SUNDAY OF THOMAS OR ANTIPASCHA OBSERVED AT THE PATRIARCHATE

On St Thomas Sunday, the 14^th/27^th of April 2014, the Patriarchate commemorated the touching of the resurrected Lord by His disciple Thomas, at the All-holy Church of the Resurrection.

1. Vespers

On Saturday evening, the Ninth Hour was recited at the Monastic Church of Sts Constantine and Helen, followed by progression to the Church of the Resurrection, veneration at the Holy Apokathelosis, the Holy Sepulcher and Golgotha, the ringing of the bells and the Censing.

Vespers was led by the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias, with concelebrant Prelates. The Head Cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, sang with the choir of students at the Patriarchal School in the presence of several pilgrims from Greece and Russia.

1. The Divine Liturgy

At 7:30 am of the morning of the Sunday of Thomas, the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood proceeded to the All-Holy Church of the Resurrection, venerated at the Holy Apokathelosis and the Holy Sepulcher and entered the Katholikon.

The Divine Liturgy was led by the Patriarchal Commissioner, the Most Reverend Isychios, Metropolitan of Kapitolias, with concelebrant Hagiotaphite Hieromonks and Hierodeacons in the presence of pious pilgrims from Greece, Cyprus, Russia and Romania. The Head Cantor of the Church of the Resurrection, Archimandrite Aristovoulos, sang in Greek, Russian, Romanian and Arabic.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Hagiotaphite Retinue, headed by the Patriarchal Commissioner, proceeded to the Patriarchates, where the Most Reverend Isychios spoke on the Sunday of Thomas or Antipascha, before the exchange of festive wishes.

From the Secretariat-General