Assumption of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church
Bearing witness to the Gospel of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ
Regular Weekly Schedule
Sunday
Matins - 8:45 a.m.
Divine Liturgy - 10:00 a.m.
Monday
Orthodoxy 101 - An Introduction to the Orthodox Faith - 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday
Bible Study - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday
New Testatment Greek - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday
Vespers - 5:00 p.m.
The Orthodox Church observes the Sunday of Thomas one week following the celebration of the Sunday of Holy Pascha. The day commemorates the appearance of Christ to His disciples on the evening of the Sunday following Passover. It also commemorates the appearance of the Lord to His disciples eight days later when Thomas was present and proclaimed "My Lord and my God" upon seeing the hands and side of Christ.
This Sunday is also called Antipascha (meaning "in the stead of Pascha," not "in opposition to Pascha") because with this day, the first Sunday after Pascha, the Church consecrates every Sunday of the year to the commemoration of Pascha, that is, the Resurrection.
The events commemorated on the Sunday of Thomas are recorded in the Gospel of Saint John 20:19-29. Following the crucifixion and burial of Christ, the disciples were gathered in a room with the doors closed and locked for fear of the Jews. On the evening of the Sunday after Passover, Jesus Christ entered the room and stood in their midst, greeting them with the words, "Peace be with you." (v. 19) He showed the disciples his hands, feet, and side. (v. 20)
Thomas was not present with the disciples when Jesus appeared, and he did not accept the testimony of the other disciples concerning Christ's Resurrection. He stated, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." (vv. 24-25)
Eight days later, the disciples were gathered together again with Thomas present, and the Lord appeared in the same manner. Standing in their midst he said, "Peace be with you." He then spoke directly to Thomas and said, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." (vv. 26-27) Thomas answered, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus replied by saying, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." (v. 29)
As we are taught by the hymns of the Church, it is through the unbelief of St. Thomas that the physical and bodily resurrection of Christ is revealed and finally understood. Glory be to God and praises unto the doubt of St. Thomas
Assumption of the Virgin Mary is a parish of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and is part of the Metropolis of Denver.
