr. Dionysi, Fr. John Claypool, and Fr. Peter drove directly to Colorado Springs that morning to be with Vladyka Metropolitan, who had Fr. Andrei with him as his interpreter throughout the night. When they arrived, Vladyka Metropolitan was being taken to be given an angiogram. Apparently the doctors determined that his heart condition should not be neglected any longer, and they are going to do this test and, if there is any other test that is necessary, they will perform it. We will offer more information as it becomes known, but we ask all our faithful to please pray for our Metropolitan. When Vladyka Gregory saw him before he was going to go to take this test, Vladyka Metropolitan was delighted to see everybody, and he looked very healthy and had no pain. He appeared very relieved that this problem was being taken care of. From what we know this examination is not ! given to a person unless his condition is very, very serious. We will keep everyone informed as the information becomes known, but we ask everyone to please pray for our Vladyka Metropolitan.
 
In Christ,
 
Dormition Skete

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To be continued at http://www.euphrosynoscafe.com/forum/vi ... php?t=2246