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Sunday of Thomas: a sermon by St. Nikolai Velimirovich

When the Apostle Thomas felt the wounds of the Lord Jesus, he cried out:

“My Lord and my God!”

When Mary Magdalene heard the voice of the resurrected One in her soul,

she cried out: “My Lord and my God!”

When Saul saw the light and heard the words of the resurrected One, he

acknowledged: “My Lord and my God!”

When the pagans, in amazement, observed how the countless numbers of

martyrs joyfully undergo pains and asked them: “Who is this Christ?” All of

them replied: “My Lord and my God!”

When the scoffers ridiculed the army of ascetics and asked them: “Who is

He, for Whom they took upon themselves the awesome burden of mortifica-

tion? They all had one answer: “My Lord and my God!”

When the scorners derided the virgins who vowed their virginity and asked

them: “Who is He for Whom they renounced marriage?” They all had one

answer: “My Lord and my God!”

When the avaricious in astonishment asked the very wealthy: “Who is He for

Whom they distribute their wealth and become beggarly?” All of them re-

plied, one and the same: “My Lord and my God!”

Some have seen Him and have said: “My Lord and my God!” Some have only

heard Him and said: “My Lord and my God!” Some have only felt Him and

said: “My Lord and my God!” Some have only observed Him in the fabric of

events and in the destinies of peoples and said: “My Lord and my God!”

Some have felt His presence in their lives and cried out: “My Lord and my

God!” Some have recognized Him by some sign, on themselves or on others,

and cried out: “My Lord and my God!”

Still some have only heard about Him from others and believed and cried

out: “My Lord and my God!” Truly, these last ones are the most blessed!

Let us also exclaim, with all our hearts, regardless of how we have come to

recognize Him or how we have come to learn about Him:

“My Lord and my God” (John 20:28)

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April 23, 2017 Sunday of Thomas* Κυριακή Β΄ τοῦ Θωμά

St. George the Great Martyr and Triumphant

Γεώργιος Μεγαλομάρτυρυς

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

247 Washington Street Norwich, CT 06360

(860) 887-1458 * Email: htgocnorwich@gmail.com

Website: holytrinitynorwich.org

Father Demetrios Panteloukas

(609) 309-1707 or email: frdemetriosp@gmail.com

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We are all encouraged to participate in the Liturgy. We have the hymns follow-ing the Small Entrance, the Epistle & Gospel readings included in the bulletin. Also, please join our prayers by saying “Lord Have Mercy” (Kyrie Eleison), Amen, and praying the Creed and Lord’s Prayer together. For a more complete version of the services, please go to the Ages Initiative Digital Chant Stand. http://www.agesinitiatives.com/dcs/public/dcs/dcs.html The following are chanted immediately following the Small Entrance in this order:

O Life, You rose from the sepulcher,

even though the tomb was secured with

a seal, O Christ God. And though the

doors had been bolted, You came to

Your disciples, O Resurrection of all.

Through them You renew a right spirit in

us, according to Your great mercy.

Ἐσφραγισµένου τοῦ µνήµατος, ἡ

Ζωὴ ἐκ τάφου ἀνέτειλας Χριστὲ ὁ

Θεός, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισµένων,

τοῖς Μαθηταῖς ἐπέστης, ἡ πάντων

ἀνάστασις· Πνεῦµα εὐθὲς δι' αὐτῶν

ἐγκαινίζων ἡµῖν, κατὰ τὸ µέγα σου

ἔλεος.

Apolytikion For the Feast. Grave Mode.

Kontakion . Mode pl 4

Though You went down into the

tomb, O Immortal One, yet You

brought down the dominion of

Hades; and You rose as the victor,

O Christ our God; and You called

out "Rejoice" to the Myrrh-

bearing women, and gave peace

to Your Apostles, O Lord who to

the fallen grant resurrection.

Εἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες Ἀθάνατε,

ἀλλὰ τοῦ ᾅδου καθεῖλες τὴν

δύναµιν· καὶ ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής,

Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξὶ

Μυροφόροις φθεγξάµενος,

Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις

εἰρήνην δωρούµενος, ὁ τοῖς

πεσοῦσι παρέχων ἀνάστασιν.

