THE FEAST OF THOMAS SUNDAY AT THE PATRIARCHATE
The Patriarchate of Jerusalem – 24/4/18
The feast of Thomas Sunday was celebrated by the Patriarchate according to the Typikon order and the Status Quo of worship on Sunday April 2/15, at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
On this Sunday the Church commemorates Thomas’ good unfaithfulness, which was changed by his faith when eight days after His Resurrection, he saw the Resurrected Lord, and put his hands on the wounds of the nails and said : “My Lord and my God”, according to Gospel narrative (John 20:19-31).
The feast was celebrated:
- In the evening at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre with Vespers, officiated by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos, with the participation in prayer of Hagiotaphite Archbishops and co-celebrants at the Service the Hagiotaphite Hieromonks, with first in rank Elder Kamarasis Archimandrite Nectarios, and Archdeacon Mark. The right choir was led by Archimandrite Aristovoulos and the left by Mr. Constantinos Spyropoulos, while the Service was attended by faithful from Jerusalem and pilgrims.
At the end of Vespers the Patriarchal Entourage returned to the Patriarchate Headquarters.
- On the day of the Feast:
On Sunday morning the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the All-holy and Life-giving Tomb, led by the Most Reverend Archbishop Theophanes of Gerassa, with co-celebrants an Archbishop of the Patriarchate of Russia and the Most Reverend Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda, the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Hagiotaphite Hieromoonks and Deacons. The right choir was led by Archimandrite Aristovoulos and the left by Mr. Constantinos Spyropoulos, while the Service was attended by faithful pilgrims who have remained in the city since the Easter Feast.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Episcopal entourage returned to the Patriarchate under the sound of the Church bells.
There the officiated Archbishop wished the pilgrims the good faith of Apostle Thomas who put his fingers on the wounds of the nails on the Lord’s body.
From Secretariat-General
