Fr. Seraphim Holland, rector of the St.
Nicholas Church in McKinney, Texas, answers ten questions on the first Sunday
after Pascha—Thomas Sunday, also known as “Antipascha.”
Question: When is
the Sunday of St. Thomas? Why? On the Sunday of St. Thomas, two hymns normally
sung in Sunday matins are not sung. What are these hymns? Why are they not
sung?
Answer: St Thomas Sunday is the Second Sunday of
Pascha, or, said another way, the first Sunday after the Sunday of Pascha.
The
Gospel text for the day gives a clue as to why the celebration is at this time:
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors
were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and
stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you (Jn. 20:19).
But
Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said
unto them, 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 (Jn. 20:24-26).
And after
eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus,
the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you...
(Jn. 20:27).
On the
Sunday of St. Thomas, the Resurrectional Evlogitaria sung before the Hymns of
ascent which precede the Gospel, and immediately after either the Polyeleos or
118th psalm in normal times) are not sung, and neither is the “Magnificat” (“My
soul magnifies the Lord...,” which is usually sung between the eighth and ninth
ode of the matins canon). These hymns are omitted because the feast of St.
Thomas Sunday is a “Feast of the Lord,” and it supersedes EVERYTHING from the
normal Resurrectional service, just as Nativity, or another feast of the Lord
would.
Question: A Hymn
normally sung once in Sunday matins is sung three times, in the matins for St.
Thomas Sunday, and until when? What is the hymn?
Answer: “Having beheld the resurrection” (certainly
very familiar to everyone who has sung the Paschal Hours in lieu of morning
prayers during Bright week, since it is also sung three times then), is
normally sung once in Sunday matins, just after the Gospel is read. During the
Paschal season, until and including the Sunday preceding Ascension Thursday, it
is sung three times.
Question: How many
days after the resurrection were required for Thomas to believe? Why did he not
originally believe?
Answer: According to the Gospel of St. John, Jesus
appeared unto the Apostles the first time on the evening of Pascha, with Thomas
being absent, then the second time eight days later, with him being present. He
originally did not believe because of the incredible reality of the
Resurrection. He needed to see the evidence.
Question: How does
the Holy Spirit, through the services characterize Thomas’ unbelief?
Answer: The church characterizes St. Thomas’ unbelief
as “good”, because it led to a greater manifestation of the reality of Christ's
resurrection in the flesh:
“As the
disciples were in doubt, / the Savior came on the eighth day / to where they
were gathered and granted them peace, / and cried unto Thomas: / Come, O
Apostle, and feel the palms in which they fastened the nails. / O good unbelief
of Thomas, / which hath led the hearts of the faithful to knowledge! / Hence,
he cried out with fear: // O my Lord and my God, glory be to Thee” (Sticheron
from Lord I have cried, vespers for St. Thomas Sunday).
Fr. Seraphim Holland
Source: http://www.orthodox.net/questions/thomas_sunday_1.html
CONVERSATION