{"id":5877,"date":"2017-04-20T17:01:30","date_gmt":"2017-04-20T21:01:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=5877"},"modified":"2017-04-20T17:01:30","modified_gmt":"2017-04-20T21:01:30","slug":"st-peter-newsletter-april-202017-sunday-of-thomas-st-george-building-st-peters-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-newsletter-april-202017-sunday-of-thomas-st-george-building-st-peters-more\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter Newsletter April 20,2017 — Sunday of Thomas, St. George, Building St. Peter’s…more"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christ is Risen!<\/h2>\n

The First Sunday after Pascha
Sunday of Thomas the Apostle
St. George the Victory Bearer<\/h2>\n
\n\"The<\/p>\n

The Sunday of Thomas the Apostle<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Though the doors were shut at the dwelling where the disciples were gathered for fear of the Jews on the evening of the Sunday after the Passover, our Saviour wondrously entered and stood in their midst, and greeted them with His customary words, “Peace be unto you.” Then He showed unto them His hands and feet and side; furthermore, in their presence, He took some fish and a honeycomb and ate before them, and thus assured them of His bodily Resurrection.<\/p>\n

But Thomas, who was not then present with the others, did not believe their testimony concerning Christ’s Resurrection, but said in a decisive manner, “Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe.”<\/p>\n

Wherefore after eight days, that is, on this day, when the disciples were again gathered together and Thomas was with them, the Lord Jesus came while the doors were shut, as He did formerly. Standing in their midst, He said, “Peace be unto you”; then He said to Thomas, “Bring hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not unbelieving, but believing.”<\/p>\n

And Thomas, beholding and examining carefully the hands and side of the Master, cried out with faith, “My Lord and my God.” Thus he clearly proclaimed the two natures – human and divine – of the God-man (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-29).<\/p>\n

This day is 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.<\/p>\n

Read more on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Who is St. George?<\/h2>\n
\n\"St.<\/p>\n

St. George the Victory Bearer<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Holy Great Martyr George the Victory-Bearer, was a native of Cappadocia (a district in Asia Minor), and he grew up in a deeply believing Christian family. His father was martyred for Christ when George was still a child. His mother, owning lands in Palestine, moved there with her son and raised him in strict piety.<\/p>\n

When he became a man, Saint George entered into the service of the Roman army. He was handsome, brave and valiant in battle, and he came to the notice of the emperor Diocletian (284-305) and joined the imperial guard with the rank of comites, or military commander.<\/p>\n

The pagan emperor, who did much for the restoration of Roman might, was clearly concerned with the danger presented to pagan civilization by the triumph of the Crucified Savior, and intensified his persecution against the Christians in the final years of his reign. Following the advice of the Senate at Nicomedia, Diocletian gave all his governors full freedom in their court proceedings against Christians, and he promised them his full support.<\/p>\n

Saint George, when he heard the decision of the emperor, distributed all his wealth to the poor, freed his servants, and then appeared in the Senate. The brave soldier of Christ spoke out openly against the emperor’s designs. He confessed himself a Christian, and appealed to all to acknowledge Christ: “I am a servant of Christ, my God, and trusting in Him, I have come among you voluntarily, to bear witness concerning the Truth.”<\/p>\n

“What is Truth?” one of the dignitaries asked, echoing the question of Pontius Pilate. The saint replied, “Christ Himself, Whom you persecuted, is Truth.”<\/p>\n

Read the entire biography on the Orthodox Church of America website<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Building St. Peter’s<\/h2>\n
\n\"Building\n<\/div>\n

Many, many thanks to all who worked so diligently to make our Lent and Pascha what it was. Orthodoxy is work but it is the kind of work that endures; the necessary work that allows us to move closer to Christ and experience Him in ways that transform us and the world around us.<\/p>\n

That’s why we do it. The Church the Apostle Paul says is the “pillar and ground of the truth” — ground zero, the place where we can encounter Christ and learn His voice to be able to recognize Him when He meets us outside of it. <\/p>\n

All of us have gifts given to us by God. Our job is to discern what they are and develop them. These gifts are not for us but for our neighbor — for our neighbor’s good and edification — although when we use them in these ways we discover real meaning and joy. We begin to comprehend the reason we are alive and what we were put on the earth to do.<\/p>\n

No job is too small. The parts make the whole. When we live this way, Christ lives in us and His Church becomes His habitation, His house, His body<\/em>. This too is what people who are looking for him will experience (they will sense Christ is present) and this experience is their confirmation that they too have finally found their home.<\/p>\n

If we remain faithful to Christ in this way, our Lord will meet our needs and will also provide for us when it is time to build our permanent structure.<\/p>\n

Christ is Risen!<\/p>\n

Calendar At A Glance<\/h2>\n