As the one renowned for setting

captives free and for defending

those in poverty, the physician of

the sick and the champion of em-

perors, great and victorious Mar-

tyr George, intercede with Christ

our God, beseeching Him to save

our souls.

Συνταφέντες σοι διὰ τοῦ

Βαπτίσµατος, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς

ἡµῶν, τῆς ἀθανάτου ζωῆς

ἠξιώθηµεν τῇ Ἀναστάσει σου, καὶ

ἀνυµνοῦντες κράζοµεν· Ὡσαννὰ

ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις, εὐλογηµένος ὁ

ἐρχόµενος, ἐν ὀνόµατι Κυρίου.

Apolytikion For Saint George. Mode 4.

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St George

The holy, glorious and victorious Great-martyr and Trophy-bearer George was a Christian Roman soldier, actually a chiladis (Leader of a thousand troops) and assigned to the personal guard of the emperor Diocletian during the late 3rd century.

In 303, Diocletian issued an edict authorising the systematic persecu-tion of Christians across the Empire. His caesar, Galerius, was suppos-edly responsible for this decision and would continue the persecution during his own reign (305–311). It is believed that George was ordered to take part in the persecution but instead confessed to being a Chris-tian himself and criticised the imperial decision. An enraged Diocletian proceeded in ordering the torture of this apparent traitor and his exe-cution.

Then, after innumerable forms of torture, George was executed by de-capitation in front of Nicomedia's defensive wall on April 23, 303. The witness of his suffering convinced Empress Alexandra and Athanasius, a pagan priest, to also become Christians, and so they also joined George in martyrdom as consequence. George's body was then re-turned to Lydda for burial, where Christians soon came to honor George as a martyr.

St. George and the Dragon

St George is often depicted with a dragon or some other serpentine creature under his feet. This comes from a legend whose details may vary according to local tradition. The tale begins with a dragon making its nest at the spring (or lake) that provided a town (either near Beirut or Silena, Libya, often) with water. Consequently, the citizens had to temporarily remove the dragon from its nest in order to collect water. To do so, they offered the dragon a daily human sacrifice. The victim of the day was chosen by drawing lots. Eventually, the "winner" of this lottery happened to be the local princess. The local monarch is occa-sionally depicted begging for her life with no result. She is offered to the dragon, but at this point a traveling George arrives. He faces the dragon, and, after invoking the name of the Holy Trinity, slays it and saves the princess. The grateful citizens then abandon their ancestral paganism and convert to Christianity.The story may or may not be tak-en entirely literally. For example, the battle between George and the dragon may represent the battle between Christianity and Satan or between St. Michael, the archangel, and Lucifer.

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Services & Events

April 23, Sunday of Thomas and St. George the Great Orthros and Divine Liturgy, 8:45 am

April 30, Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women Orthros and Divine Liturgy, 8:45 am

1 Year Memorial Service for Penelope Tillery

St Basil the Great Hardship Fund

We have assisted our first parishioner, please don’t

hesitate to seek the help you may need from your fam-

ily here at the Church! We can help any member who

needs assistance with smaller expenses. Ex: heat, oil,

gas, groceries, etc. To apply or donate, please contact Fr.

Demetrios, Amy Constantinou, or Peter Argiros.

The Father Matthew Baker Lecture Series

Please mark your calendars and join us on:

Friday, June 2, 2017 at 7:00 pm

for a lecture on Shattered Images, the dangers of

Pornography.

By Dr. Albert Rossi of St Vladimir’s Theological

School.

Held at: The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of

Norwich Fellowship Hall.

247 Washington Street

Norwich, CT, 06360 3

Epistle Reading

Προκείµενον. Ἦχος βαρύς. Ψαλµὸς ΞΓʹ (63). Εὐφρανθήσεται δίκαιος ἐν Κυρίῳ καὶ ἐλπιεῖ ἐπ' αὐτόν. Στίχ. Εἰσάκουσον, ὁ Θεός, τῆς φωνῆς µου, ἐν τῷ δέεσθαί µε πρὸς σέ.

