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The Apostles Fast (June 16 – July 11)

“This summer fast, which we now call the Apostles fast, was earlier called the fast of Pentecost.

“After the extended feast of Pentecost, the fast is particularly needed in order to cleanse our mind by ascetic labors, and to make us worthy of the gifts of the Holy Spirit,” writes St. Leo the Great. “After the present feast, which the Holy Spirit has sanctified by His descent, all the people usually keep a fast beneficially established for the healing of soul and body, and therefore requiring that we spend it with the appropriate reverence. For we do not doubt that after the Apostles’ hearts were filled with the Spirit of truth promised to them from on high, amongst the other mystical heavenly teachings given by their Teacher, they were given also the teaching on spiritual continence, so that their hearts, purified by fasting, would be made capable of receiving gifts of grace… It is would not be possible to struggle in a pampered body and fattened flesh against the persecutions, and the fierce threats of the ungodly that lay ahead; for that which delights our outer man destroys our inner man, and the more a wise soul mortifies its flesh, the purer it becomes. … In the Apostolic canons inspired by God Himself, the Church fathers have, at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, established first and foremost that all virtuous labors begin with fasting.”

Blessed Simeon of Thessalonika writes that the fast was established in honor of the Apostles, because we have been vouchsafed many blessings through them, and they have been shown to us as doers and teachers of fasting, obedience… and temperance. “

Source: https://orthochristian.com/47148.html

Thomas Sunday (Antipascha)

” The first week after Pascha is called Renewal week, or the week of Antipascha (the Greek prefix, anti, means “in place of”)—that is, the renewal of Pascha. On this Sunday, the Lord repeated and renewed for all eleven of the Apostles His appearance on the first day after the Resurrection. But because the renewal of the Savior’s appearance was especially for the sake of the Apostle Thomas, the eighth day after Pascha is called Thomas Sunday, the reason being as follows: On the day of the Resurrection, when Christ showed himself to the Disciples in the evening, Thomas was not present, because he had not yet joined the other Disciples for fear of the Jews. When he rejoined the others, not only did he not believe what they told him about the Resurrection of Christ and the fact that they had seen Him, but he absolutely refused to believe that Christ had risen, even though he himself was one of the Twelve. God the good Master, in His true economy, waited eight days to make His love more perfect, firmly willing to truthfully verify the Resurrection and also the events that had occurred after the Resurrection. Thus, Thomas did not believe so that he could more truthfully proclaim to all the belief in the Resurrection. Therefore, the Lord came to the Apostles again while Thomas was among them. Though the doors were shut as before, He entered and granted them peace according to the custom. He then turned toward Thomas and said, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing” (John 20:27). Then Thomas intentionally scrutinized the Lord’s side more attentively, and receiving faith through the examination, he cried, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). He said “Lord” in witnessing to the bodily form of Christ and “God” in witnessing to His Divinity. Then Christ said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). This was the second appearance of Christ.”

https://orthochristian.com/46216.html

https://orthochristian.com/70216.html

Paschal Greeting of His Grace Matthew, Bishop of Sourozh, Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, 2025

Beloved in the Lord, all-honorable fathers, dear brothers and sisters!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

With great joy, I congratulate you on the Saving Feast of

THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!

On these holy days, the entire Universal Apostolic Church rejoices and glorifies the Risen Savior, Who opened for mankind the way to eternal life and everlasting joy: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (John 11:25).

For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. (1 Cor. 5:7) These words of the holy Apostle Paul reveal the depth of the Divine economy of our salvation. The suffering, the Cross, and death of the Son of God are not an accidental, tragic event in history, but the eternal plan of Divine love, revealed for the sake of the salvation of the entire human race. This is a Victory accomplished not by the sword, but by the Cross; not by the power of this world, but by the all-powerful and voluntary Sacrifice of the Divine Lamb, Who “taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). It was in the sacrificial death of Christ that the light of the Resurrection shone – the light of the final Victory over sin and death.

The Resurrection of Christ is the triumph of life over death, light over darkness, truth over lies, and love over enmity. In Him the meaning of existence is affirmed, “for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” (1 Cor. 15:22).

The holy myrrh-bearing women were the first to hear the Good News from the Angel: “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.” (Matt. 28:5-6). Since then, these words of Easter joy have not ceased to sound in the hearts of believers, inspiring them to a renewed life and filling their hearts with the light of faith, hope, and love. In them is our consolation, our strength, and joy, given to everyone who lives with the Risen Christ and in Him finds the fullness of being.

The light of Christ’s Resurrection illuminates the path of everyone who follows Him, not only transforming our nature, making us partakers of the Divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4), but also opening for us the path to the Kingdom of Heaven, where God Himself will be “all in all” (1 Cor. 15:28), and the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of the Heavenly Father (Matt. 13:43).

Sharing with you the bright joy of the Easter celebration, I prayerfully ask the Risen Lord that the ineffable light of the Resurrection of Christ illuminate you every day, strengthen you in faith, console you in sorrows, and inspire you to deeds of love and mercy.

May the Risen Christ always be among us, as He once was among His disciples, saying: “Peace be with you!” (John 20:19) and lead us to eternal rejoicing in the Kingdom of Heaven.

TRULY CHRIST IS RISEN!

+ Matthew
Bishop of Sourozh,
Temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada

Pascha of Christ, 2025 London