Πράξεων τῶν Ἀποστόλων τὸ ἀνάγνωσµα.. (12:1-11 )

Κατ' ἐκεῖνον τὸν καιρὸν ἐπέβαλεν ῾Ηρῴδης ὁ βασιλεὺς τὰς χεῖρας κακῶσαί τινας τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας. Ἀνεῖλε δὲ 'Ιάκωβον τὸν ἀδελφὸν 'Ιωάννου µαχαίρᾳ. Καὶ ἰδὼν ὅτι ἀρεστόν ἐστι τοῖς 'Ιουδαίοις, προσέθετο συλλαβεῖν καὶ Πέτρον· ἦσαν δὲ αἱ ἡµέραι τῶν ἀζύµων· ὃν καὶ πιάσας ἔθετο εἰς φυλακήν, παραδοὺς τέσσαρσι τετραδίοις στρατιωτῶν φυλάσσειν αὐτόν, βουλόµενος µετὰ τὸ Πάσχα ἀναγαγεῖν αὐτὸν τῷ λαῷ. Ὁ µὲν οὖν Πέτρος ἐτηρεῖτο ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ· προσευχὴ δὲ ἦν ἐκτενὴς γινοµένη ὑπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ. ῞Οτε δὲ ἔµελλεν αὐτὸν προάγειν ὁ ῾Ηρῴδης, τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ ἦν ὁ Πέτρος κοιµώµενος µεταξὺ δύο στρατιωτῶν δεδεµένος ἁλύσεσι δυσί, φύλακές τε πρὸ τῆς θύρας ἐτήρουν τὴν φυλακήν. Καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐπέστη καὶ φῶς ἔλαµψεν ἐν τῷ οἰκήµατι· πατάξας δὲ τὴν πλευρὰν τοῦ Πέτρου ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν λέγων· ἀνάστα ἐν τάχει. καὶ ἐξέπεσον αὐτοῦ αἱ ἁλύσεις ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν εἶπέ τε ὁ Ἄγγελος πρὸς αὐτόν· περίζωσαι καὶ ὑπόδησαι τὰ σανδάλιά σου. Ἐποίησε δὲ οὕτω· καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· περιβαλοῦ τὸ ἱµάτιόν σου καὶ ἀκολούθει µοι. Καὶ ἐξελθὼν ἠκολούθει αὐτῷ, καὶ οὐκ ᾔδει ὅτι ἀληθές ἐστι τὸ γινόµενον διὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου, ἐδόκει δὲ ὅραµα βλέπειν. Διελθόντες δὲ πρώτην φυλακὴν καὶ δευτέραν ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὴν πύλην τὴν σιδηρᾶν τὴν φέρουσαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν, ἥτις αὐτοµάτη ἠνοίχθη αὐτοῖς· καὶ ἐξελθόντες προῆλθον ῥύµην µίαν· καὶ

εὐθέως ἀπέστη ὁ Ἄγγελος ἀπ' αὐτοῦ. Καὶ ὁ Πέτρος γενόµενος ἐν ἑαυτῷ εἶπε· νῦν οἶδα ἀληθῶς ὅτι ἐξαπέστειλε Κύριος τὸν Ἄγγελον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξείλετό µε ἐκ χειρὸς ῾Ηρῴδου καὶ πάσης τῆς προσδοκίας τοῦ λαοῦ τῶν 'Ιουδαίων.

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 63 (64). The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him Verse: Hear my voice, O God, in my supplication.

The reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. (12:1-11 )

About that time, Herod the king laid vio-lent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword; and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passo-ver to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the Church. The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleep-ing between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison; and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, "Wrap your mantle around you and follow me." And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel left him. And Peter came to himself, and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."

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The reading is from the Holy Gospel ac-cording to John. (20:19-31 )

On 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 disci-ples 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 be-cause 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.

Ἐκ τοῦ κατὰ Ἰωάννην ἁγίου Εὐαγγελίου τὸ ἀνάγνωσµα. (κʹ 19 - 31)

Οὔσης ὀψίας τῇ ἡµέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τῇ µιᾷ σαββάτων, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισµένων ὅπου ἦσαν οἱ µαθηταὶ συνηγµένοι διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ µέσον, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Εἰρήνη ὑµῖν. καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ. ἐχάρησαν οὖν οἱ µαθηταὶ ἰδόντες τὸν Κύριον. εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν· Εἰρήνη ὑµῖν. καθὼς ἀπέσταλκέ µε ὁ πατήρ, κἀγὼ πέµπω ὑµᾶς. καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησε καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Λάβετε Πνεῦµα ἅγιον· ἄν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ἁµαρτίας, ἀφίενται αὐτοῖς, ἄν τινων κρατῆτε, κεκράτηνται. Θωµᾶς δὲ εἷς ἐκ τῶν δώδεκα ὁ λεγόµενος Δίδυµος, οὐκ ἦν µετ' αὐτῶν ὅτε ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς. ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄλλοι µαθηταί· Ἑωράκαµεν τὸν Κύριον. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἐὰν µὴ ἴδω ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὸν δάκτυλόν µου εἰς τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὴν χεῖρά µου εἰς τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ, οὐ µὴ πιστεύσω. Καὶ µεθ' ἡµέρας ὀκτὼ πάλιν ἦσαν ἔσω οἱ µαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ Θωµᾶς µετ' αὐτῶν. ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισµένων, καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ µέσον καὶ εἶπεν· Εἰρήνη ὑµῖν. εἶτα λέγει τῷ Θωµᾷ· Φέρε τὸν δάκτυλόν σου ὧδε καὶ ἴδε τὰς χεῖράς µου, καὶ φέρε τὴν χεῖρά σου καὶ βάλε εἰς τὴν πλευράν µου, καὶ µὴ γίνου ἄπιστος, ἀλλὰ πιστός. καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Θωµᾶς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ο Κύριός µου καὶ ὁ Θεός µου. λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ὅτι ἑώρακάς µε, πεπίστευκας· µακάριοι οἱ µὴ ἰδόντες καὶ πιστεύσαντες. Πολλὰ µὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλα σηµεῖα ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐνώπιον τῶν µαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, ἃ οὐκ ἔστι γεγραµµένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ· ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύσητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόµατι αὐτοῦ.

Gospel Reading

This day is called Antipascha (meaning "in the stead of Pascha," not

"in opposition to Pascha") because with this day, the first Sunday af-

ter Pascha, the Church consecrates every Sunday of the year to the

commemoration of Pascha, that is, the Resurrection.

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Please pray for: Maria, Peter, Polyxeni, Asimo, Alma, Angeliki, Persephone, Mary, Pauline, Efrosine, Barbara, John, Peter, Magdaline, George, Jane, Nicholas, Viola, Helen, Despina, Chrysanthi, Heidi, Mary, George, Olivia Rose, Betty, Irene, Christine, and Diana.

When we pray for our brothers and sisters we only need to know their baptismal first name, as that is how they are known to God. Going forward, that will be how this list is pre-sented.

We will pray for those who are sick, etc. as well as for our departed loved ones, during the Proskomide prayers (where we and Divine Lit-urgy. If there is anyone to add or take off this prayer list; or if you or anyone you know is hospitalized, please inform Fr Demetrios.

Θα προσευχηθούμε για τους αρρώστους και τους εκλιπόντες μας κατα την διάρκεια της Προσκομιδής και της Θεία Λειτουργίας. Αν υπάρχει κάποιος/α που πρέπει να βάλουμε η να βγάλουμε απο την λίστα προσευχής, ή αν υπάρχει κάποιος/α στο νοσοκομείο,σας παρακαλούμε να ενημερώσετε τον πατέρα Δημήτριος .

GOYA Toiletry Drive!

Our GOYA is continuing their support of the St. Vin-cent Depaul Soup Kitchen by making Angel Bags

(Bagged Toiletries).

Please donate to help us. Our goal is 320 Angel Bags to fulfill the monthly need of Norwich. We are

also seeking donations of:

• toilet paper

• tooth paste and brushes

• feminine hygiene products

• bar soap

Please drop off at the church office or leave at the ta-

ble in the Fellowship hall entrance.